Mazda Gearboxes
 

Anyone have some solid info on the Mazda gearboxes of the 70s and 80s? Are the 4 and 5spds swappable? In theory could one take say a 4spd gearbox from a 70s car and take the bellhousing off then take say a 5spd from a 80s Mazda B2000 and swap the 4spd bellhousing on and make it work?

What r u trying to do?

This...

http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2735

been in rotaries since the mid 80s and i've quick shifted a lot of them to the point of messing up the syncros and would grind going to 2nd and 3rd during normal drivine but have yet to break one. so i say they stand up pretty well.

I've got a '73 808 with the 1.6L engine (sorry not a rotary) and a four speed box and would like to put in a 5spd if it isn't a massive hassle. The B2000/B2200 is probably easiest to source around here so hoping it is an option. I could probably source a first generation Rx-7 box but I can't remember if they have a removable bellhousing

drop a rotary and 5spd in that 808. did that to the '75 i used to have.

That isn't in the cars as of yet. I'm just going to drive and enjoy this summer as is. But 3500+ rpms on the highway to get only 55mph gets a little old!

79/80 rx7 box does not have a removable bell housing. 1974 on rotary gearboxes have some interchangability with bell housings etc. As far as piston models your probably shit outta luck because Us/Can didnt get later piston cars that would have got a 5 speed like 929 etc. I know the rwd 626s had a box very similar to a 79/80 rx7, but once again no removing the bell housing. Id say its time for a 12A swap!

i don't know anything about the 808 engine, but if its related to the engine in the trucks, then you should be able to use a truck transmission and it probably will swap right over.

mazda has a couple different transmissions, and i'm not sure when the trucks switched, but the 82-83 trucks use the same style trans as the NA Rx7's. the 808 probably uses a trans thats related to the 70-79 rotary one with a piston engine bellhousing.

it should swap, but you need to pay attention to things like shifter location, and it might use a different starter.

and thirdly if you find one, you should just get the B2000 engine and trans, the 1.6 must be really slow, 2.0 is like 20%!

It is the same motor as the B1600 - code name is NA. It actually isn't that slow - quite revvy but could be partly the rear end gearing too. I've seen looking out for an older B2000 before they swapped to the later motor - no luck so far. I did see one but it was a 4spd and smoked like a bastard.

Trans for the 808....
 

Don't forget about the late 70's early 80's Ford Courier ; they were Mazda built and some had 1800 or 2000's with 5 speeds that should bolt right up.