RoninAutoBoX

Well, my transmission has given up all gears except for first gear, which had me driving to work this morning at 6000 rpm for allof 15 minutes nearly continuously. I would have liked to have called in sick or late, but at my job, that is literally surrendering your job, so I had to do what I had to do.

I would have liked to have had the time to try out my new shift kit and rebuild kit, but these problems have forced me to go with an auto>manual swap. I can't deal with this crap anymore. The convenience of the automatic is lost when they are pieces of crap from the factory. A used auto is a gamble that i can't afford to take, and a new one is a waste of money. Therefore, I am converting this car, and I will enjoy the benefits of s imple drivetrain, little electronic interference, and the ability to truly control my own gear selection. Good bye sludge pump.

The shift kit and rebuild is supposed to eliminate all of the problems with the automatic, but that remains to be seen on my brother's 929. I can't risk such a project onmy daily driver at this time.

hypntyz7

Even the staunchest supporters of auto trannies (the few that there are) change their mind at one time or another, be it voluntarily or involuntarily.

I would say I am sorry to hear about your misfortune, but you will be very happy with the results of the swap, and will wonder why you ever wasted a keystroke in defense of the automatic. IT is of no use unless you're a chick.

RoninAutoBoX

Dude, our highways here are MORE stop and go than the streets. Having a stick is a pain in the ***, but having the automatic, once it started going was a pain in the ***, it was embarassing because it smoked like ****, and it was expensive.

Having an auto seemed like a good idea when it was working properly, especially once i discovered the sport shift feature, but now it is close to causing me to lose my job. **** this man. I can't make it clear enough to everyone. No more automatic transmissions for the RX-7. They are pieces of junk made by JatCo and the are a frequent failure on our cars. If you think the rotary engine is a sensitive time bomb, just look at these transmissions!

hypntyz7

I partially agree that the automatic would be semi-acceptable if both of the following applied:

1) you just wanted to use the 7 for daily transportation, looking good, etc. but didnt really care about speed

2) the tranny were reliable

Even if number one is applicable, number 2 is NEVER, so that is why everyone bitches about automatic 7s.

RoninAutoBoX

They just suck. I love driving fast, but since I have never driven a manual transmission car(only trucks), then maybe it only seems to be good. I want real control and reliability.

13bpower

If you have never driven a 5 speed 7 then I am truely sorry for you. That would be hell for me.

Kenteth

RoninAutoBox and are I pretty much setting up for the swap at aboutthe same time. I lost all gears but 1st and overdrive, but what good is overdrive if you can't get it to speed? I'm dropping the tranny tomorrow, Sonicrat hasnt got the crate shipped yet, but hopefuy monday.

If the 5sd *that* much different? I assume the car takes on a different role.

And a good question... what are the odds this will lower my water temp? just curious, seems like its always ran 1/2 the gauge. Another thread here said thats not reliable anyway tough.

And you.. you florida goer who has nice warm weather and is metro and close to distributors and.... Its already getting cold up north, not to mention our Salvage yards will laugh at you if you ask for a part more rare than a stock honda steel rim. Goodluck though mate. If you have anyquestions I can try as we'll probably run into some of the same problems. Then again... I'm a...novice mechanic having never cracked open an engine. Only thing I've delt with are drivelines and brakes. And of course the various other things like intake and exhaust. Never gotten to crack her open though.

hypntyz7

Its not earth shattering or anything, but it'll feel like you put on a full exhaust or something.

All 89-91's are engineered to have a non-linear temp gauge. The 86-88's have a semi-accurate gauge, that rises and falls with load and outside temp. Mazda thought better of this on the s5 (rumor had it that people were bringing them in because they thought the temperature variation signalled a problem) and made it more of a 3 position gauge...cold, operating temp (a wide range, but the needle never moves while in that range), and rebuild (at or near H).

BTW, for you swap newbies,

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/5speed.html

Also, I should have many or most of the necessary parts, if you guys need them.

Kenteth

how'd you know I wasn't running a full exhaust! I haven't been since the last tranny swap.

Ahh, the bible, read it a few times, also the post in the archives, need to print it out though.

hypntyz7

I was just saying...it'll feel like you gained 20hp or so, cause that's about what the auto was losing you, on low and mid range at least.

LMAO, no, just a guide to go by, one way of doing the job. Some people are more particular than I, and go to wiring up all kinds of elaborate ****, and weld up all kinds of type-R tranny mounts and stuff. This just gives you something to go by, really.

Kenteth

I figured. One of the areas I think I will strugle is the tranny mount.

RoninAutoBoX

Yeah, I can tell that my car sucks with an automatic. But I am through. In fact, I will probably never own another automatic transmission vehicle ever again. It is just too stupid for me.

RoninAutoBoX

Kenteth, I am actually having my conversion performed by a tuner down here.I have neither the time or the patience to accomplish such a thing on my car, which is a daily driver. The funniest thing is that as much as people bitch that the rotary engine is too unreliablefor a daily driver, my transmission has been the only part of the friggin car to cause me trouble.

goblues24

just did the swap here in sunrise..on my vert...completely diferent car to drive now...way worth it..its just a shame that i had to spend so much on something that is simple as a factory option...never should have been an option for an auto in an rx7..it just never should have happened..these guys are engeineers and they know way more about 7s than the consumer( the mazda guys)..they just had to know it was a bad idea..and probly did..im ashamed that the market here in the us..supported such an idea as an auto trannied rx7..just goes to show that there are alot of people here that would pay more for less...and did!

do the swap and enjoy your new car!!

goblues24

just did the swap here in sunrise..on my vert...completely diferent car to drive now...way worth it..its just a shame that i had to spend so much on something that is simple as a factory option...never should have been an option for an auto in an rx7..it just never should have happened..these guys are engeineers and they know way more about 7s than the consumer( the mazda guys)..they just had to know it was a bad idea..and probly did..im ashamed that the market here in the us..supported such an idea as an auto trannied rx7..just goes to show that there are alot of people here that would pay more for less...and did!

do the swap and enjoy your new car!! the auto tranny is like polishing a terd....what is the point..its just **** at the end of the day!!

introVert

Damn glad I held out for a manual- those auto verts are all over the place here in FL. Gee, why are people always SELLING them?

goblues24

yeah i was dumb enough to buy one...but the only reason was cuz mine had a new reputable rebuild engine....so i figure itll last another 10 years..hehe one can hope!!

goblues24

my first post was not that important to be double posting...whazzup with that?

RoninAutoBoX

You're in sunrise? Come out to our weekly gathering sometime. Check out the SE Forum to find out exactly where. WE meet at the bowling alley just south of Tower Shops.