mark57

Who has done it? What tranny was used?

weaklink

i'm guessing that you are joking and trying to get a rise out of the forum. But, just in case you are serious:

If you are at stock power levels the stock tranny should be fine. There have been a lot of swaps lately and you should be able to get an ok deal. If you have a higher horsepower auto in mind then things are going to get expensive in a hurry. You can have the stocker rebuilt with better components, valve body modification, new torque converter, etc. Or you can custom mount a domestic with a bell housing adapter.

Hopefully I've helped and not been the unwitting target of a bogus thread.

weaklink

oh and I don't know of anyone who has actually done this...there was a thread sometime ago where turbostreetfighter converted to a th350, but I think that was for a drag only setup, not a street car.

mark57

My specs can be checked in the Garage. I don't post bogus stuff, so no need to worry

I'd like to know what style GM/Ford/Chrysler unit fit in the unibody; a simple, 4-speed, hi-perf. unit that will handle 500 HP, which is what I have now. Want to do a quick and effective swap with the ability to revert back to manual. Not looking to get into the ECU. I run PFC and Datalogit.

I'm hoping Jimlab will comment.

jimlab

There's no reason why a TH350 couldn't be used in a street car, but of course I'd use a TH-700R4 (4L60) to get an overdrive gear and eliminate the need for electronic control. I know for a fact that a TH350 case fits in the transmission tunnel, and the 700R4 isn't much different. Mostly, the various GM automatics vary in length and weight.

If you can find a company that can provide an adapter plate to bolt the GM bellhousing to the rotary engine, then you're almost there. Since the TH350 and 700R4/4L60 have the same bolt pattern, track down the guy that did the TH350 conversion and talk to him. It would be interesting to know what (if any) adapter was required for the flex plate, but the converter wouldn't be an issue. Add a high stall converter and a trans brake if you want to go drag racing.

After that, provide a transmission mount (not a big deal, you might even be able to modify one of Hinson's) and figure out how you're going to support the differential (Hinson torque arm is one option) once you remove the PPF, and you're almost there.

I can't speak to adapting a stock Mazda automatic shifter to control a GM transmission for stock appearance, but there should be no shortage of cheap ones available to tinker with from those who have converted from auto to 5-speed. I seriously considered going that route myself at one point. And of course, there are dozens of aftermarket shifters available for the various GM automatic transmissions.

Jodeny

iTrader: (3)

A lot of the supra owners are going with th400's.
John

mark57

....and there's an issue of change of the starter location. Thanks for your input, Jim. Thanks for everyone's comments. I'm diggin' through Summit and Jeg's catalogs and some beer to work up a plan. Dang, my lovely wife now advises me that we have no cold beer or any beer at all

Jodeny

iTrader: (3)

contact forum member jrx7. email- jrx7@zoominternet.net he's dont this conversion.
John

mark57

Thanks John

jimlab

Too heavy, no overdrive, not enough first gear for a rotary.

TH350
1st - 2.52:1
2nd - 1.52:1
3rd - 1.00:1

TH400
1st - 2.48:1
2nd - 1.48:1
3rd - 1.00:1

TH700-R4
1st - 3.06:1
2nd - 1.62:1
3rd - 1.00:1
4th - 0.70:1

With the TH-700R4, the gearing is basically the same as the Mazda 4-speed automatic... mucho drivability.

Mazda A4
1st - 3.03:1
2nd - 1.62:1
3rd - 1.00:1
4th - 0.69:1

NINjaX7

man... i hate my auto FD, the only fun i get is when i play with the hold button