Discussion
So I may have destroyed third gear in an incident involving a superbike, Clitheroe's finest driving roads and a humpback bridge.
What options do I have for swapping the gearbox? Ideally after the strongest I can get on a budget, so Quaife semi-cut boxes are out; is a 1.8 box any different and is it a straight swap onto a 1.6 engine? What else should I consider?
What options do I have for swapping the gearbox? Ideally after the strongest I can get on a budget, so Quaife semi-cut boxes are out; is a 1.8 box any different and is it a straight swap onto a 1.6 engine? What else should I consider?
I've never heard anybody fit a 1.8 gearbox on to a 1.6. No idea if that's because they are the same, or because they are not.
I would think the best option if you need a fast answer is phone Autolink/everythingmx5/mx5 heaven and ask them about what gearboxes they have in stock that will fit your car.
I would think the best option if you need a fast answer is phone Autolink/everythingmx5/mx5 heaven and ask them about what gearboxes they have in stock that will fit your car.
Munter said:
I've never heard anybody fit a 1.8 gearbox on to a 1.6. No idea if that's because they are the same, or because they are not.
I would think the best option if you need a fast answer is phone Autolink/everythingmx5/mx5 heaven and ask them about what gearboxes they have in stock that will fit your car.
1.6 and 1.8 gearboxes are identical.I would think the best option if you need a fast answer is phone Autolink/everythingmx5/mx5 heaven and ask them about what gearboxes they have in stock that will fit your car.
Later boxes have a stronger syncro on 2&3. The 5 speed box is known to be good up to around 250w/bhp - 250ft/lbs
6 speeds are stronger around 300bhp, these also bolt straight in, though you do need to omit 1 bolt for the starter motor.
The Quaife box is lots of £$£$, I'd just throw another 1.8 ox in and be done with it, you're rather unlucky to break one.
Munter said:
Mr MXT said:
Have you actually destroyed 3rd gear or just the syncro?
My money is on the OP getting some air while in 3rd. And the landing doing bad things....The gear is completely gone, no third and lots of rattling and clunking of the remains in the gearbox casing.
piefacemate said:
Munter said:
Mr MXT said:
Have you actually destroyed 3rd gear or just the syncro?
My money is on the OP getting some air while in 3rd. And the landing doing bad things....The gear is completely gone, no third and lots of rattling and clunking of the remains in the gearbox casing.
hornetrider said:
I say bravo, sir. If it's gonna go - best to muller it getting some air time 
Couldn't agree more, and despite the damage it still made it 50 miles back home 
Can't really complain considering it's a 21 year old gearbox with 140,000 miles on it!
Is there any special type of gearbox oil that anyone would recommend as being suitable for the amount of punishment I give the car? If it's to be tracked over summer it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone and ensure the gearbox is as good as it can be.
piefacemate said:
Is there any special type of gearbox oil that anyone would recommend as being suitable for the amount of punishment I give the car? If it's to be tracked over summer it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone and ensure the gearbox is as good as it can be.
If you're thinking about what else to do while the gearbox is off.Consider the clutch as well.
Richyvrlimited said:
1.6 and 1.8 gearboxes are identical.
Later boxes have a stronger syncro on 2&3. The 5 speed box is known to be good up to around 250w/bhp - 250ft/lbs
6 speeds are stronger around 300bhp, these also bolt straight in, though you do need to omit 1 bolt for the starter motor.
The Quaife box is lots of £$£$, I'd just throw another 1.8 ox in and be done with it, you're rather unlucky to break one.
Isn't the 6-speed a lower final drive ratio than the 5-speed? If so you'd need a dif' to go with it.Later boxes have a stronger syncro on 2&3. The 5 speed box is known to be good up to around 250w/bhp - 250ft/lbs
6 speeds are stronger around 300bhp, these also bolt straight in, though you do need to omit 1 bolt for the starter motor.
The Quaife box is lots of £$£$, I'd just throw another 1.8 ox in and be done with it, you're rather unlucky to break one.
MX-5 Lazza said:
Isn't the 6-speed a lower final drive ratio than the 5-speed? If so you'd need a dif' to go with it.
The 6 speeds gear ratios are indeed lower*, so you could fit the matching 6 speed diff, or you could leave it as is and enjoy the lower ratios 
- final drive ratio is the differential
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff