9 replies to this topic

[pat slattery]

I want to learn to rebuild my own transmission, does anyone have a recommendation of special tools that might be required other than the normal everyday hand tools we use for a SM?

 

Thanks

 

Pat

[dstevens]

Drago's phone number and a UPS account?...

 

I haven't done the chick car but the tools should similar to the circle track cars we'd do.  Sharpies and bags...    set of snap ring pliers, set of pullers and perhaps a case splitter, roll pin punch, bearing drivers and perhaps a punch/chisel assortment.  I did get a couple of 1/4" drive, inch/lb torque wrenches for that and rear ends that are handy.  One was 10-150 in/lb and the other was 40-200 in/lb.  No idea what the specs are on the Miata trans but it's likely that a 3/8" regular torque wrench won't go low enough and you may not be able to get it to the fastener.

 

Dave

[FTodaro]

Pat there are a few special tools, I learned how to do this by using a book and some Big help from Karl Zimmerman who educated me regarding the tools. PM me your email and i will explain.

[davew]

Assorted snap ring pliers, bearing seperator, press, one really big socket, one really long socket (I custom made mine) Bearing pullers, special made bearing puller, lots of patience.

 

Dave

[Jim Drago]

Drago's phone number and a UPS account?...

Or Bennets,wheelers,Joe Varbles or Stu @ BSI. All are VERY inexpensive to rebuild. Personally I wouldn't know where to start, I have paid the same guy to do about 220 of these for me and it is worth every penny IMO. Know what you can do well and pay others to do what you can't.

Really think you would be better off having anyone above do them, one is in your back yard. Unless you just want to tinker
Jim

[pat slattery]

I might take your advice on this Jim, but, also curious as a tinker of at least opening one up and seeing what is in there.    I have several spares so if I screw one up,  Oh Well

[Jamz14]

Pat,

 

This last year I rebuilt my first tranny since attempting it over 30 years ago on a Mustang I owned. I did it because I want to be self sufficient in every area I can so that I am not dependent on the work schedule of shops.........and I have trust issues. It isn't really that much cheaper doing it right by yourself than having a shop do it for you. But now I understand the tranny and I have the ability to rebuild a spare and have it ready to go. It fits my personality doing it myself. About $400 in parts if I remember

 

FTodaro mentions a book. I bought the book he is referring to and I consider it a must if you are doing this the first time. The book will help you gather the tools and they are very important in keeping your frustration down to a minimum. Dave Wheeler was very helpful and nice to me in providing me with a rebuild parts list so I could pre order everything needed from Mazda. Thank You Dave for doing that!! I would also recommend buying the springs that Saulspeed developed. I haven't used them yet as I bought my springs before knowing about his. But his arguments for their use appear to be rock solid and his advice and opinions were very helpful to me in learning how to do what these guys do every day. FTodaro was a great resource in doing this my first time too. Thank you FTodaro and Saulspeed!!!!!!!

[Adax]

There have been several great transmission threads in the last two years.

Start with this one..

http://mazdaracers.c...se-gear-syncro/

[SaulSpeedwell]

Hey Pat,  

 

I'm sure you can do it, especially if you are willing to screw it up once.  Just adding up the $ and the time, it really isn't worth doing yourself if you get 2 seasons from a trans.  If you blow them up 2X a year, then you will save money learning to do them yourself - although one of the top builders will also have some tricks to help get you more life.  If you have to ship it to your rebuilder, that also makes the DIY option more attractive.

 

The tools themselves can be a few hundred dollars depending on whether you can fab them yourself or luck out and find a used set of tools.

 

And now the damn Reverse synchros from Mazda have been too "tight" since at least last winter.  Once I get caught up, I'll post an Imsomnia Theater 2000 vid on YouTube.  I'm working on a solution for this - otherwise you can re-use old R synchros, ir if you have R operation problems just put a new synchro in and expect some extra break-in, debris, and potentially crappy dyno numbers until the ring laps itself in.

 

-MB

[Jeff Wasilko]

And now the damn Reverse synchros from Mazda have been too "tight" since at least last winter.  Once I get caught up, I'll post an Imsomnia Theater 2000 vid on YouTube.  I'm working on a solution for this - otherwise you can re-use old R synchros, ir if you have R operation problems just put a new synchro in and expect some extra break-in, debris, and potentially crappy dyno numbers until the ring laps itself in.

 

-MB

 

Do you dyno in reverse? :-)