automatic to manual

NorCalMX3 · Post by **NorCalMX3** » March 20th, 2007, 12:43 am

Pre note: I did a search for this but coundn't find a (recent) topic

Me and my dad are thinking about buying a 92 MX3 GS 1.8L, the V6 is an automatic, I want a 5 speed V6, and am wondering what the swap would be like, what stuff i would have to replace, and what 5 speeds from other cars i could use, i hear i can use a ford probe tranny? at any rate, please tell me anything i would need to know, i am a decent car mechanic, and have endured head gasket replacements, and clutch replacements. is it mostly a cut and paste job? or is there going to be a lot of custom things i need to do?

the GS i am purchasing has an unknown problem, the guy believes its a CV joint or the tranny itself, so there is going to be a tranny rplacement at any rate.

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » March 20th, 2007, 9:28 am

Easy breazy- the only trick is the reverse lights and park neutral switch. The auto cars the controls for the trans are on the dash harness so you have to rewire the two plugs on the harness for the above mentioned functions.
Other than that you need the basics for the manual. trans, master cylinder, slave cylinder (the clutch has one on the fire wall and one on the trans), pedals, axles, clutch, throw-out bearing, flywheel, clutch line, shifter w/ shift rods.
All the stuff except the trans, and clutch needs to come from a MX-3. You can use a flywheel, trans and slave cylinders from a MX-6 or Probe, but the flywheels are heavier and so the MX-3 version is preferable.
You'll need to search to find the info on the wiring.
GL

NorCalMX3 · Post by **NorCalMX3** » March 20th, 2007, 7:02 pm

thanks, i went down to the scrap yards today to talk to all the Mazda specialty shops, and they said the hardest thing is just acquiring all the right parts, after that, everything else was a pretty easy job. But i heard that the MX3 manual tranny has a hydrolic throw, and not a cable assembly.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » March 20th, 2007, 8:03 pm

I have done this swap.. its simple.. Things you WONT need that a LOT of people told ME I would need.. Master Cylinder.. its the same for both versions of the car.. dont bother trying to get one "For a 5spd". Motor Mounts & Crossmember.. all the same Except for the #4 transmission mount. Its the ONLY mount that is different.

A couple of things that are good to do while you have everything torn apart..

Shifter Bushings.. these are cheap from Mazda at less than $35 or you can get fancy and get the bronze oil ones.

Get a new clutch.. no point in doing all the work with a used clutch.

Find a friend.. er.. sucker.. someone you dont wanna be friends with anymore..etc.. and bribe them to do the brake pedal swap under the dash.. by far the biggest PITA of the whole job.

Tunes67

NorCalMX3 · Post by **NorCalMX3** » March 20th, 2007, 10:49 pm

thanks you guys have been a big help, one more question: i hear there is a step by step instruction, including everything i need, tools, parts, ect. on how to do this swap somewhere on this site, can someone point me in the right direction?

*EDIT* i found a post in the V6 faq on how to do it, but it says its for a MX-6? is that still the guide i should use on my 1.8L V6 mx-3?