finally did it--
70mph== to about 3.2 to 3.3K on the oem tach(stock size tires), oem rear .
just short time with the car 1-2-3 gears i cant tell much difference.
4-5th is what a close ratio trans should be---its great for my power band.
6th---welll see above!

The shifter actually shifts worse than my 04. There is wide shifter movement from 2-3nd. 5-6th are more notchy( i do have the steel bushings instead of those plastic ones) and it requires more throw. but it is driveable and probably be ok once i get used to it.
Does the R3 have a different shifter?
its very quiet.

It is bigger in size and it feels heavier but the WORSE thing
is you cannot fill the trans through the shifter---it will not drain into the trans --it just puddles.
That I hate.
But that 4-5 ratio is really sweet.
olddragger

 

Hmmmm - nice. What's 70 in the previous manual? 3800-4000? I think it's around there but I forget.

 

Sweet, what was the reason for going with the 09'? Can you fill ours through the shifter?

 

sounds good.

I didnt realize the 09 trans had that different of a ratio for 4th gear.

I hate how tall the 4th gear ratio is on my trans.

 

Hey, congrats OD, do you know what the rpms are at 80mph?

 

I dont like the sound of this 09 tranny one bit. Sounds like the RX-7 tranny. I'll pass. But wish you the best of luck with it.

 

at 80mph it is about 4 K!!
i wanted the higher gearing because of my particular power band (pettit s,c etc)
if i was na i would do the trans for the fact it is stronger.
3-4 are about the same ratio as the earlier model?
the 04 you can change the oil and fill it through the shifter which is very convenient The 09 you cannot. What is the capacity of the 09 trans? mine was full on install.
OD

 

just curious. in what way?

 

its their a DIY on tranny oil filled thru shifter, i wanna start doing this if possible.

 

I'm pondering fitting the AT diff in mine to get a similar result . Did you look into doing that OD ?

 

IIRC 70 (112km/h) is right below where the secondaries open. Feel free to correct me if this is not right as my baby is in storage since november

 

No--i didnt as my tranny was slowly going bad anyway and I ran across the 09 deal.
After more experience driving with it the 3-4-5 gears fell like a dang motorcross bike in comparision to the o4----I really really really like the 5th gear.
Stronger---the case is stronger, i now have steel bushings instead of the plastic ones.
Does the R3 have a different shifter?

 

afaik, the r3 does not. but iirc, the miata short shifters will drop into that trans. and they ~$100.

isnt the auto rear diff a 4.3? is such a small change worth it? 4.44 to a 4.3? it seems like its not worth it.

 

^Damn! dont let AJ read that lol

 

S1's Aisin Manual Transmission : You can fill it up thru the shifter hole, much easier than using the "fill hole" on the side, we all know how much space we got there.

S2 MT : Nope. I never seen the tranny in person but from the graphs, it seems like the tranny is something like my FC's tranny, the shifter is nowhere close to the gears and it doesn't seem like its connected. I can't fill my FC's fluid thru the shifter hole either, I have to do it the hard way.

I have a question OD, do you think its "worth it" to do the swap?? and does everything line up correctly without any mods? like the drive shaft ? Cuz a brand new S2 tranny cost less than a "Rebuild with lots of new parts" S1 Aisin.

And you mention Bushing, are you talking about the Mazdaspeed one? where do you install that anyway? I have it but never get a chance to install it (yet)

 

Do you have a stock 09 transmission in your 04? I was wondering because kersh4w talked about a 4.3 rear diff while the 09 MT has a 4.77, which is significantly shorter. Also, the RPMs for an 09 at 60 are 3242 in 6th while you are about there but at 70mph.
Source: https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-technical-trouble-shooting-160/2009-rx-8-transmission-gear-chart-discussion-135710/

From what I understand, you used a 09 MT with a AT rear diff (?? year) in your 04?

Sorry if I havent been following your posts like everyone else probably

 

no, i dont think he has an AT rear diff. brettus was talking about putting one in his car.

 

My bad, cant read!

 

no i have the standard rear(that doesnt sound right?) for the mt--4.44?
Its a bolt in swap-- no problems. it is heavier--easy to tell

Thanks for the lead on the miata short shifter!

I would do the swap again--to me it is worth it. had to drive it for a little while to realize how it changed the car.
The shift pattern actually helps from going from 5th to 2nd when trying to get to 4th--dont laugh i have done this at rd atlanta!
OD

 

this maybe interesting to me in the future, are the ratios shorter? going turbo in the future and thought the current ones would suit the turbo vs the new ratios on the 09s

 

Glad you are liking it Denny. I'd love to drive it once, if you get the miata shifter. Very curious.

 

Hey Dude
Boy that was a long day. How was Christmas for all and I hope all are doing well.
Say Hello to Abby for me.
Yes-- Now that I have it settled in so to speak i would not hesitate to recommend this swap.
The more I drive the oem shifter the more I am liking it. That gap is good to help prevent a 5th to 2nd downshift!
Take care man--stay in touch.
OD

 

Makes more sense than fixing an 04-08 transmission. 6th gear in my 04 manual: 60mph = 3000rpms, 70mph = 3500rpm and 80 = 4000rpms. I'm going off memory but that seems correct.

 

wat transmission oil did u put in with ur new tranny?

 

There's a replacement 6th Gear set from Japan for the S1 trans that will lower it from the factory 0.843 ratio to 0.795

4000 rpm @ 0.843 = 3772 rpm @ 0.795