Other transmission Options

[JordanMelcon]

Just so no one yells at me, I am saying in advance I cross-posted this on the FordBastards Yahoo group page.

I am putting a SHO motor in a MK1 Toyota MR2, so it will be serving a
transverly mounted, mid-engine rwd duty.

Basically, I could use the stock SHO transaxle, but since I have
enough work to do anyway, I feel like I might as well change the
weakest link the the SHO drivetrain, which from what I know, is the
transaxle. Some people think the transaxle is up to the tasks fine,
and I know many love their Quaifes, so please don't simply tell me to
use the stock unit or get a Quaife.
I don't mean to be rude, but that will not answer my question.

I know a long time ago there was a thread on SHOTimes about other
ford transmissions that can be mated to the SHO motor, but it was a
good 2 years ago and I have never really been good at going through
SHOTimes (the format just doesn't make sense to me).

I am curvious if I can make any other transaxles bolt up to the SHO
motor. Two units that I have thought about (I really don't know much
about their strength) are the MTX75 and the type IB5.
I found that information at this website last year:
http://mujweb.atlas.cz/www/murdak/data/e-prevodovky.htm

I know there are many transmissions to mount the motor
longitudinally, and I could swap bell housings and such to make it
fit, but I have almost no experience with transaxles and therefore I
don't really know how to go about adapting one to fit.

What it comes down to is this: I want the transaxle I use to be able
to handle power, I want a limited slip, and it would be nice if
things were affordable.
I know that those conditions may seem laughable to some of you, but I
feel like I must have another option besides the standard SHO unit
with a $1300 Quaife.

Oh, also, I already contacted Kennedy Engineered Products and they
gave me the one-lined response "Don't have any ideas for you." So I
don't consider them as an option.

 

[jelloslug]

"Affordable" and "SHO aftermarket performance" don't belong together. From what I know about the MTX-IV vs other transaxles you don't want to here what I gonna say. Get a Quaife and cryo the internals. That setup is good for at least 350 HP or so. From what I know about the MTX-75 it is equel at best to the MTX-IV and you would still have to find a way to mount it and Quaife it. I don't know much about the IB5 but reading the vehicals that it came in I cannot see how it can be much stronger than the MTX-IV or the MTX-75. I don't know of anybody actually mounting a different transaxle to this engine so far. Quaife make some very nice quality units but therey are high dollar ($10-$15k or so)

 

[Dr. Tweak]

One word:

3SGTE

 

[olympic]

The MTX series of transmissions were Ford's bread and butter when it came to FWD. You won't find many better options out there. The MTX75 wasn't much better than the MTX4 in terms of it's reliability or power handling. I'm not too familiar with the MTX76 from the Focus SVT, maybe someone else can chime in on that.

Both of the above would require custom adapter plates, clutch/flywheel assemblies and axles, so you might as well look into something better, perhaps from the import community. All the custom work needed to adapt another FWD transverse tranny to the SHO will not be cheap.

The MTX4 with a Quaife and HD clutch is good up to about 300lb-ft of torque, after that you start stripping third gear. You'll need a large amount of nitrous or 10+PSI of boost to surpass that level. For the price of one of the above custom setups, you could install SHOnut's HD gear sets and have an absolutely bulletproof trans.

 

[JordanMelcon]

I am not going with the Mk2 Turbo motor....

I don't want a turbo in this car as I have done a few turbos before and I want to try something else out.

It is also far too commonly done now, I want something a little more unique.

I am thinking about using the transaxle from that car, but the MR2 guys are telling me to try and find a different Ford unit to use...thus my post.

Does anyone know for sure that the MTX75 doesn't bolt up to the SHO block? It is the manual used on Ford's new 3.0 V6 motors correct?

Anyway, I might do an adapter plate (It's not quite as hard as everyone says. A friend and fellow car nut owns his own machine shop and has been a machinist for a good 20 years, and he has done it a few times. He calls it "easy")

I just want to figure out what my options are. Sorry guys, I really don't want to use the stock tranny.
I feel like $2,000 is too much to spend to beef up our tranny to what it should be.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

My friend, you are going to pay a lot more than $2000 for any option OTHER than the stock tranny, methinks.

And I do understand wanting to be unique, please don't think I was knocking you for putting an SHO engine in an MR2. I am however personally against mixing brands, but whatever.

 

[JordanMelcon]

Mixing brains? Both motors were done by Yamaha.....

I won't be over 2k with any other swap either...I can get a Mk2 Turbo tranny for around $700 with limited slip
Add new clutch and flywheel and some work making an adapter....

Anyway, I am just trying to figure out what options I have.

Sorry if I seem annoyed, I am just frustrated by the dead ends I keep hitting.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Mixing brains? Both motors were done by Yamaha.....

I won't be over 2k with any other swap either...I can get a Mk2 Turbo tranny for around $700 with limited slip
Add new clutch and flywheel and some work making an adapter....

Anyway, I am just trying to figure out what options I have.

Sorry if I seem annoyed, I am just frustrated by the dead ends I keep hitting.

No problem bro, I know what you mean.

How much did Yamaha have to do with the 3SGTE? I heard it was just the heads?

If you can get the MR2 Turbo tranny to work, I would TOTALLY go with that!

 

[autobahnsho]

I've heard of people using the Ranger or Aerostar trannies. I have no idea if you could possibly put one of those in, then adapt them somehow to drive your wheels.

My guess is that they're a little bit sturdier than the SHO tx, just because they were built for a little more weight/ power..

Does Mazda make anything that works on the SHO? The tranny was originally their design.

My post probably sounds stupid, but I just wanted to throw out a few more options to check out. :evil_gri:

 

[JordanMelcon]

I was always taught in school: "There are no stupid questions, just stupid people."

 

[Kiwibird83]

To my knowledge the new mazda Manual transaxle bolts up to the same pattern as the 3.4 SHO V8, i.e any Duratec design engine, so you should be able to use an adapter plate from any 3.0 duratec, 3.4 and mehtinks the 2.5 too for your new transaxle.

With any luck the new 6 speed manual used in the mazda6speed bolts the same pattern, but its on a 2.3 Zetec, so I somehow doubt it, but if so the tranny is built for well up to 400 ponies.

As for other ideas you may want to PM Off Road SHO about his tranny choice in his sandrail, since its setup for rear engine, rear wheel drive and built to handle his boosted setup he should be able to give you some good pointers.

Otherwise, best bet would be to cryo strength the Stock MTX and add quaife diff and get it over with ^^

 

[thecrew2999]

cryo has been said to do not much over stock for such an expensive option.
what has been proven is that shot peened gears are stronger.
and that the input shaft on the mtx flexs and makes the gears ride on end.
the soultion would be have a stronger input shaft made and or shot peen the input shaft. thats the olny problem with the mtx if the input shaft didnt flex the gears would hold up to almost doubt the stock rating on stock untouched gears.