What should I do with my busted trans ATX?

[ScottyDsntKno]

I have 3 options here:

1-Sell the car as is, I don't have the time or inclination to part it out and then use my 95 cobra as a daily driver and get killed by gas prices.

2-Buy a wrecked car(already found one for a good price) and swap in the atx that was suppossedly rebuilt 30,000 miles ago...but I don't know about a used auto.

3-Find a MTX parts car and swap that over but my fiance's stepfather is an ASE certified Honda mechanic and every time I mention a 5 speed swap he tells me flat out that its more trouble than its worth especially since I already have a 5 speed sports car. To quote him "I'm telling you not to do it because I like you, not because I don't think its a good idea".

The car is in great shape mechanically and interior wise its flawless which is why I'm loathe to part with it. The car is off the road due to no fault of its own and ran like a champ. No clunks/rattles, EVERYTHING works, all switches/vents/seats/plastic in great shape, I recently fixed the weatherstripping and it is pretty quiet now. Ugh...I hate my luck.

How hard is it to drop the subframe and swap auto trannies over anyways?

 

[bubba]

4 buy a FPS trans and be done with it. Rebuild once. That's what I would or going to do.

 

[SeanMc]

Replace with a built tranny.

 

[Phoenix]

I'd say swap with with a MTX. But you need these things beforehand:

1- Garage or a place to work with tools to do it yourself , this is usually not something you get done by other mechanics or its gonna cost you an arm.

2- Time.

If you hate ATXs , it'll be worth it. If you like not having to shift , get the ATX a rebuilt.

Theres several write-ups on the subject.

 

[ScottyDsntKno]

Yeah I read up on the MTX swap. Like I said I have a 5 speed cobra I'm frantically rebuilding to get it on the road so I have a car. Its gonna be making about 350hp and guzzling gas. I found a parts car with a trans the owner claims was rebuilt 30,000 miles ago and shifts great. I probably should just do that swap since I doubt I'll get any decent amount of money for a busted trans car as is and then I'd have a reliable car for the next 2-3 years.

Unless I can find an MTX parts car close to me but I need to get this thing back on the road soon...

 

[Mike93]

You really don't need an mtx parts car to do the swap...I did it to mine with minimal mtx parts. Granted it is a bit easier with a parts car, but you can piece together the necessary parts.

You do need from the mtx (to do it the way I did):

*subframe
*mtx trans (buy mine )
*lower mtx mounts
*trans mount
*upper and lower radiator hoses (buy new)
*TB to MAF hose
*exhaust manifolds
*y-pipe
*catback or customizing the atx catback to the mtx y pipe
*clutch cable (buy new one)
*clutch pedals (buy from me )
*shifter
*plug for neutral safety and revese lights from an mtx. These get plugged into the atx wire harness.

I'm 99% sure I'm not missing anything...

This swap is as easy as replacing the atx. You're removing most of the parts anyway, may as well replace with a trans that weighs 100 lbs. less

 

[ScottyDsntKno]

Yeah see I'd want a parts car for all that. I can't do this piecemeal if I do it and I'm not paying for shipping on an MTX subframe. I wasn't aware MTX subframes were different though...

 

[Mike93]

Yeah see I'd want a parts car for all that. I can't do this piecemeal if I do it and I'm not paying for shipping on an MTX subframe. I wasn't aware MTX subframes were different though...

Only real differences are the mounting points for the engine and trans mounts.

Another thing to consider is the time and effort involved with dismantling a parts car. You could easily buy all the necessary parts (some new, some used), pay for shipping, and be around $1000 total investment. Nearly half the price of an atx build. Or you could pick up a parts car for less than a $1000 and spend the time to take it apart...just have to evaluate what your time is worth.

Here's my very rough stab at parts prices, with shipping estimates included:

* $150 subframe
* $300 mtx trans
* $75 lower mtx mounts
* trans mount
* $25 upper and lower radiator hoses (buy new)
* $10 TB to MAF hose
* $25 exhaust manifolds
* $225 y-pipe (new from Summit)
* $75 customizing the atx catback to the mtx y pipe
* $30 clutch cable (buy new one)
* $50 clutch pedals (buy from me )
* $100 rod shifter
* $10 plug for neutral safety and revese lights from an mtx. These get plugged into the atx wire harness.

Like I said, rough estimate...you may find a lot of the parts for cheaper than my guesses since SHO parts are dirt cheap right now.

 

[ScottyDsntKno]

Well I did find a MTX parts car near me too, not sure how much the guy wants for it, he PMed me and I replied. After talking to my fiance though I think I'm going to go with the cheap ATX parts car I found, swap the ATX, slap the bigass trans cooler I have yet to install on it along with a shift kit. That should allow the trans to last probably as long as the car as long as the rebuild on the trans was indeed 30,000 miles go as claimed.

 

[ScottyDsntKno]

Ugh, or I might just got with the MTX... Reliability with those is alot better and that's mainly what I'm looking for. I suppose my fiance would just have to learn stick in case she ever needed to drive in a pinch.

 

[projectSHO89]

Well I did find a MTX parts car near me too, not sure how much the guy wants for it, he PMed me and I replied. After talking to my fiance though I think I'm going to go with the cheap ATX parts car I found, swap the ATX, slap the bigass trans cooler I have yet to install on it along with a shift kit. That should allow the trans to last probably as long as the car as long as the rebuild on the trans was indeed 30,000 miles go as claimed.

Forget the shift kit. Those have to be installed at rebuild time.

Steve