Eww gross.
And I like weird stuff
Eww gross.
And I like weird stuff
I can't imagine how this wouldn't be a nightmare for serviceability. If you want to do a one-off swap like this just to be different, then fine, that's cool. I just don't see the market for a kit when there are so many objectively better options already out there.
And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
They aren't bad.
If it uses a BR-Z trans... it IS using a Miata trans.
buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
Keith Tanner said:I mean, there's one sitting right beside the engine in question.
You almost have to do it
NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Just feels like with all the available swaps for the Miata and the aftermarket for the Miata engine this is an answer looking for a question
Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Would explain his noise issues.
Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Not to derail here, but I put in competition mounts and still have it. Diff bushings?
Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Brand-new OEM engine mounts and polyurethane diff mounts
There's also no mention of the work that is required to convert the subie trans to rwd. You have to spool the center diff some how. They've also made up some front shaft blocking plates. does that mean they are using a non stub trans or have removed the front diff? An ej22 can be built to run very well but add another tick to the "there are better options" count.
I'll add that when we were looking at new engines for the rally car that the frankenmotor seemed to be the hot ticket but they never seemed to last all that long when pushed maybe do to junkyard parts maybe bad fuelling. If anyone wants the hot ticket on dual port ej22 head builds I am happy to share.
Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
It was extremely common when these trans were used in RX-7s, too. There's something funky going on in the shifter box.
Supposedly there is a simple mod one can do to the shift rod that makes it cross the gate more nicely, but I can't think of a way that does it without also increasing the likelihood of getting stuck between the 3 and 5 fingers. (Not literally between, but trying to engage both at once, like there's a half detent)
NickD said:Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Brand-new OEM engine mounts and polyurethane diff mounts
That's your problem. OEM motor mounts are made out of gummi bears. The heavy and tall motor is torqued over to the right when you are on the gas in second. Then as you left and clutch it swings back to the left as you shift and the shift gate literally becomes a moving target and you shove the lever into where 3rd should be just to find 5th. The shifter is doing it's job perfectly, your target moved.
Stiffer motor mounts and possibly a top mount stabilizer to keep the mill from twisting.
Keith Tanner said:BoxheadTim said:Keith Tanner said:Oh my god...
"This swap kit adapts the NA (naturally aspirated) Subaru phase 2 EJ 2.5 motor with phase 1 dual port heads."
That's my frankenmotor. I have the perfect engine sitting on my garage floor right now.
Fortunately you're the last person who would know where to find a free or cheap Miata, right?
I mean, there's one sitting right beside the engine in question.
And you are probably the one person on the forum who could do this conversion and write it off as a business expense (competitive research). 
My theory is that it’s all about timing. When you unload the drive train by disengaging the clutch, the engine rocks over. Since the Miata shifter is right in the trans and not some chassis mounted cable monstrosity, the gates move along with it. If you shift at the right (or wrong?) time, you’ll find that the gate for 5th is where 3rd used to be. The tight gates exaggerate the problem.
Limit the engine movement or develop the muscle memory. Make sure to keep your shifter and motor mounts in good shape. The diff mounts don’t contribute as much because the PPF is designed to twist.
I don’t think I’ve done a 2-5 shift in 15 years. All the parts in my car are stock.
And before the internet rumors get going - I have no interest in Subarizing my Miata. There after at least two other swaps I’d want to do first.
A 2-5 mis-shift seems like a lot less of a problem than the 4-2 shifts BMW's can be prone to (when you've rev'd it out in 3rd and go for 4th and hit 2nd instead).
_ said:Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Not to derail here, but I put in competition mounts and still have it. Diff bushings?
Gonna be this guy, but I've got Blackbird Fabworx drop mounts, and delrin diff bushings... My car still does it (especially above 7K rpm) with multiple transmissions (I go through 1 every 2 racing seasons @ 250whp). Unpopular opinion, but the NA/NB transmission is not a great one.
Sure it feels good at low speeds or "putsing" around like many old people do, but driven at race pace they are lackluster at best and explody at worst. People need to drive an AP2 S2000 for reference of what a good transmission should feel like. You can drive that at 10/10ths revving it out to 8K+ and it's basically impossible to either miss a shift or be unable to find a gate. It's also nice that they are strong until like 700+ whp.
*Edit* Worth it to note I've been through tons of fluid options. Also an EJ in a miata makes no sense when bolt on VVT motors can put down 150whp.
goingnowherefast said:_ said:Keith Tanner said:NickD said:buzzboy said:And you have to use the Subi transmission? Has anybody driven a Subi and thought, "I need this lack of transmission feel in my miata."
Honestly, I think the transmission is the only thing I actually like about my Baja. Too-high first gear and too-low fifth gear aside, the shifter seems pretty great. I can bangshift that with ease and hit the proper gear every time. Can't say the same about Miata transmissions. I've done my share of 2-5 upshifts on those
2-5 up shifts means it’s time to check those motor mounts.
Not to derail here, but I put in competition mounts and still have it. Diff bushings?
Unpopular opinion, but the NA/NB transmission is not a great one.
*Edit* Worth it to note I've been through tons of fluid options. Also an EJ in a miata makes no sense when bolt on VVT motors can put down 150whp.
Well, everyone says the 6-speed is worse shifting than the 5-speed. I much prefer the feel of my 6-speed.
And, yeah, the EJ engine without major building isn't going to make more than 160/170hp. I know there are guys with CSP Miatas running the '99-'00 engine making 170ish to the wheels from a header, intake and tune. And the Honda J-series V6 swap is probably just as cheap and less effort than the EJ swap and makes oodles of power and torque (and, my god, the noises. For a minivan engine, that thing makes some sweet sounds)
A 170 rwhp CSP engine is not a “header, intake and tune”. We’ve worked on one, and it involves things like testing multiple lengths of intake runner before the TB, tiny little alternators, custom cams and EP-style headers with 10’ of primary tubing. FYI. Thousands of dollars in dyno time alone
About the old people putzing around - remember that those “old people” may have been racing Miatas 30 years ago. Even the olds were young once. It’s possible drive them without the 2-5 even when young. Isn’t the S2000 trans basically the same one as the Miata 6-speed?
About the EJ swap - I get the impression that someone got a wild hair and decided to install a very specific engine for giggles. Which happens a lot, see the V12 and the twin V8s and even every rotary Miata. What sets it apart is that this someone made drawings and kept notes and decided to market it just because. It helps that it was managed without a new subframe, which is a significant investment.
Keith Tanner said:Why not just bolt Miata body panels on a Beetle in that case?
I was thinking more Miata shaped Boxster and am a little surprised you didn't see it that way vs. comparing it to a VW. It also has a lot of the details done vs. building something like the FF 818.
That said, I think I'd rather just get a Boxster, and avoid the Subaru thing altogether.
Keith Tanner said:About the EJ swap - I get the impression that someone got a wild hair and decided to install a very specific engine for giggles.
Company A made a Subaru to Toyota bellhousing, for rockcrawler folk. Stage rallyist B said hey, I got an idea.
This was long before the BR-Z existed.
The only reason I can think to do a subie/miata swap is if you do the H6 up front or put a turbo 4 or a 6 behind the seats.
goingnowherefast said:Gonna be this guy, but I've got Blackbird Fabworx drop mounts, and delrin diff bushings... My car still does it (especially above 7K rpm) with multiple transmissions (I go through 1 every 2 racing seasons @ 250whp). Unpopular opinion, but the NA/NB transmission is not a great one.
It's something about your shifting technique. 80+ track days and 100+ autocrosses in my 340 rwhp Miata and I have never once accidentally gotten 5 when I was aiming for 3.
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