The Ultimate Transmission Thread... Brainstorm Ideas Here!

[rurockn]

Found this by accident today: http://www.geocities.com/superbillybob/M5.jpg

[97rPGT]

Cool stuff!

[KaedenKy]

This mean we can use an escape differential? If it is more robust how so? Cost wise how much does it hurt

[Fastest95PGT]

This mean we can use an escape differential? If it is more robust how so? Cost wise how much does it hurt

As I understand, the differential is not the same size as ours so no, you cannot use it.

As an added note, theirs seems to be weaker than ours. Ours usually do not fail on their own, it requires the diff pin to slide out.. so weld it in place to help prevent that from happening!

[KaedenKy]

As I understand, the differential is not the same size as ours so no, you cannot use it.

As an added note, theirs seems to be weaker than ours. Ours usually do not fail on their own, it requires the diff pin to slide out.. so weld it in place to help prevent that from happening!

thanks for the update.

I currently have a tranny apart ready to be rebuild. Have new bearings and syncros, so Im always curious what else I can do to the car while its in pieces !

[Jeff_Jeske]

I dont know if I would weld that pin in. The heat from welding would probably weaken the pin.

Also how would you ever get the pin out again? My phantom grip caused that pin to snap and it took out my entire tranny.

JJ

[comish71]

ok folks, i read through this thread and coming down to the end here i still am not quite sure and maybe you can clarify for me. i have a g-series transmission (mx-3 1993). i would like a shorter 3rd gear. the ratio from the contour and focus (mtx-75) would be ideal. is it possible to just swap out the gear without changing forks or do i have to use a g-series tranny gear. thanks a lot.

[Fastest95PGT]

I dont know if I would weld that pin in. The heat from welding would probably weaken the pin.

That's entirely possible. But we're not talking about huge amounts of weld or anything. As a safety precaution (primarily due to your old threads ), I had my diff pin cryo'd so I'm not very worried. I welded both ends so it's not sliding out without a fight and I'm confident with it's strength to hold together while in place. Look forward to my upcoming "my diff broke" thread in the spring.

Also how would you ever get the pin out again?

Why would you remove the pin before the diff was destroyed? If I wanted to sell the PG I'd probably sell it inside a working diff for more as the spider gears are already ground.. then pick up a spare diff out of a tranny with bad synchros.

My phantom grip caused that pin to snap and it took out my entire tranny.

Everyone else I have spoken to says that the sheer pin broke and the diff pin began to slide out one end.. once one end is inside the diff the gears tear it apart. Are you saying that the pieces of your diff showed that one end of the pin was still in place with the sheer pin holding it?.. if not, I'd suspect my description is likely what happened.

FWIW, this is also very common to happen with other vehicles. But as you described is also possible... which is why they sell the "diff saver".

[95PGTTech]

just to throw my $.02, here is what I got directly from Ford:

Car...................1st.....2nd...3rd....4th.... 5th....Rev....FinDr.
2.5 2G Probe (M) 3.307 1.833 1.310 1.030 0.795 3.166 4.388
2.0 2G Probe (M) 3.307 1.833 1.233 0.914 0.717 3.166 4.105
91-94 Capri XR2 **Not available online...could get the book**
91-96 Escort GT, 3.307 1.833 1.310 1.030 0.795 3.166 4.105
91-96 Tracer
97+ Escort ZX2 . 3.307 1.833 1.310 1.030 0.795 3.166 4.105


Now I agree with the comment toss reverse and final drive out the window. You don't race in reverse, it's not like your ratio is so bad you're getting wheelspin shifting into reverse, etc. And we can't play around with final drives. Dish out the cash and find the Mazdaspeed LSD.

So it looks like we have no choices for first or second. However, if we wanted to have a longer 3rd we could use the 3rd from the 2.0 Probes (drag guys should like this...a faster speed going into fourth would be nice, pick up your top gear well into the powerband). Fourth we also have the choice of lengthening, although I doubt this would change much of anything. You're probably not getting ready to shift into 5th at the track now, and auto-x guys would not benefit from a long 4th as little time is spent in it...you could also lengthen fifth for the fuel economy benefit, if any 1/2 mile to the gallon...

So if these numbers are right (and I thought it was pretty weird they all came up the same so I checked your original post and sure enough Escort = Probe).

However, I was interested to find that the Escort ZX2 transmission is labeled M5. So I went on more research, and here are the three possibilities I came up with:

1. this thread, amongst others, are full of misinformation and we do not have the MTX-75 transmission, we have the M5, which would explain why the Escort so easily works wiith us.

2. We really have the MTX-75 transmission and the M5 just so happens to have similar internals (would explain the bell housing differences), in which case these two cars apply:

Car..................1st..2nd..3rd...4th..5th...Re v..FinDr.
5spd. Focus......3.42 2.14 1.45 1.03 0.77 3.42 4.06
Present Cougar

Also very interesting: the M5 transmission is listed as:

Manufacturer: Mazda
Location: Japan

The MTX-75:
Ford Motor Company
Cologne, Germany

So looking back, I think we need to decide:
1. Do we have an M5 transmission or an MTX-75? From the information I have been presented by Ford Motor Company, Mazda sources, and various reputable co-workers, I would say we do have the M5 5speed transmission.
2. Are the MTX-75 internals (except for the final drive) compatible with the M5? Based on the information available to me, it would seem this is the case.

So Jeff, just to clarify: did your gear ratios change with your Escort gearing, or did you simply use it as a rebuild to replace exactly what you had? Because the information I have here clearly says that your gearing should be the same exact as stock, which would make sense if you just wanted a cheap rebuild.

[95PGTTech]

because my post is so damn long, I had to finish up on another.

I am going to assume for the sake of argument that we have an M5 transmission. I am almost 100% positive of this at this point. IF, and this is going to be a big if, the M5 is not internally compatible with the MTX-75, we really only have gearing choices between the two Probes.

Now, on the flip side, if they are compatible, which I am also 90% sure of at this point because people have already stated in real life it works (although there seems to be some information about transmission codes), then we have the original variety of choices that the thread creater stated. I only listed the Focus and Cougar gearing to get started back on that track.

Here's to hoping that I'm dead right, because if I am, I look real good ( ) and we have a shitload of gearing choices.

Anyone want to comment on my million-word $.02?

EDIT **Also, if I'm right about the whole M5/MTX-75 situation, that would also explain why some of the differentials wouldn't fit...It's not that MTX-75's had different cases, it's that people were trying to put MTX-75 differentials in M5's. So we should be able to swap to any other M5 differential. The only one different apparently, again, is the Probe 2.0L. So you could swap a 2.0L Probe differential into a 2.5L Probe. I don't know why you'd bother with that when you could just chase after the LSD, but it's something to consider for those who wanted taller top ends. **

[rurockn]

Probes didn't come with MTX75's, not sure where that idea came from?

What I had mentioned in a past post was that I would like to machine an adapter place that would let me bolt a Duratec 3.0 MTX75 to my KL03 block and have custom CV's made to accomodate the offset and spline.

There are a couple companies that make complete aftermarket gearsets (even dog ring sets), many that make final drives and diff's...etc. for the MTX75, and thats where the main benefit comes in. Of course, along with a housing that doesn't crack so easily! There is even an 'off-road' version of the MTX75 available in Europe that has 9310 shafts along with a Torsen diff. ... all OEM parts

If you were really interested in a tranny swap the new saturn's mostly come with the sweet ass sweet 5-speed Getrags, problem is their new.

[95PGTTech]

Probes didn't come with MTX75's, not sure where that idea came from?

What I had mentioned in a past post was that I would like to machine an adapter place that would let me bolt a Duratec 3.0 MTX75 to my KL03 block and have custom CV's made to accomodate the offset and spline.

There are a couple companies that make complete aftermarket gearsets (even dog ring sets), many that make final drives and diff's...etc. for the MTX75, and thats where the main benefit comes in. Of course, along with a housing that doesn't crack so easily! There is even an 'off-road' version of the MTX75 available in Europe that has 9310 shafts along with a Torsen diff. ... all OEM parts

If you were really interested in a tranny swap the new saturn's mostly come with the sweet ass sweet 5-speed Getrags, problem is their new.

I would never trust a Getrag transmission from my dealing with their 5 and 6 speeds in 3si's. 300whp stock, major problems stock, and they commonly seem to go KABLAM with mods. at our power levels, they might be fine. then again, our transmission REALLY SUCKS, so I guess going to a transmission that only SUCKS is a significant upgrade.

One more person on the "we do not have an mtx-75 transmission" side. The more research I do, the more I think it's an M5, but at this point I definetely KNOW it's not an mtx-75. almost everything on probetalk points to mtx-75, but none of it is backed up with any facts. it's all people saying stuff. no links to external sources, no credible citations or even citations at that.

[Flyguyeddy]

fiero's use getrag 282's in them, and people run smallblock chevy's on em.

[95PGTTech]

fiero's use getrag 282's in them, and people run smallblock chevy's on em.

just because people DO, doesn't mean they SHOULD

I am in violation of that rule about a zillion times.

On a serious note though, Gertrag has it's good transmissions, perhaps I was a little too overly general. My familiarity with the 5- and 6-speed Gertrags in 3000GT VR4's and Stealth R/T TT's (which were supposed to be BEEFY to handle 302 AWHP for 200,000 miles) was utterly dissapointing.

The world record holder 3si non-pro 1/4 mile is being restricted to mid 10's because 4th likes to crap on itself. and the guy isn't running NEARLY the best set of turbos for the car, he's running DR-1000's, which probably ranks 3rd or 4th for drag race applications. I'd say the car is capable of hitting a high 9 with a good trans. and a bigger set of boosters.

[turbo_KL]

Take a look at MTX-75 internals and then to our G25M tranny internals and you will notice they are completely different.