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Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:40 pm
by Range Runner
Are there any issues in putting a 6 speed transmission into a NA8? Or will it fit without any modification? I've read that the 6th gear is taller than a 5 speed. Does that give better fuel economy?
Also what's the best ratio diff to put in a NA8 with a 6 speed?
Thanks
RR
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:32 pm
by d-mag
No issues, will bolt up. You'll need a a 3.9 or 3.6 or you'll be revving higher @ 100kph in 6th than you were in 5th.
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:58 pm
by orx626
6-speed install starts about halfway down the page.
http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=29490&start=60For me the best diff ratio is 4.3. 3,400rpm @ 100kph in 6th gear is perfect (5th gear on a 5-speed was 3,300rpm @ 100kph)... right in the middle of the torque curve. The car is geared to give a top speed around 200kph. Perfect!

If you want performance, not improved fuel economy on the highway then 4.3 or higher is the answer. Fuel economy around town does not suffer because you should be one gear higher with the 6-speed than the 5-speed. ie. 5th is the new fourth.
Cheers,
Danny
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:16 am
by StanTheMan
Its interesting......How we all prefer different things.
I've drĂven a NA6 with a 6 speed & 4.3 diff. & hated it. Well, maybe not quite hated but seriously not my own preference.
But hen I've seen a white NA6 with the same/similar set up in a video up from Queensland. Can't recall who it was, it was someone from here. But it just absolutely flew.
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:23 am
by jerrah
The 6th gear is not as tall as 5th in the 5 speed.
You mean ZoomZoom?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GdPXJporso
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:28 am
by StanTheMan
yep....that's him.

Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:43 pm
by wun911
Wtih a 6 speed I do 110 kmph with 3 k rpm in 6th gear...
What revs are the 5 speed people when traveling at 110 km ph in 5th gear???
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:04 pm
by broady
NA8, 100km i'm at ~ 3400rpm i think.
Fitting a 6 speed box to a NA8
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:15 pm
by pcmx5
Its a bit of a dilemna really; most mx5's read 105klph when they are doing 100; if you fit a 6sp to an NA8A the speedo becomes accurate and you are about 200prm less at 100klmph than with a 5sp if you have changed from the standard 4.1 to a 3.9.
I reckon that most later NB's with a 3.69 ratio would gain heaps of driveabilty if they had a 3.9 ratio diff.My mates with NB8C's spend all their time on spirited runs in 3rd and fourth where I am in fourth and fifth and in the power band.
Sixth in an Nb8C is a nothing gear and is so high it must have a negative effect on economy in all but perfect higway cruising, which we have proved on a series of runs..
So a big vote from me for a six speed/ 3.9 combnation, especially with an lsd in any Mx that has more grunt than a 1.6.
Peter