In my trawling of the internet, and the aftermarket as a whole, something that has struck me as very odd is that aftermarket gearsets for manual transmissions are exclusively a high-dollar modification. Gearsets can't seem to be found cheaper than several thousand dollars, and as a result transmissions are swapped frequently or huge amounts are spent to build them with these overpriced gears. I happen to know that gears, even of very high quality, do not cost a tremendous amount to make if sourced well, and am curious how interested the GRMM community would be in an offshore, budget produced gear option for readily available transmissions.
For example, the GM MA5 transmission is all over the place for fairly little money, but has poor gear ratios, weak synchos, and achy-breaky internals. If a forged gearset, whether OEM style or with better ratios and design, this trans could be a budget T56/R154 replacement. Anyone want to weigh in on this? Would bringing the built transmission price down below buying a used T56 be an option people would consider?
If you could produce a forged gearset with a known TQ rating that signifantly improves say, a Miata 6 spd, or BRZ/FRS 6 spd, etc.
You'd sell them like hotcakes. The problem is, I don't think you can get it together that cheap even with a huge group buy on a popular platform. Most of the big vendors have tried and failed. Even something as simple as a R&P gearset for Miata's has proven troublesome to do.
But a forged gearset, with everything you'd need to install them for $2k? You can buy a new T56 magnum for $3500 and it's rated to 700lb ft.
yes, for sure. I think that if there was another realistic MT option behind the LS motors people would be all over it.
But holistically, the transmissions should be assessed first. How is shift quality and throw? Weight/size? RPM limitations? Separate-able bellhousing? Multiple shifter locations for swaps? Clutch availability?
What about something like the WC T5? Aren't there already any number of gearsets available for that? Would you be able to beat pricing/quality on those?
Robbie wrote:
yes, for sure. I think that if there was another realistic MT option behind the LS motors people would be all over it.
But holistically, the transmissions should be assessed first. How is shift quality and throw? Weight/size? RPM limitations? Separate-able bellhousing? Multiple shifter locations for swaps? Clutch availability?
What about something like the WC T5? Aren't there already any number of gearsets available for that? Would you be able to beat pricing/quality on those?
Agreed on an available option(s)... not everyone has 5k to unload on an "unbreakable" transmission that you shift for yourself. Not to mention another $1500 for a "decent" clutch. Don't forget everything else to make it work for at least a grand more...
While there are claims that optional gearsets for the T5 can take 600hp/500+ ft/lbs, they just don't last. Either the clutch can, or has to, be too aggressive or the material, 9310 in this case, just doesn't last for long. The whole kit with the gearset and upgraded mainshaft will put you back $2500 before even putting it in a case, for which there is an aftermarket upgraded case for another 600$... And you still have a T5 in the end. You can do a 3550/TKO/TKO500/TKO600, but the few features you get like multiple shifter locales, different input shafts, you get a few big difficult issues like physical size, they hate high RPM shifts, "special" fluid to name a few.
After all that, I'll take my "magical smoke" box everyday all day and still be cheaper even with spending $1500+ on a converter.
i think cost would be the make-it-or-break-it point, especially if you are needing to buy the trans to put the gearset in. Once you surpass the cost of a used T56 ($1000-$1500) then i'd imagine people would just go for the t56.
I know that you can get an adapter plate and flywheel for $600 to use put a LS to the manual trans from a Z32 300zx which are good for pretty big power (similar to t56 strength). So $600 for the adapter/flywheel plus whatever price you can find a trans for, if you can pick one up for $200 or less you are pretty well under what a LS t56 goes for. That is what i'm doing for my 4.8 that i'm putting in my Z31 300zx but it came with an extra trans so it saved me that cost.
Thanks for the feedback guys. Didn't realize how cheap T56s could be, plus the other options available.
