New to the site, in search of trans Q/A

[coopman76]

I have a 97 Protege LX BP..It has an atx. I would like to swap it for mtx...Not really sure about models to use and years..I saw all the engine swap info..But no trans swap info... Any help would be greatly appreciated..

[tireboy]

welcome to c.p. use the search feature it is your friend. i am pretty sure this swap has been covered..

[irishkev90]

Welcome!

Easiest thing to do would be to find a manual transmission from a second generation Protege, 1995-1998, in any trim level. They all used the same manual transmission, an F-series, except for the '95 ES which used a G-series. Either will work. I believe the G-series is stronger and has shorter gearing, which would improve acceleration. The F-series is said to be weaker and have longer gearing, which would improve fuel economy. I may be wrong with those two statements, but I think I'm right.

You'll also need a clutch pedal assembly, clutch master cylinder, clutch fluid lines, and clutch slave cylinder. There's a plastic block off plate on the firewall next to the brake pedal for the clutch to bolt to so there's no need to cut a hole.

There's also the rewiring of the automatic wiring harness. You'll have to wire up the reverse sensor to the existing harness so that the reversing lights come on when you back up. You'll also need to wire in the clutch safety switch, which prevents the car from starting if the clutch pedal is not pressed all the way. What surprised me, however, is that my car has connectors in the footwell near the pedals for the clutch safety switch and a cruise cancel switch (both located on the clutch pedal assembly). So I'm not sure if wiring in the safety switch yourself is necessary.

Besides that you'll need to swap out the automatic transmission flywheel/flexplate or whatever it's called and get a manual transmission flywheel. You can get a lightweight one for a Miata if you'd like. As well as a clutch and pressure plate.

Happy swapping!

[coopman76]

Thank you for the info...Any idea if the same escort years would bolt up? What about the computer? does it need to be calibrated or anything?

[irishkev90]

Computer should be fine, just rewire what's needed in my above post. As for the Escort transmissions, I think anything from a 1.8L Escort would work, I don't know if they're a G-series or F-series, though. Mounts are another thing I forgot to mention before, the automatic and manual transmission mounts may or may not be the same. I haven't actually done the swap myself yet, I've just restated things I've learned from this community. Also, axles I forgot about as well. You might need manual transmission axles.

You said your car is an LX with a BP. Was that swapped in? The LX trim level came with a 1.5L Z5 engine, not the 1,8L BP.

One more thing, what area of Upstate NY are you in? I'm in the Glens Falls area and have been looking for some other guys to hang out/wrench with around here.

[MazdaNoob]

escort GT 90-96? iirc only .. no other trim levels and it's a g series dunno about what trans came in the other trim levels or later years

[coopman76]

I'm in Walton..your right I have he 1.5 not the 1.8...have you heard of a shift kit for the auto trans? I've been searching around...I can't figure out if it is an actual kit or there is a way that I can just change the shift points. I don't think I will be able to do the swap till summer.

[irishkev90]

Haven't heard of that. I usually just use the 1-2-D-O/D Off to "control" my shift points.

[lancewbell]

I have a 2000 dx with 1.6 (i've already rebuilt engine 3mos ago) on my second tranny. shifts to 1st and Reverse only. New speed sensor. no change. Rebuilt valve body -no change. Found a 98 manual 5 speed. will swap work as previously described above?

[Mazda_Powered]

no you need to be chassis specific afaik with that engine. So 99+ 1.6 stuff