I have read that you can swap a 6 spd tranny from a mazda to a focus. The swap they were talking about was to a 2.3 Dtec focus. Since the 2.3 and 2.0 use the same block would the 6 spd tranny bolt onto a 2.0Dtec? I am to understand that you would need custom CV axles which isn't a problem but what else would you need? Is this even possible? I want a 6 spd for top end purposes and I drive over 100 miles a day so that extra gear would really save well needed gas money.

my bad disregard lol I have trouble reading

^^^ He was talking about the 6-speed from the Mazda, not the SVT Getrag.

hes talking about the 6 speed they use in the mazda (mazdaspeed 3 right?)
I'm not sure if it will be an economically viable move for you, but if you are mainly attempting to consume less fuel, then this will most likely help, but then again there are other things you can do instead to improve fuel economy without making a major mechanical move like this...
I don't know what your transmission & final drive ratios are, but here is a website that can help you figure out where you would be gearing wise: http://www.kabamus.com/garage/gears.html input your informaion and click "show speed" and it will give you accurate numbers of where you will be rpm vs speed. good luck!

just fyi to all the other svt drivers out there... the mazdaspeed 3 has better ratios than the getrag...dammit...

i was thinking bout getting a mazda 3...They are really nice..

I want a 6 spd for top end purposes and I drive over 100 miles a day so that extra gear would really save well needed gas money.

Just remember, the amount of money you are going to spend to make it work will take years upon years to make up the savings in fuel economy. [;)]

well I'll be getting the parts out of junkyard. Trannies down here are $65 with a 30 day guarantee, I'm a diesel mechanic so I won't have a problem fabbing the neccessities or doing the work, but I do want the 6 spd and the way gas is going to be in a couple of years it may not save a lot but I will be able to have some fun

and yes I was referring to the mazda 3

Does anyone know if it will bolt up or not?

It should in theory, but I don't think anyone has attempted this before, so there is no 100% answer.

I like those odds, now I just have to find a wrecked Mazda 3

lmao at u liking those odds good luck

I like those odds, now I just have to find a wrecked Mazda 3

If you see any 05 to 07 zx3's out while your looking, let me know where it is, I need a few parts.

If you make the custom axles, let me know, I'll buy a set off you.

This has been a dream of mine all along, but I don't have the ability to make custom axles myself, and can't afford to hire a shop to make them.

cheers,

-- michael

Well....

I'm in talks right now to pick up an MS3 transmission, and it looks like I'll need to do the following to make it work:

Fabricate custom axles
Fabricate a lower mount / torque mount (not sure if this is 100% needed, some aftermarket MS3 mounts may work)
Replace the stock focus shifter assembly with the MS3 shifter assembly & shift cables
Replace the focus clutch with a MS3 clutch (should bolt right up since I've got the 2.3L duratec, and I can't imagine the crankshafts are different)
Run custom wiring for the vehicle speed sensor and for the reverse light switch

Obviously if it goes through and I buy the tranny I'll post a build thread with progress.

cheers,

-- michael

if you get a 6spd my 5 will still beat you off the line.

if you get a 6spd my 5 will still beat you off the line.

Probably, I'm not really that great of a driver, and I don't have any plans to race my car, its basically my only car.

I like fun canyon roads, and I like shifting though, and since this is a daily driver, the extra gear on the highway will be nice for long road trips (though I know it will never pay for itself.)

Also, I just like the prospect of doing something unique, and when the torsen is $500+ shipping, and you still need the speedo gear, and new bearings, you're closer to $600 shipped, and I can get the whole MS3 transmission for that, shipped as well.

Granted I'm then out a few hundred $$ on custom axle work, and the custom mount, and another couple $$ for the MS3 clutch and flywheel, but all in all, the prospect of doing a one-of-a-kind 6-speed duratec is really appealing to me, especially when it will likely be less than $1000 to do it.

Anyway, if you go forward with the whole MS3 swap, I want to see pictures and numbers!!!

cheers everyone,

-- michael

i was messin. lol

i was messin. lol

No worries man...

I still want to see you do the whole MS3 DISI swap... so tempting, but I just can't afford to pay for all the custom ECU work.

cheers,

-- michael

If you see any 05 to 07 zx3's out while your looking, let me know where it is, I need a few parts.

if I find one I'll post it on JRS first, haven't had much time or money to go to a junkyard lately, but I hope to be going this weekend if everything lines up right, the_stig is needing help with a swap.

Quick update, the shifter assembly will need to be changed too, and I'm currently researching if the SVT shifter will work, but I'm having a hard time finding information about the mazdaspeed3 6-speed transmission.

Does anyone know if its a twin output shaft like the mt285 getrag thats in the svt?

Time for another update.

Nobody seems to know exactly who makes the mazdaspeed 3 6-speed transmission, but the two most likely candidates are that its either a GETRAG 6MTT450, or an Aisin BG6.

If its the getrag, it may be possible (like I posted last night) to use the shifter assembly and linkages/cables from the SVTf, which would shave a boat load off the total cost, as I'm having a hard time sourcing a used MS3 shifter, and to buy all the parts new it adds up to around $700 (can we say over-inflated even more than ford?!)

Another potential benefit if it turns out to be a GETRAG, is that the axles may share the spline diameter and number of teeth as the SVTf, which could make the axles a non-issue, with the best case scenario being that the SVT axles would be plug and play, though I'm not really counting on this.

Anyway, I'll keep updating as I learn more.

cheers everyone,

-- michael

actually the Mazdaspeed 3 6-speed transmission is produced by mazda, not an outside manufacturer...

the designation is A26M-R

here are the technical specs, hope this helps

Used with
L3-VDT

Type
6MT, FWD

1st gear
3.538:1
2nd gear
2.238:1

3rd gear
1.535:1

4th gear
1.171:1

5th gear
1.085:1

6th gear
0.853:1


1st-4th gear Final Drive
3.941:1


5th-6th & Rev gear Final Drive
3.350:1


Reverse
3.831:1


Differential
LSD


Shift mechanism
remote, cable actuation


Clutch cover set load
1030kgf (10100N)

Hey macdaddyslomo, thanks for the information, I had found it before with google, but couldn't remember where.

I wish it were as simple as your information, but alas its not. While I know that the Mazda designation for the MS3 transmission is A26M-R (and for the MS6 is the A26MX-R, the X stands for the transfer case differential with their AWD implementation) there is a debate in the mazda community if its actually a mazda designed or manufactured part.

Back in February, Road and Track ran an article comparing the new Dodge Caliber SRT-4 to the Mazdaspeed 3 (link to the article: http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=6293) and in it they mention that the two cars share GETRAG 6-speed transmissions, and this spawned a discussion over at Mazda3forums (link: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=100133.0) where the general consensus is that it is in fact a Getrag 6MTT450 transmission, or at least those internals.

Another big part here is that the shift tower on the A26M-R looks basically identical to a standard GETRAG shift tower, but I've had a hard time finding a picture of the MT285 in the SVTf to be able to compare them.

If anyone has any more information about the Mazdaspeed 3 box I'd love to hear it. I know that the factory installed Limited Slip Differential is not a Torsen type, but a conical-clutch type (whatever that means) and the general opinion is that while its considerably better than an open differential, its not quite as good as a quaife or torsen ATB differential.

I was also looking through some mazda parts catalogs/diagrams, and found that the clutch slave cylinder for the MS3 is bolted to the transmission, and if the gearbox turns out to be made by getrag, then I'm hoping that I can just swap in an SVT throwout bearing (assuming the input shaft diameter is correct) so I don't need to try and modify the clutch hydraulic lines/system.

Thus far the only thing I can really say with any certainty is that I know the transmission will bolt to my 2004 2.3L PZEV/duratec engine, assuming I use the mazdaspeed 3 clutch, pressure plate and flywheel. Aside from that, the rest is all still in the planning/research stages.

Like I keep saying, my hope is that parts will be easy to modify (or maybe even plug and play in certain instances) but that's not my realistic outlook on the potential swap.

cheers everyone,

-- michael

interestingly enough i was over on the jet reading about some guy having tranny problems which brought up a memory lol. my dads zx5 had a shift solenoid go (related to the guys problem on the jet) and when he was at the shop getting it fixed he said the pistons where the clutch plates are, are made of like a heat treated aluminum instead of steel sleeved, something along those lines anyway. and they have a lot of problems, thats what the guy @ the mr. transmission place told him.

From what you said mjmallon, assuming that the bolt pattern for the 2.3 PZEV is the same as the 2007 2.0 DTec since the blocks are the same, essentially the 6 spd MS3 tranny will bolt up to my tranny, granted I use the clutch linkage, clutch assembly, and throwout berring, once again, I don't believe I will be having any problems with the CV axles that i can't have cut or welded. Am I to understand you correctly?

From what you said mjmallon, assuming that the bolt pattern for the 2.3 PZEV is the same as the 2007 2.0 DTec since the blocks are the same, essentially the 6 spd MS3 tranny will bolt up to my tranny, granted I use the clutch linkage, clutch assembly, and throwout berring, once again, I don't believe I will be having any problems with the CV axles that i can't have cut or welded. Am I to understand you correctly?

Don't forget that you may need to fabricate a custom lower motor mount for the transmission, and also a custom driver-side motor mount, as I can't find the measurements to verify if the mazdaspeed3 mounts will swap over to the focus subframe.

As of right now, my plans are indefinitely cancelled, basically got evicted and have to move by June 1st, and need to come up with a $2800 security deposit.

good luck man, I'd love to see the swap completed!

cheers,

-- michael

hmmm... I assumed the SVT engine was setup like the Zetec. I am unsure if the Zetec and Duratec have the trannies on the same side or if they are mounted opposite of each other. I was thinking the whole time that if someone did a zetec tranny swap to a duratec engine then they will have a 5-speed reverse car. I am sure that I am wrong. I would love to find a 6-Speed in my 2007 ST.

hmmm... I assumed the SVT engine was setup like the Zetec. I am unsure if the Zetec and Duratec have the trannies on the same side or if they are mounted opposite of each other. I was thinking the whole time that if someone did a zetec tranny swap to a duratec engine then they will have a 5-speed reverse car. I am sure that I am wrong. I would love to find a 6-Speed in my 2007 ST.


Hi, the SVT is setup identical to the zetec, and the svt/zetec and duratec are mounted the same way in the engine compartment, transmission on the driver side, engine on the passenger side. However the SVT 6MTT285 getrag is NOT the 6-speed transmission we're talking about.

What we've been talking about is swapping the Mazdaspeed3 6-speed manual transmission (Mazda calls it the A26M-R, and it may actually be a 6MTT450 manufactured by Getrag) into the duratec equipped focus as they share the same block (though the mazdaspeed got VCT, DISI, alloy block, built internals and a factory turbo) and the transmission will physically bolt up, though the mounts, axles and shift cables/tower are anyone's guess.

I no longer have the money to pursue this, had my rent raised beyond what I can afford, so I have to move by June 1st, and now I need to come up with a $2800 security deposit for the new place I'm moving into, but if anyone wants to try this, I know a seller with a complete Mazdaspeed3 transmission, clutch, flywheel and pressure plate that was asking $900 shipped for it.

cheers everyone,

-- michael