Rabitz

Been chipping away little by little on the build...

here is the question that is GNAWING away at me every moment of my day.

been thinking of going automatic!

It is attached to the donor engine I have, and the paperwork shows it being quite built by the shop that performed the 347 work.

I love the miata as a manual, but would save 1-2k on a tranny since I already have this, and would possibly put an elcetronic shifter/paddles on it...

Has anyone done this? I know it is a lot larger too, so would exhaust routing be very hard? could the tunnel be massaged enough? and or cut (would not mind if I had to.

thanks,
Jason

Gator Bait

There's a turbo NC build going right now with an Auto that has some nice pics. You'll get some better responses with more info...is your car a NA, NB, NC, ... I'm assuming a blue oval build since you said 347...but that could help too. We're a small community but some of us have a bit more [hard] mileage than others with the resulting bad memories.

V8droptop

Boo Automatic.

That is all.

charchri4

Actually I think it would be great to have an auto and if (when) I do another build that is probably what I would do. Sure I love the 3rd pedal too but with an auto you never miss a shift and how cool would it be to have a V8 Miata with paddle shift in it? Besides Jason is right autos are a dime a dozen compared to a T56.

Just like the Ford vs Chevy debate there is plenty of advantages and disadvantages of both and both can be great.

cvx_20

I've had a 4R70W behind a 302 for several years, primarily necessary because of a knee problem that causes discomfort in traffic with a stick. I also have several manual Miatas that I drive occasionally. I prefer the automatic for a daily driver. The biggest disadvantage I see is the automatic is wider, thus more challenging when running exhaust, but not really a show stopper with 2.5" pipe. And the extra weight versus a T5.

The electronic control on modern automatics makes it quite possible to manually shift them if desired. My original install had the EEC-IV ECU that did not control the transmission, so I used a Baumann Engineering controller. Really a pretty simple device, I think there is now a Megashift that basically does the same control functions.

Mike

V8droptop

It would be fun to do paddle shift, and you can build an Auto anyway you like, in the end. I do like them, but the purist in me just loves a manual. It can also be less of a headache for the most part. Paddles, that would probably be pretty fun, though take some getting used to.

Rabitz

i didnt post more info, because this is a continuation of other things I have posted, I apologize for that. it is a 94 R spec miata, and a ford 347 is going in it.

I am thinking the wider part is gonna make it very difficult to run exhaust too...hoping someone has done that before.

as for the purist part...Porche, Ferrari, F1, Lamborghini, and many other race car companies would disagree with you

with 4.10s in the rear, a 302 and aode with shift kit and electronic shift control would kill any manual. given same track conditions and driver. sorry, this is just true.

do I love a manual over an automatic? well...that isnt the question here and both serve a wonderful purpose.

charchri4

True that. The auto shifts far faster and never misses. Still many people enjoy the visceral V8 Miata experience the NA can offer. With no assists the car has a simple, pure, raw connectedness that is hard to beat. The auto would significantly change that but IMO it is not a better or worse change, it's just great in a different way.

Gator Bait

Flag on play.... not all slush buckets are created equal. No standard Chevy or Ford auto is going to compare to a Porsche PDK. Hell...I HATE the Tiptronic in my wife's Cayman S. Even manually shifting it, it's just...blah... But take a test drive in a new PDK car...much wood. Then you take the older SMG that was in the M5...that dual clutch set up was crapstatic....ruined the car for me to the point I ended up with a Touareg instead.

My point is...it takes something special in an autoshifter to be anything beyond a commuter set up (for me).

Rabitz

LOL here we go!

hoping some info on fitment will come in to play soon.

but I digress...manual vs automatic...lets here it

Rabitz

in reality part of the reason I am thinking auto, is because I keep losing out on T5s on auction sites and on craigslist...Portland has their huge auto swap at Portland International Raceway this weekend, so im gonna head down there for parts and ***** and giggles. we will se what I can find. pretty much after i get transmission, I only need my axles and im ready to start building it.

then ill start a build post!! so close <giggity>

Gator Bait

Sorry about that.

charchri4

For fitmeent you may just have to see what you got when you get there. There are very few swaps with autos to draw from. If it was me I wouldn't worry about it and just go for it but I'm sort of not normal when it comes to cutting things on Miatas...

On the trans choice it just depends on what you like and what you want from the car and the car. Wifeys mini van pretty much makes sense to be an auto but some cars have to have manuals. A 1970 Boss 302 for example would be sheer blasphemy to even consider and auto in it, but a 2015 Boss with the 6 speed auto and paddle shifters, well, that could be a very interesting car to play with.

cvx_20

As far as fitment goes, the bellhousing area presents the same problems as the stick bellhousing, the main body of the trans fits fine, the only real problem is the exhaust routing as I mentioned before.

This may help:

MiataV8 Conversion: MiataV8 302 Exhaust

2 1/2" from the collector on back.

Mike

sbwrench

As far as autos go the ford aod is not great. If the valve body hasn't been done and od put on an electric button than all kinds of shifting theatrics are required to hold second gear. As in slap it into second and then when it shifts, pull it back to first to hold second. Next up-shift gives you third and then the next gives you od. It has four gears but only three gates. If Lentech did the trans you'll probably be ok.
I had built a foxbody with a 408 and aside from the fact I broke a few of them before getting one to live, it was great for a daily driver. The few times I did track days it wasn't great but it was sufficient. I'd like to see the new Caddy 8 speed auto with paddels and all the current stratagies in place. Auto blip on downshifts and all that cool stuff

Rabitz

Its an AODE, not sure how different that is to an AOD?

Rabitz

cvx, that link is great. a lot of help

Mmonster

I had an AOD in my monster for a wile (loved it but felt it was inappropriate for a sports car) I moved the trans mount and cut 1/8" off the end of the drive shaft yoke, fit great

Rabitz

Is an AOD the same size as an AODE?

cvx_20

Looks to be the same external dimensions, the big difference is inside where the shifting is done by electric solenoids rather than hydraulic valves and accumulators. So the AOD-E and 4R70W need an electronic controller or an ECU that will control the auto, the AOD needs a TV linkage rod.

Mike

tbone heller

If the throttle valve cable is not properly adjusted, the transmission will not last very long.

V8MiataMike

Depending on what has been done to the AODE, the big difference with the AODE and 4R70W is the gear ratios. But you can swap the 4R70W gear guts and other parts (the more desirable stuff) into and AOD and AODE. So overall dimensions for the AOD, AODE and 4R70W are pretty much the same I believe.

If you have a running/working EEC of some kind already tuned to and drive the engine and trans nicely then you have no "controlling" issues to deal with. Should be good to go! Just the bulk is all that you have to deal with. No throttle valve/cable on an AODE or 4R70W to deal with either.

Mike

Rabitz

great, thanks for the info!

Redrocket

I have '90 with 302 linked to a T5 the clutch is getting tired and I am considering changing to an automatic when I pull it apart. What mounting/space issues will I encounter and what tranny is suggested? Thanks

charchri4

Did you look at Mikes link ^ up there?