restomod transmissions

[scampbel98]

Has anyone figured a way to put on a more modern 5 or 6 speed tranny?

[vandor]

Sure, it can be done, if you are willing to pay for custom machining of adapters. The one guy that did it years ago paid over $4000 by the time it was all done. That was for a racing trans, so not applicable to the street.
I looked into some of the 6-speeds, and the ratios were all wrong, 6th was shorter than the 5th on the Spider!
FWIW the Polski transmission that is available for Spider has a 5th gear that is 10% longer than stock.

[carl]

When all the internals are in good shape, a stock spider 5-speed is a really nice gearbox so I see no reason to try and install something more modern. With the torque spread off a 2L motor there is no need for six speeds and if you want a more relaxed cruising rpm, just install a rear from an auto spider. As noted, the work and money needed to install a more modern gearbox would be prohibitive given you would reap no real improvement for street driving. Having said all this, it's always nice to know if anyone has tried different gearboxes but I'm not aware of anyone doing this.

[BWEFirearms]

I have a 1980 with an automatic transmission. Has anyone tried to put a modern 4, 5, or 6 speed automatic transmission in a spider?

[carl]

The spider 5-speed is the usual conversion transmission when getting rid of the auto box. Done this many times, it's a direct bolt on.

[TimpanogosSlim]

A 5-speed from a 131 is the most common "more power" upgrade. Known to handle upwards of 400hp. You'll need the forward section of the drive shaft from an automatic, or you can have your drive shaft shortened.

It's a longer transmission and unless you have the Abarth version there is no extension on the back for the shift lever. The stock lever in the original position will put your fist into the center console.

Theoretically you could bend or replace the lever to get around that. I haven't heard of it being done.

With the Abarth extension, the shift lever will be in the ash tray.

At least one person has, with great difficulty and at no small expense, shortened the extension to put the shift lever in the same position as the 124 gearbox.

The automatic transmission is a common unit from GM France, and is probably a lot more stout than the 124 manual. You'll find it's relatives in the Chevette, the Geo Tracker, many straight-6 BMWs of the 80's and 90's, and a whole lot of Holden cars down under.

[chrisg]

seems like the area of significantly diminished returns on a classic Fiat to me. Along with an engine swap (which, in turn, would make the transmission a no brainer concept), I get the idea. To follow even the most radical of twin cams expected, I dunno....

but, then again, I find each day I know less and less....

[TimpanogosSlim]

seems like the area of significantly diminished returns on a classic Fiat to me. Along with an engine swap (which, in turn, would make the transmission a no brainer concept), I get the idea. To follow even the most radical of twin cams expected, I dunno....

but, then again, I find each day I know less and less....

I hear that turbo spiders routinely shred the stock 5-speed. More than about 7psi, anyway.

[Nanonevol]

I would bet that if you changed tranny oil regularly and didn't grind gears while shifting your transmission would live a long happy life.

[TimpanogosSlim]

I would bet that if you changed tranny oil regularly and didn't grind gears while shifting your transmission would live a long happy life.

And if no one, ever, put modern EP gear oil in it.

[carl]

Since stock turbos didn't make a significant amount of power compared to a stock 2L, I doubt, and have never heard of them destroying their gearboxes any more than warmed over normally aspirated motors. It's all about the idiot doing the shifting. Treat your manual gearbox with respect, regardless of what car it is.

[pgilling]

After lots of investigations about upgrading the original transmission and looking at alternative 'boxes, I eventually listened to trusted experts in this matter and had a 131 box installed with the remote shifter (some call it the 'Abarth shifter').

Fortunately I found a guy who had done this before (including to his TopGear replica Lotus Lada - see here: http://www.ladaracing.hu/jobbkormanyos/) and the results were fantastic. No need to cut the transmission tunnel, just lower performance engine mounts, minor alterations to the gearbox cradle support, lose the ashtray to permit the gearstick to move back 2-3" and finally a shorter propshaft. Some details here on Page 4 of my thread: http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 0&start=45

Quite a bit of work, but the original gearbox is just not up to the job of coping with much above 100 bhp. The new 'box is a huge improvement and bombproof! Remote shifters can be difficult to acquire but they can be sourced relatively easily in Eastern Europe. I think Ramsey from Autoricambi may have a couple and I have a contact if needed.

Phil