[SoundoffFocus]

I am looking to build my motor, The auto is not known to be able to handle much over stock HP. My question is would it be more cost effective to build the auto or do a tranny swap. trading the car is NOT an option( I owe to much)

Tim

 

[EggYolk]

If you owe too much, then why spend the money on the engine and not pay off the car??? Does anyone have any money management skills anymore???

 

[SaxManZX3]

Ya i mean you should just wait and pay the thing off. Then once it is paid for, go off on it. Unless you can pay the payments and sav money to mod at the same time. But, i wouldnt do the swap. Too much to worry about. L8er Jon

 

[teamDFL]

If you owe too much, then why spend the money on the engine and not pay off the car??? Does anyone have any money management skills anymore???

Well, since Ford has been giving zero percent on loans, this statement doesn't really hold water. At zero percent interest there is no extra benefit to paying faster, and, as it is fixed over the course of the loan, your car payment is immune to inflation, therefore, in adjusted, referenced dollars, it goes down. So, by holding out and paying the minimum amount each installment, you are actually saving money long term. Since he could have bought the car with zero percent and no money down, the depreciation schedule of the car could just be well ahead of his payments, thereby putting him in a situation where he owes more money than the car is worth (hence impractical to sell) but has actually followed a sound fiscal plan. As long as he accounted for this by not needing to sell the car, all is well.

To answer the original question, trash the auto and put in a manual. It is the only choice if you like driving.

 

[EggYolk]

Since he could have

I guess your arguement doesn't hold water either until this is confirmed. Thanks for the Macro 101 review though.

 

[teamDFL]

Since he could have

I guess your arguement doesn't hold water either until this is confirmed. Thanks for the Macro 101 review though.

Well, actually, my arguement holds water, but whether it applies to his situation or not is yet to be seen. And you're welcome.

 

[EggYolk]

Well, actually, my arguement holds water, but whether it applies to his situation or not is yet to be seen. And you're welcome.

Semanics?? C'mon....my arguement holds up regardless of his "situation" too. According to a report released by ABC News a few days ago, the average American is $5,800 in debt (but with your Macro skills, they probably own atleast $5,800 in assets, so they're technically not in debt). Regardless, I believe this upholds my original comment that no one seems to have money management skills anymore. Hey man, we're both intelligent people and the Gator game is on - mucho importante!

 

[teamDFL]

Good call. Actually, I am WAY in debt. Mortgage, you know. I read one report that said the average American pays $87 in credit card INTEREST per month! Yikes. That is over $4350 in balance.

 

[StormStrikes]

Can anyone tell me specifically why the MTX is better than the ATX. Can the MTX handle a lot more torque than the ATX? Or is the ATX just fragile to begin with. Im not transmission specialist obviously, but I was under the impression that both the ATX and MTX were built for the same torque load one was just manual the other was automatic. Any insight to this would be so much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MaddockGrotsnik]

Im in the same situation as soundoffFocus. Switch to a 5 or stay Auto? Im really good friends with a guy who owns a transmission busniess here in NY. Im thinking that if I got a tranny he would put it in for next to nothing. So with any luck the only expensive part would be actually buying the transmission.Do you experts here think it would be worth it if I could get the tranmission put in fairly cheap? If one loves to drive manual is the way to go.

Know of a 6 speed trans that would hook up as well, that would be hot right there....mmmmmm mmmmm

.I wasnt sure if the SVT's tranny would so I thought I would ask if anyone knew of another that would bolt up to a 2000 zx3.

Thanks, Matt
Oh by the way im new so bear with me

 

[SyNRG]

I am looking to build my motor, The auto is not known to be able to handle much over stock HP. My question is would it be more cost effective to build the auto or do a tranny swap. trading the car is NOT an option( I owe to much)

Tim

im in the same dilemma dood, i've heard swapping to a manual would cost more than to build the auto tranny -theirs a thread somewhere, i saw it, just cant find it this early in the morning!

although, i wouldnt be doing any of this until the car is my secondary/project car.

"some company" sells a complete overhaul kit for the auto tranny, cost= $7k (ouch!!)

******

ck this out, just found these:
http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=32363&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=16784&Forum=UBB2&Words=manual%20swap&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=75&Old=allposts&Main=16779&Search=true#Post16784

http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=701557&Forum=UBB2&Words=manual%20swap&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=701557&Search=true#Post701557

 

[DisrupTer911]

why go to lentech and get an automatic from them...they make superior atx trannies.

not to mention, that a real drag race car isn't a manual but rather a lockout tranny...which makes it almost like an automatic. and an automatic is a helluva lot stronger b/c it doesn't have to worry bought physical mechanical connections and uses fluid pressure to change gears.

i love my automatic, and loving to drive doesn't require a manual. personally, i'd take an atx over a mtx just because i don't plan on auto crossing which requirs constant gear changing. my auto is just fine for the drag strip.

 

[blueovalbaboon]

you gonna drag? Get a lentech, Tom loves his, and i'll trust his opinion. IF i don't go over to a 3, i'm getting a lentech upgraded ATX.

You gonna auto-x? generally after the first 1-2 shift you sit in second geear all the way through (according to guru MichaelXI

).

YOu gonna road race? Yah, a manual woudl be much nicer, but a manually shifted ATX (lik the lentech), can actually shift faster than schumie can grab gears in an MT...won't be as smooth, but eh.

 

[jptech2004]

I've got an ATX too and I'm really thinking about swapping to a MTX. I know a built ATX is faster than a MTX but I just love the way a built 5spd zetec sounds shifting gears.

Oh, my car is paid off too.

 

[Focuskid00]

well I have to put my 2 cents in on this cause I am in the process of doing the swap and I would say find a junk yard and just buy the whole thing much easier to do I found a deal if you want to know more just pm me

 

[CLK_ZX3]

I bought a salvaged 2k focus for 500. The engine and tranny is in great shape, the guy just wanted a 1/4 panel and the rear wheel assemblies. If you keep your eyes open, you'll find a good deal. Only problem for me is getting the time to do it. If you get a good deal at a salvage yard, I can't imagine it costing you more than to get a new one and putting it in. I like the auto, but I find manual trans more fun(only my opinion).

 

[Twilight02ZX3]

Im going the upgraded auto road. Im getting the race overhaul kit from performance automatic in a couple weeks.

 

[SoundoffFocus]

anyone have more info on the performance auto race rebuild kit. the web site doesn't say anything about it. Well even the street tranny doesn't sound bad, 1995.00( 2995 with the 1000 off for core return) not a bad price I paid 1300 for a stock rebuilt a4ld(POS) in my old aerostar.

Tim

 

[SilverBulletZTS]

I've been in your situation and trust me, sell the auto and buy the stick.

 

[AlaFoci]

So far as I know I'm the only person to complete the auto to MTX swap and trust me it's the upgrade that's worth all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into it. I have directed everyone that asked to do as I did and simply buy a wreck. The cost would simply be too great otherwise. And as far as cost goes, the only other thing besides the wreck you should have to pay for would be getting your keys programmed for the wrecked car's ECU. Unless you're like me and have connections at the dealerships.

Good luck all

Kevin