Topic: 6 speed manual Gearbox

[Sol Asylum]

Arabas

What you really need to know is what engines have the same bolt pattern as ours, with regard to how the bell house mounts.  Then you could see what cars those engines are used in and what transmissions are used in those cars.

The bell house is the funnel looking part on the left side of the pictures.  It serves a couple of purposes: acts as an adaptor/mount between the engine and trans, and houses the clutch and release mechanisms.  Its possible that GM or anyone else that uses this transmission will have several versions of the bell house depending on the mounting provisions on the engine.  For example a 4 cylinder and a V8 with different bolt patterns could use the same transmission all that would be needed is a different bell housing.

So saying that any particular car uses the same transmission doesn't rally mean much unless you know that it uses the same bell house.  You really would need to have parts catalogs to figure some of this out.

Another thing that you need to consider if you find a different transmission/bell housing that will bolt up is how will the gear ratios work out?  You might find that you also need to change the differential ratio.

[1LILNDN]

Arabas : The link that is in your post only shows sky,solstice,and coupe N/A and GXP use the same trany. The two pictured above are completly different. The bell housing for our cars is no match. Even the drive shaft connector is not the same. NOW most important of all  the length of the motor 4 cyc, verus V8 .even if they made an adaptor it changes the length . bell housing is a part od the whole case. Only way is to call GM to see if theres a 6 speed that bolts up to the Solstice or Sky Motors.

[Kelu]

I don't understand something, what is the main goal of this topic?

To make 4th and 5th gears stronger?

I felt myself 4th gear being very "weak" in drag races just because is very long 70 mph - 135 mph (110 kmh - 220 kmh), by switching with a six gears you will end up with a very nasty tranny something like S2000 when you have to shift all the time and never know where you have to be.

I drove in Greece near Thessaloniki and is close to some parts from Romania, our gearbox is pretty good in these condition, George just get yourself a great tune and you will see a stronger 3rd and 4th gear, 5th gear used only for mpg.

Sorry for distracting the main subject of this topic but my thoughts are different, I would improve the gears behaviors with something like a stand alone or ALS over a swapped turbo or gear ratios for drag races, but for daily driving I will not do a gearbox swap at all because our stock is way better.

George you compared our cars with a DSG 180hp Ibiza (1000 kg - 2 204 lbs), well, on twisty/corners/circuit any light car will be better than a 3200 lbs (1450 kg). Adding that the Ibiza is supercharger + turbo (not twin turbo) 1.4L engine with automatic you can't compare it with a 2.0T manual.

[Arabas]

Kelu, i am not comparing cars here (so it was needles to say full specs on a car that people here are not interested in). my point way back in this thread was that european cars have an r&d regarding trannies quite different from american cars because of the way roads are, mentality etc etc... u know that, Greece and Romania have more similarities than differences.
the comparison of gearboxes is not something imaginery, i have driven several cars with engines with similar behaviour as ours but with a 6 gear transmission and my feeling was that our car could gain a lot if it came with a 6 gears transmission. tell me kelu, if this car was originally built by Opel, would they use the transmission we have now or would they go with a 6 gear speed (like all OPCs)? just your personal guess.

Sol Asylum and Lil ndn, thx for all the info. so it is the bell housing that is should be looking.

it started as a topic just for a discussion, but i ended up looking forward for someone who has a 6 gear trnsmission. i think those who have a Mallett have a 6 gears transmission on their kappas, right?

P.S. don t get me wrong, i am not imlying that a different transmission would be ideal, i am just trying to get your ideas whether this is something that can be done and your opinions on whether it would improve the car or not

[LiquidPT]

i think those who have a Mallett have a 6 gears transmission on their kappas, right?

Yes, but they also have completely different engines as well

[SolNut]

FYI, Normally these discussions move on to the point that someone realizes that the Honda S2K has a 6 sp transmission manufactured by the same Co. that makes the Solstice/Sky/Opel/Dawoo unit.

Same manufacturer, different transmission.     Plus, the top 3 gears on the Honda are Overdrive and their diffy runs a 4.10 ratio with the 'big block' 2.2 L lump. Also, the Honda does not produce anywhere near the torque of the LNF.

Take care-Steve
 

[Mac]

i would bet that trans in the s2 wont handle much torque, one thing about gears of too far one way or the other and one side gets very small, making it a weak link. You get into say a 4:1 first or .76 OD and they break( im talking in the 450-500ftlb, torque motors like a longer split. they pull better as long as you can manage wheel spin.
seems with 4:11 at high speed the rear end is going to get VERY hot.

 My favorite set to date for my old camaro for speed was 2:73 rear and a 5 speed no over drive with a first of 3:28/ 2:22second(same as the old M22 1st) 1:87 third i think 4th was 1:56 and 1:1 in 5th. But it has 7litters not 2 this works out to the same effective set up with an extra gear as the 4:11 4speed of years gone by

I read the autos in the sol are French made, where are the 5 speeds made?

[Uranium-238]

Japan.

[SolNut]

Mac, I have a buddy in WA that has the same xmission.  (Doug Nash/Richmond)

He also runs 2.73's in his '66 BelAir 2 dr with a blown 427.  NICE RIDE!!

Steve
 

[Mac]

You know what i just remembered a product that might be something that may well give as extra gear and a pluss 1/2 why a half? because you can cut this on in any gear and its push button on shifter, so in first you have first od and then you hit second then 2.5 or skip what ever and in 5th you get that secound overdrive. These unites are built proof test at 1000ftlbs . it bolts to the back of the tail section of many trans mission and its planetary so your 5th is still the weak link but you get 6th BUT when i got to the site its gone? They go out with the econonmy?www.gearvendors.com   anyway these puppies were great i think they put two in the calaway vet for 200+ since these OD can handle a frieght train so you use a NONE oD trans and you have one hell of a set up. $ is all it cost i think the GV was 3K? if they are not gone:(

My 5 speed is a DougeNash it was/is one of the first; in the early 80"s Ricmound bought them out. Sits on a bench right now. I have that ROD six( not as happy with this set up) 3:10rear with a OD six 5+1( only one OD and its a WEAK LINK) but you can almost idle at 150

[Mac]

My soles an auto too i know  i am but you know i kinda like the no thinking after driving that camaro from 1980 to 2008 when i bought the sole. Man those 11inch clutches even with the best spircal links are a work out. Im getting old.

I hear alot of guys saying the stock 5 in the sol feel not as smooth as they might like.  If you have the ability or can pay someone. Changing all the bearing in  them to a SD spec will make a WORLD of change. be ready though each might cost 400-600 clams. We changed the Nashes back in 81 to some very High spec SD percision bearing for industrial use , let me say that just looking at the two compared is night and day and the feel of them was so slick and NO play, it was just pure sexy. a new set of stock ones compared out of the box, you would say the stock are shot when new lol Made the trans a beast under load and so smooth compared to stock. The new ROD feels like poop compared to my nash set up. so looks like i need to rebuild this 6 one day.

[LatinVenom]

The ONLY time my GXP sees 5ft gear is when cruising at 75+ MPH.

[Uranium-238]

If I'm cruising on a reasonably flat, strait-ish road I'll be in 5th gear down to 35/40 mph.

[LatinVenom]

I guess we have different driving styles, 35/40 is 2nd gear in my car, and my shift points are usually at 4K - 4.5K RPM per gear, and if I can not get there then it stays on that gear until I can reach that RPM.

[Uranium-238]

Usually, when I'm in traffic I shift around 3k, sometimes 4.5k. I'd wager that once I get a tune and exhaust I'll probably wind it up to 4.5k more often. I love the way it burbles when you let off the gas at 4.5k, even with the stock exhaust.

If I'm driving at a steady speed, I find the highest gear that's workable and sit there. 5th is fine at 40, 35 is time to drop into 4th, really.

[Critterman]

50 is about as low as I can go in 5th. 

[Sol Asylum]

Driving in too high a gear for your speed is also bad for the engine, its called "lugging" the engine.  Lugging puts a lot of unnecessary stress on the components and doesn't do a thing to help gas mileage in some cases it will actually hurt gas mileage.

[Uranium-238]

I knew all about that. Used to drive a Civic, so trust me I know about that full well.

Our little engines do not lug doing 40 in 5th.

[Helios]

40mph, for me, is right on the line of 4th and 5th gear. I will normally stay in 4th at 40mph and shift into 5th when im at 45ish.

[Mac]

it depends are you off power or on? off power one could be 5th and be doing well at 40mph, dont floor it though then you are lugging. Stock motors do much better with a bit o Lug since most have torque off idle. up hills the car like 1;1 if the speeds are 40mph i get about 24 but the auto wants to be in OD and if i let it the mpg drops to 18. Dumb auto...

[Graywolf]

I like the concept of a 6 speed with a more aggressive 3rd and fourth gears for racing-Time attack or Drag racing. A paddle shifting 6 speed would be the best. Keep looking. Modifying the bell housing could be possible to fit a great trans for racing. Yes a 6 speed might be a pain for daily driver.