Well, as of late the transmission in my 97 is hating life. I've found replacements for around $950, but that's a little bit of coin considering I'm getting nothing but another stock trans.

I've tossed around some ideas lately for a drivetrain swap for my little Kia, and forseeing the abuse ahead here's what I've come up with. Lemme know what you think...

Trans- Mazda B2200 5-speed manual (can get one with low miles for $100 from a buddy...)

Transfer Case- Toyota Gear-Driven 23 spline (easily found cheaply here)

I'd like to use the OTT Divorce adapter to run the combo.

The thing I like most about the Mazda trans is the 4.35 first gear.

Here's the break down of crawl ratios

Stock- 3.72X1.98X4.77=35.134:1

My plans- 4.35X4.7(low gears...)X4.77(till the SAS)=97.523:1

Not to mention a drop in every other gear in the trans too...

Overdrive in the Mazda trans is 0.85:1 whereas the Kia is at 0.80:1. I believe I'll be able to run 32s with this combo on the highway and around town without a huge power loss.

I believe crossmembers, driveshafts, the speedo cable, and shifter linkage will be the real challenge...

And yes, I mentioned a SAS... It's quite a ways down the road for me!

Rose Auto Wrecking in Portland has one for $200.00
Check out <a href="www.car-part.com" target="_blank">www.car-part.com</a>

The Getrag 5 speed in the Sportage is a pretty strong unit.

Your swap sounds like a good idea and I think that it should bolt up to the engine. To me the difficulty would be getting the VSS to work.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Well, my Sportage has 155k on it. The weakness in these trannies seems to be the bearings. I'm not arguing about their strength. Mine has withstood countless rev-limiter clutch drops, and it won't break.

Simple matter is, if I take the old trans out I am not going with another stocker. The gear ratios are horrible, and I'm only on 235s so far.

Careful with the 4.7's in the tcase. What it does mean is that you do not have any overlap between top low range and 1st high range, in fact you have a decent gap between them.

Keep the existing setup until you have done the SAS with 4.88-5.38 gears and running the tires you want, then work out whether you NEED to go a little bit or a lot lower. IMHO 2.5-3:1 would be about spot on.

The 4.7's will put over twice the torque through the remaining driveline and you can bet that you will be NEEDING the new axles and driveshafts before you WANT them.

BTW it is the diff ratios that are horrible with bigger tires, not the transmission ratios. A wide spaced transmission ratio spread will mean that you will "fall off the edge" of the power curve between gears (like driving 1st-3rd-5th now, with an imaginary 7th and 9th gears as well)

Gearing is one of those things where a bit extra may be good, but a lot extra is not necessarily better.

I would agree that the jump from 1st to 2nd has always been a bit much for my taste. My favorite gearbox was in a 90 celica gts i owned for less than a year. The powerband started to drop off right where 2nd started it's powerband. Overlap was perfect. 3rd and on were more normal. But i loved how close 1st and 2nd were. Could really kill a lot of cars out there at the stop lights. Sportage isn't a race car by any means, but I'd still prefer a closer 2nd. Even when I had stock tires. I noticed the gap from 1st-2nd. You have to wind out 1st to be close to the start of 2nd and you still have to shift before you're really into it. So there's that wait before 2nd picks up the ball. Really.. Sportage should've had a 6spd. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Like the Supercharged Nissan Frontier. Now that's BADA$$ <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

One thing that has been mentioned here before but not for a while, a 1995 Sportage with the SOHC and 5sp has a lower 1st and 2nd then a DOHC. It has a little bigger gap between 2nd and 3rd though. If I was going to do a trans swap it is the one I would use.

Dennis

Same bolt pattern?
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Yes, same engine block differant head.

Dennis

I wanna say that the '95 head had the ability to interchange exhaust manifolds with a probe turbo motor F2T i believe. Think I heard it somewhere.. don't hold me to it. But would definitely be someone I'd look in. I supposed I'd sacrifice 8 valves and a cam for that easy turbo bolt on. Oh well. I have my turbo and I have a header to make.. I know Everett.. i need to make it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> .

Dennis is your man. He has posted a heap of info if you do a search, or he may help you out, but what you have said is reasonably on the money.