Is there a 6 spped that will bolt up to my 2003 Protege DX?

[2003MazdaDX]

Hello Everyone,

I have a 2003 Mazda Protege DX with manual everything. I got it used and it has almost 230,000 miles. When the clutch goes, it's going to be quite difficult and expensive to have it replaced due to age and rust. So, I was thinking that if I'm going to get in there or have someone get into there, I'd like to have another gear.

Currently my MPG on highways is pretty bad with only the 5 gears, so I though a sixth would be better. However, I know there was no factory option for a 6 speed in my car, but was hoping someone knows of 6 speed that will bolt right on without too much trouble.

Even if there is one, I imagine it's not worth the cost with the age and mileage on the car, but I wanted to check just to be sure.

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[njaremka]

There is no available 6-speed tranny that will be a bolt in conversion. it would have to be a custom job. i thought there was a 5th gear swap that would lower the top gear rpm's slightly...

what is your highway mileage currently? even when my protege was on its last legs, i was consistently getting 30-32 mpg.

 

[2003MazdaDX]

I get about 23 when I do a lot of highway driving. Around town I get about 25.

The engine gets much louder than I think it should, but I've checked the RPMs and they are well within range. I had to use a scan tool since I have no tachometer. (I was shocked to find a car with manual transmission and no tach, but I checked and that's how some came from the factory). You can hear and feel the car begging to be shifted to a gear that doesn't exist.

I wish it was better, but thanks for the info!

 

[Preferio]

Hello Everyone,

I have a 2003 Mazda Protege DX with manual everything. I got it used and it has almost 230,000 miles. When the clutch goes, it's going to be quite difficult and expensive to have it replaced due to age and rust. So, I was thinking that if I'm going to get in there or have someone get into there, I'd like to have another gear.

Currently my MPG on highways is pretty bad with only the 5 gears, so I though a sixth would be better. However, I know there was no factory option for a 6 speed in my car, but was hoping someone knows of 6 speed that will bolt right on without too much trouble.

Even if there is one, I imagine it's not worth the cost with the age and mileage on the car, but I wanted to check just to be sure.

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you!

There was someone who started putting a 6 speed (from what vehicle I do not remember) in, like, 2010 and just stopped updating. So, we can imagine how that went.

Besides that, you can always go with the 626 5th gear. It doesn't require transmission removal to do, though it'd be easier. It's accessed by the transmission end cap.

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

Besides that, you can always go with the 626 5th gear. It doesn't require transmission removal to do, though it'd be easier. It's accessed by the transmission end cap.

Not really. Ive replaces a stripped 5th gear, and its quite easy. MUCH easier then pulling the entire trans. You just pull off the drivers side wheel, pop off the inspection cover, then undo 2 bolts, and pull the gear off, put the new gear on, and re-assemble. I had no idea what i was doing, and got the entire 5th gear swap done in under a half hour, including jacking the car up and removing the wheel.


And the closest thing to a 6 speed trans that your going to find is the 6 speed G series used on the 2.5 MZR's. It actually shares the exact same trans to bell housing bolt pattern. So it might be as easy as just swapping the bellhousing over. But no one has ever actually tried, or even compared the internals.

 

[njaremka]

Not really. Ive replaces a stripped 5th gear, and its quite easy. MUCH easier then pulling the entire trans. You just pull off the drivers side wheel, pop off the inspection cover, then undo 2 bolts, and pull the gear off, put the new gear on, and re-assemble. I had no idea what i was doing, and got the entire 5th gear swap done in under a half hour, including jacking the car up and removing the wheel.


And the closest thing to a 6 speed trans that your going to find is the 6 speed G series used on the 2.5 MZR's. It actually shares the exact same trans to bell housing bolt pattern. So it might be as easy as just swapping the bellhousing over. But no one has ever actually tried, or even compared the internals.

the problem with the 2.5 MZR transmission is it uses a cable selector, opposed to the rod selector in the protege. so, even if the transmission will bolt up, you still need to figure out how to change gears. i'd also be suspicious about the axle compatibility.

 

[Preferio]

Not really. Ive replaces a stripped 5th gear, and its quite easy. MUCH easier then pulling the entire trans. You just pull off the drivers side wheel, pop off the inspection cover, then undo 2 bolts, and pull the gear off, put the new gear on, and re-assemble. I had no idea what i was doing, and got the entire 5th gear swap done in under a half hour, including jacking the car up and removing the wheel.


And the closest thing to a 6 speed trans that your going to find is the 6 speed G series used on the 2.5 MZR's. It actually shares the exact same trans to bell housing bolt pattern. So it might be as easy as just swapping the bellhousing over. But no one has ever actually tried, or even compared the internals.

He said he was pulling the transmission to R&R the clutch anyway..... that's when he was wanting to do this. If the transmission is sitting on the ground anyway, I'd stand it on it's bellhousing, remove the 10 or whatever bolts in the end cap and swap it out... As opposed to removing it while the transmission is still in the car....

 

[Preferio]

Also, I've done it in the car myself......

 

[Preferio]

And the closest thing to a 6 speed trans that your going to find is the 6 speed G series used on the 2.5 MZR's. It actually shares the exact same trans to bell housing bolt pattern. So it might be as easy as just swapping the bellhousing over. But no one has ever actually tried, or even compared the internals.

What are we comparing them to? And why?

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

Its two halves of a case. You would want to make sure the Diff and gear shafts line up, along with anything else in there.

And one of the larger actual upgrades about the 6mtx is the fact its cable operated. Our shift linkage setups are archaic and the actual shifter feel is garbage. If you have a bad trans mount, you lose 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Yay. lol. I can say that cause two of my cars are older shifter linkage G box mazdas, and my 6 is a cable operated G box. Its a dream compared to the older set up. Believe me.