ATX Blues

[saskmazdaman11]

I was reading another thread, about boosting, and I had a few questions. I have a 3 Sport GT with the ATX. When I bought it I was on the road a lot and just needed the convience of the ATX, though the manual was tempting. My car has almost 55000 km on it, and it seems to be doing fine. I have kept up on the oil changes and even coughed up the extra cash to let the dealer do all the recommended scheduled maintenance. But I digress.

I really like my car, but am I just fooling myself that I will ever get a Hi-Boost kit on this thing. Everyone says that the ATX can't handle the extra tourque and HP. Is this because it is a transaxle set-up, because there are other rear wheel drive automatics that handle much more power. What is the weak spot in this tranny, the whole damn thing, or something that could be swapped out someday like the tourque converter?

Will my 3 ATX ever be a Mustang killer or am I a dreamer? Should I just give up on the whole thing, grow up and buy a minivan?

 

[Lil Freek]

i haven't researched much into your tranny, but it should be pretty close to the FN4A-EL from the 3rd gen. The weak points are pretty much your Torque converter and probably wimpy clutch packs.

Your car could probably handle some boost (didn't hiboost test their kit on an ATx?), but you'd have to baby it.

Start yourself off with an oil cooler and Redline ATF. That'll save your tranny from unnecessary wear prior to your boosting goal.

 

[mobomelter]

actually the hiboost turbo kit is being tested on an atx if i'm not mistaken.

 

[threemod]

actually the hiboost turbo kit is being tested on an atx if i'm not mistaken.

I remember reading this also. I'm not sure what they did to the ATX to reinforce it for the extra torque. You could email them and find out though.

 

[curacer1]

i have talked to juan and they did do it on an atx. i am almost sure that was no special reinforcement becuase the kit is only producing 5 pounds of boost for the atx and 7 pounds for the mtx

 

[saskmazdaman11]

Forgive my newness and resulting stupidity to the car world. Five psi, would translate into what type of gains? Keeping in mind I plan on getting a CAI (or sort ram air, is there a difference with FI) and an exhaust. Are there aftermarket parts, ATX tranny parts etc. for other Mazdas that I could expect to be able to buy? Eventually, my goal is a daily driver/ tribute to the new Mazda WRC car.

 

[Lil Freek]

5psi would probably get you a little over 200whp incl. catback exhaust
- CAI is not required with the hiboost kit, they have their own intake system.

I don't think there's any companies that make aftermarket products for your tranny... oil cooler and Redline ATF are generic/universal products, so you can buy any of them.

 

[curacer1]

i think juan said 225-230whp for the atx and 245-250 mtx on the 2.3

 

[mobomelter]

with no upgrades to your drivetrain. although it'd probably be a good idea to some anyways.

 

[AzMz3]

5psi would probably get you a little over 200whp incl. catback exhaust
- CAI is not required with the hiboost kit, they have their own intake system.

I don't think there's any companies that make aftermarket products for your tranny... oil cooler and Redline ATF are generic/universal products, so you can buy any of them.

There are a bunch of parts for the auto tranny. It is the same as the ford focus tranny with just a different name.
And as stated above the weakest link is the clutches.
Lentech has everything needed, including complete trannies.
A tranny cooler is not going to help you, unless you are a serious autoXer. For a daily driver and a weekend drag racer the stock tranny cooler is just fine.

A turbo 2.3L focus bent rods when boosting 7psi with 265whp. I'd think the auto's need to add other things to the list besides a tranny build up.

 

[hoopsfan]

I have an ATX too; I"m going to wait and see what happens to others before I consider modding my car too much