I bought an 05 Evo 8 GSR base that needed a new transmission. I had it sent out to TRE for rebuilt.

I'm thinking of just buying a used transmission for it and then selling the TRE stage 2 (why bother with stage 1 when is almost the same price). There is someone selling a used 6spd that has been rebuilt for $800. This TRE stage 2 is like $2300. I wasn't expecting that as their website showed $1450 (some deviation based on unique issues w/it is to be expected).

Why, you ask? I have settled on an HTA71 for this particular Evo. I will never make the kind of power that a stage 2 can handle (that's what I keep telling myself). I may take the Evo to the quarter mile track once it's all put together and tuned to verify power via trap speed. Other then that, I'll autocross this thing and drive it to work (it's replacing my 04 Prius as dd).

My motivation is saving money on this car is that the transmission crushed my budget for fixing up the rest of the car. I had intended on chopping the nose and buying new grills, replacing/fixing the carbon fiber wing, spending more money on suspension pieces and competition tires.

Anyway, I need to know why this is a good or bad idea?

Second, I need to know if I could even resell this TRE transmission for close to what I'm going to pay for it? (the f/s threads are all sold)

 

if you want to make power, 6-speed is not the way to do it. regardless of how well shep builds transmission, 3rd and 4th gear still have to fit into the transmission and the only way to do this was to make them skinnier (weaker)

go 5-speed

 

Peanuts Gallery is me. I wouldn't sell. Transmissions from the factory can be real clunkers. Why do all that other stuff to a car that won't shift.

 

Sell the pruis and repair the rest of the car. The 6 speed is weaker, which is why they are cheaper to buy. If the car is going to make more than 400whp, the 5 speed is the way to go. TRE does great work. Drove a few evos with them installed.

I personally have a Jacks transmission in my current evo and love it. Shifts like butter. I had it built back when they were fist starting to do the evos so it was around 1100 done and shipped. I think their price is now around the 2K mark with all the goodies. (For the same build I have).

 

Yup, the power that the 5-speed will take is impressive. I know this, but it's hard to get excited about spending that much change on a car that will likely never see more then 400whp.

 

Thanks for emphasizing my mistake. I wish I could have edited that "s" out of Peanut.

 

A mistake? News to me.

 

I have an 05 evo 8 MR with the stock 6-speed still with an HTA71 on 25PSI and I beat the dogpoop out of it. No problems with the 6-speed so far at 90K miles! making 400hp and the 6 speed does well. If you are planning on autocrossing it though I would suggest a transmission cooler on the 6-speed. Also, for the 6 speed I believe it has different sensors than the 5 speed, and you would need the shifter cables from the 6 speed because the lengths are different.

 

With the 6spd you have to go about it differently. You can't just be ruthless and expect it to survive. For autocross follow these simple guidelines:

- no longer than 30min sessions
- always take the cool down lap
- stick to an organic clutch
- change the trans oil often
- keep it under 400 ft-lb
- if your close to that upper limit get a trans cooler
- use exhaust wrap on the down pipe

Above all else, use common sense when driving on the street, save the redline shifts for the track. Do this and you should expect to enjoy a long prosperous life with the transmission.

 

Just an update, I'm wasting my money on the TRE Stage 2 transmission. The rebuild alone is costing me $2800. Apparently this POS was rebuilt by an amateur and needs a new 3rd and 4th gear. Another $2k for other maintenance plus a new clutch just for good measure. Now add that I bought some cams and injectors that are lost and a Seller that doesn't want to refund me (it's a paypal dispute now) and you have an adventure.

So that hurts my budget for my other goals, but will likely spend way more then I want on this car, like I've done with every other Evo I've ever owned. These cars are equivalent to a heroin addiction.