There is nothing wrong with the MR tranny. Some people have lost 4th gear due to overheating during heavy track use but I have never heard of anyone breaking the tranny on the drag strip or daily driving. I have read countless threads on this subject and people make it seem like your transmission will explode crusing down the freeway. That is not the case. I have an MR and launch it all the time. I beat on it a little bit. And some times I drive it like I stole it. I am much more concerned about the transfer case and clutch than I am bout the tranny.

 

thank you man, you kinda answered my Q, but i wont be doing very many launches(no even heavy launches) and NO ttrack use, and NO drag strip buy maybe just some drag racing like on the streets like everyone else. thanks for the info.

 

how much is it to build the MR tranny, like better?

 

bump, so i dont think im gonna boost 22 psi, ill prolly leave it stock, and idk if i wanna get an mr cause if i trade my gsr in, i dont want to have to worry about my tranny blowing 4th gear. so after everything is on it will have: HKS carbon ti or greddy ti-c catback, megan DP, hallman BC at stock psi for less taper, HKS intake, AMS licp, ACT clutch and flywheel, swift sway bars, rims and tires, turbo timer, boost gauge, and a stereo(only one sub) i dont want that hard ****... what do you guys think? should i have ANY trouble with an mr


EDIT: so after all my power adders(LICP, EXHAUST, INTAKE, BC at stock PSI, DP, and a tune... ill prolly only have 40 motor HP more than stock huh

 

I'm not saying it's a weak tranny. The torque rating is what it is. There have been a few damaged 6 speeds at the dragstrip. A customer of mine broke an MR tranny launching, well first it broke the tcase case in half which shattered the hollow shaft that's between the tranny and tcase. That in turn destroyed the center diff inside the tranny. Also 4th gear was showing crack stress so a new gearset was ordered, shotpeened, polished etc.

You should size your clutch appropriatly for your needs or goals. In other words if you have a 350whp car you probably dont need a triple plate carbon carbon clutch. If you have a car capable of exceeding the torque rating, be prepared to pay the price especially if you sidestep a twin plate.

A few 6 speeds have been damaged from drag strip launch. When the front diff (transfercase) breaks due to force it often takes out the hollow shaft as well, sometimes it also destroys the center diff inside of the 6 speed. This is when you launch wrong and have 'carnage'.

 

so what about my EDIT: question

 

I hear ya MR. Evo IX. All I'm trying to explain is that with the basic bolt-ons and street driving like the OP stated he wanted to do, his tranny will be fine. I'm pushing 75 more hp and 60 more lb/ft than my stock dynoed at with basic bolt ons and rag the car sometimes. No probs hear. Now if I did like a 3 hour tour at Road Atlanta then I may have a prob....but not on the street...

 

Landis, Dont let this detract you from getting an MR if you want one. I drive an MR and have had no problems other than a faulty injector covered under warranty. I love my Evo, it's now got 28K miles of daily beatings on it. I'm making ~100whp over stock with an exhaust, tune, 25psi. I drag race my car occaisionally (twice a year 3-4 passes each visit) and try to get out to a HPDE Event at least once a year. The car in question was somewhat dumped off the line with a Exedy Twin plate on a super sticky track. I guess the tcase didnt have a chance or maybe just this 1 car had a defect but it was too far modded for warranty repair.

I think the tranny rebuild was ~2500.00 but I've slept since then so call Jon if you need to know, but it needed new gearset and new centerdiff, plus had additional work performed on top of the normal rebuild rates. If you didnt need parts it would be much cheaper to 'build'. Unfortunatly they shot peened reverse and only 1000 reverse breakin miles left till it quiets down a little..

The tcase was 1700 @ Shep

 

lots of torque (especially in the top end i.e. turbo kit) and aftermarket clutches, as well as heavy track duty or incorrect fluid use seem to be the biggest killers. Dragstrip launches will also take the life out of them in a hurry especially with a turbo kit because of where the torque is in the powerband.

 

On my old 30r setup i made a couple low 11 second passes trapping 127. My new setup is making over 110whp more than my old 30r and my trans is still holding at 39k miles.

 

Also, if you compare the Evo 6speed tranny to other cars it's tough as nails. How many stock tranny's do you think will handle 6K rpm 10psi launches forever, answer=none. The 5speed can be built stronger and has a nice selection of alternate gear ratios available for it, plus a taller 4th gear, and that's why it's the drag racer's choice of transmissions for the Evo.

Also the 5speeds fifth gear is almost identical to the 6speed's 6th gear so top speed in the 5 speed is not much different from the 6. Plus, going 170mph in a 4dr compact car that's a box with a wing on the back is not my idea of fun. Maybe I'm a chicken but when the mirror vibration starts sounding like a flat tire I'm lifting.

 

Why would you run stock boost with those mods? The car that I'm talking about has full bolt ons + cams, he's 18 and had not previously driven a standard, the stock clutch lasted 5K miles to gauge driver experience. The dragstrip incident was the result of abuse and trying to achieve a goal (11.9-12.0). Drive your car right and it will take care of you. If you plan on abusing it, plan on paying the price.

 

This is nice to hear, cause im still looking for a 5-speed to have sent out to john shepherd.

 

how much stronger can shep make the 6sp if you send it to him?? i would like to know because i might have this problem one day with my mods?? i hope not!

 

John doesnt do 6-speeds anymore from the last i talked to him; but i think TRE still does