Rear drive only 5 speed for swap project

[hotrodln]

We have an old BMW 325 with allot of miles on it and i am looking into posibly swapping a TT engine into it....i've rebuilt two of these engines now and i think it might make a cool project....i don't know enough about other mitsu platforms to figure out what manual transmission might work in a regular front engine, rear drive format.....there must be a gear box that would work??? from a truck? minivan? anybody with an idea? thanks

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Mitsu Mighty Max should mate with an adapter plate. Be advised that plate is going to be hell to make, our 6g72 has a very odd shape because of the clearance needed for the water housing.

The transaxle is known as a D-50. Ambitious project...keep us updated if you decide to do it.

Jeremy

[hotrodln]

i wasn't looking for a transaxle, i'm looking for a regular 5 speed like a standard rear wheel drive car would use.......is there one? I remember years ago people wanting to use the cadillac northstar v-8 in rear wheel drive cars......i think they used a buick transmision to pull it off.........wondering if there's a mitsu equivalent?

[HilbillyHomeboy]

I mistyped with transaxle. The Mighty Max is a 5 speed rwd(or 4wd) truck, and in at least the 94 models used the 6G72 sohc. The D-50 is a 5 speed manual tranny. You're going down an uncharted path, there is no easy explanation...as no one's done it before with a BMW( I suppose someone may have done something with one but not that I know of right off). I'd recommend searching the Starion/Conquest forums for potential info.

Jeremy

[hotrodln]

Well so the D-50 will bolt up to a 6G72 TT? that's what i needed to know.......i'll bet they aren't too expensive....as for the swap into the BMW.....they've already done lots of different engine swaps into that car.........big v-8's etc etc....i've done swaps before....had a V-8 VEGA in high school and a v-8 pinto that i've done....now i've spent allot of time on these TT engines and i think it would really wake up the old BMW! i have one project to complete before i start it.....i'm installing an 86 T-bird turbo coupe engine in a 1974 Pinto.....yup i'm still drivin em! anyways thanks for the tip!

[HilbillyHomeboy]

It's not going to be direct, there is no direct bolt-on rwd tranny. :)

Jeremy

[hotrodln]

ok i thought the d-50 transmission was a direct bolt on?

[HilbillyHomeboy]

I said in my first post it would need an adpater plate. Not all 6g72's are the same...

Jeremy

[Nationalmilkman]

Odd but very cool. I've had some off the wall ideas but far to involved to ever be completed by myself.

[GTwizard]

I believe Gil fron GCtech ind in houston can have an addaptor plate water jetted so you can bolt the Nissan 350Z trans to the 6g72. He offered one to me not long ago as I was thinking of going RWD in the NA.

[IPD]

if you're going to have to make an adapter plate for it to mate up, why even bother sticking with mitsu? i'd go direct to GM transmission. parts and rear differential are WAY, WAY easier to source/replace if you fry something.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

I'm going to look that up when I'm more capable. I don't believe it for a second, so you know where I'm at.

Jeremy

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Didn't see your response inperfectdarkness...good!

Jeremy

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

if you're going to have to make an adapter plate for it to mate up, why even bother sticking with mitsu? i'd go direct to GM transmission. parts and rear differential are WAY, WAY easier to source/replace if you fry something.

definently. Find a way to hookup a T5 or T56 depending on your goals.

I'm sure that D50 trans is not built to handle the torque of a twin turbo 6G72 and since it came out of a truck it probably isn't going to like fast shifting either.

[GTOJOE]

Mitsubishi Triton in Australia came with a 6G72 3.0L with a 5 speed manual RWD. Maybe your version [L200 I think???] has a similar version? If you want I can call a local dealer and get the gearbox code???

[IPD]

problem is, mitsubishi hasn't sold the l200 in the USA since the mighty max. it's an awesome pickup, but we don't get it over here; not even the turbo-diesel one. the last mitsu pickup we got was a rebadged dodge.

[hotrodln]

well i was hoping that at least the transmission part of the swap wouldn't be too hard....i figured there was a gear box out there that somebody knew of.....i was also taking some measurements this weekend...with the turbo's as they sit in the vr-4, it would be wall to wall and may require messing with the unibody frame rails and strut towers.....maybe that's why we haven't seen one around? there is definatley something to be said for the ease of working on a straight six.......it's almost like junior mechanic work to get anything done under the hood of the old BMW.

[RL7]

There's a r5m31 and maybe a r5m41 (not sure that one actually exists) that may be worth looking into. You'll probably need to have it shipped from australia though. You can do a search for triton gearbox on ebay australia to see some examples.

[x2percentmilk]

if you're going to have to make an adapter plate for it to mate up, why even bother sticking with mitsu? i'd go direct to GM transmission. parts and rear differential are WAY, WAY easier to source/replace if you fry something.

this, times 1000. The starion guys usually use an rx7 or ford transmission. gm makes sense as parts and options are everywhere.