Well it's finally transmission swap time! So far I've learned that my old master cylinder and driveshaft will work fine with the new mazda trans. Today I pretty much prepped for the swap and I plan on swapping it tomorrow. It looks like the only issue I'll have is that the trans mounts on the mazda are father back than the T170 so I may have to relocate the trans cross-member. If I can I plan on taking some pics in case anyone else has to do this oddball swap in the future.

 

Yes, please take some pictures. I have the same engine/transmission as you do and have a love/hate relationship with that transmission. Always thought a 5 speed would be a much better fit for it.

 

Well I managed to get the transmission and new clutch swapped in without too many problems showing up. It went relatively smoothly until the end....when the clutch bleeder screw broke off Now I just have to remove the transmission and put in another slave cylinder

Minimalist - Here are the main issues I ran into.
#1 Transmission support gussets. I had to unbolt the transmission support for the gussets then pry up on them to knock to support out of the way. Once the support was out of the way then I was able to get at the bolts on the top of the gussets so that I could remove the gussets. The gussets bolts stayed in my frame because the cab didn't allot me to get them out. I also did not reuse the gussets.


#2 Relocating the transmission support. The supports on the Mazda transmission are approx 6" farther back than the ones on the T170. Drilling holes in the frame and making sure they lined up was difficult for me. But that may have mostly been due to the fact that I was doing this job in a gravel driveway with the truck on the ground.

Other than those two issues it was a pretty standard transmission replacement. Here's some other pics I took.

Transmissions next to each other



My original flexplate had the '65 part number on it which I thought was interesting, but the flexplate that came with the Mazda had the '88 part number. The '88 flexplate also had a gasket in the flexplate (second pic).



Hope this helps! I'll update how mine turned out once I take the trans out and put it back in

 

Finally got around to putting another slave in. Luckily I was able to slide the trans back a bit and swap the cylinder out rather easily.
You can see where the 1st slave sheared.


Got the truck all buttoned up and went to fire it up and got a click. Wouldn’t you know the solenoid decided to go right as I’m about to test the truck out? Slapped an extra in I had laying around and now everything seems to be working smooth around the yard. Shifter seems to have a decent amount of slop in gear which concerns me. Going to take it down the road tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the pictures! It'll be a project down the road for me.

 

This usually helps with the slop.
The three rubber plugs on the top cover should be replaced with freeze plugs or RTV the rubber ones, which is what I did. They leak when driving so you won't see much of a leak under it parked but your fluid will go down the road when driving. You can replace trans fluid when cover is off to eliminate pumping it in. Sandy

 

Thanks sandymane, I will definitely look into that!

 

This may help. Sandy

 

That looks too easy! Part is on order, thanks!

 

I drove the truck around town and then took it to work a couple times (80 miles round trip half mountain roads half highway) and what a difference! That extra gear makes all the difference in the world, and that new clutch really grabs! I'm going to get that shifter bearing put in and then I have to fix the rear tank. I put a new tank and sender in a while ago but the return line came loose when I installed it so it shoots gas out when i select the rear. I'm also ordering this kit to relocate the TFI off of the dizzy so it doesn't over heat McCully Racing Motors- We have exactly what your over-heated TFI Module Needs!. After that it'll just be cruising and hopefully no hiccups

 

Sandymane - thanks again for the tip and the video. I cannot believe how much the new bearing tightened it up.

 

You are very welcome. I'm glad it worked so well for you. Sandy RIP Phil L.

 

My brother is in Dublin this week and sent me some pics of the Phil Lynott statue they have there. It was pretty cool.

Recently did some work on the ignition actuator, replaced the ignition starter switch, and replaced the turn signal switch. I also have a squeaky smog pump which I attempted to lubricate, but ultimately failed.
I got everything put together and then my squeaky smog pump and I took off on a 700 mile weekend trip to a wedding. Luckily my radio drowned out the squeaking and the truck ran great. Got 17mpg at 70 with cruise and turned over into 210k.
I'm keeping an eye on e-bay and craigslist for a smog pump, I can't believe a new one is $120+!

 

My brother is in Dublin this week and sent me some pics of the Phil Lynott statue they have there. It was pretty cool.
That is really cool that they did that. We have Buddy Holly in Lubbock and Stevie Ray in Austin.

In the meantime before the pump locks up a new belt behind the seat might be in order, just in case. Mine just started grinding and the 460 has two belts so I bypassed the pump and used a shorter belt on that side. We only have a safety check for any 25yr old + vehicle. Sandy

 

I didn't know about the Buddy Holly and Stevie Ray statues in Austin. That's pretty cool, I'll have to check them out next time I'm down there.

I got a bypass belt just in case, but after my big trip the pump quieted down. Strange, the break in for these pumps was about 500 miles, maybe mine broke back in after my oiling?

Edit: We also only have a safety check for vehicles this old. I pretty much reset my truck to factory stock when I got it. I have got to be the only person I know that put a cat back into the exhaust lol. If the pump goes on me I may just try cut the cat out and run without it. When I got the truck the AIR wasn't hooked up and I had no cat (air in head) and I had terrible crackling and popping on slow downs/downshifts. With the cat and AIR hooked up the crackling was eliminated and I gained considerable mileage.