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Sold
by simon8201 - 09/09/26 01:46 PM
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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Forums39
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Learner Plates Off!
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OP
Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Apr 2011
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The 3W will use Mazda's 5-speed Miata manual transmission.
But I wonder why Morgan didn't opt for the 6-speed Miata transmission instead? Wouldn't you think it might be a better match to the low-revving S&S engine's characteristics?
Steve 
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Goodwood Drifter Talk Morgan Addict
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Goodwood Drifter Talk Morgan Addict
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,439 Likes: 7 |
Steven
sold: M3W, Aeromax,V6, 4/4 4seater
now: +fourLM62
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Salty Sea Dog Member of the Inner Circle
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Salty Sea Dog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28,909 Likes: 354 |
As the 6-speeder is the newer box, I wondered about that one too...
Might ask Greg D-S this weekend while we're at Prescott.
Cheers,
Graham (G4FUJ)
Sold L44FOR 4/4 Giallo Fly
'11 MINI Countryman Cooper D All4
'90 LR 90 SW
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Talk Morgan Guru
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Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
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When you drive the 3W you'll see why they chose the 5-speeder, in a word 'torque'. Oodles of it and a torque spike of 1800 ft/lbs I believe, once moving you don't really need a gearbox that much...
Brian
1970 Morgan Plus 8 - Moss Box (Indigo Blue)
2014 Morgan SP1 (Rocket Red)
2015 Morgan Plus 8 (Rocket Blue)
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Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
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As an owner of a Miata/MX5, I can say that the 6spd felt like a better all around tranny, but the 5spd is used largly in autocrossing due to its gearing ratio. The final gear in both cars is not very far from one another, so in the 5spd in 5th gear you are very close to the gear ratio of the 6spd in 6th gear. I like my 6spd, but if I were to do autocrossing, I would pick the 5spd any day of the week.
Ultimately it could have come down to the cost, which I am sure is more expensive, or Mazda may have not been willing to sell its 6spd.
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Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
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Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
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Or.....180 ft/lbs????? 
DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Talk Morgan Guru
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Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
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Or.....180 ft/lbs????? There's no spell-check on numbers! 
Brian
1970 Morgan Plus 8 - Moss Box (Indigo Blue)
2014 Morgan SP1 (Rocket Red)
2015 Morgan Plus 8 (Rocket Blue)
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 375
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
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No spelling error. Since the engine is a large volume two-cylinder engine, the torque delivery over two revolutions of the crank is very uneven. Therefore, S&S say that there are torque spikes of up to 1,800 Nm. It is not the average torque, but just in spikes. This, however, makes major headache when the engine is coupled to a conventional gearbox. Apparently and elastic coupling which absorbs the spikes has to be used. in the tree-wheelers I saw and heard at Goodwood, you could literally hear this coupling squeak at low revs.
I wonder how reliable that is in long-term use ...
Last edited by 109er; 01/09/11 08:29 AM.
Andreas
+4
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Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
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If the coupling is anything like the old Hillman Imps, we would need to get a few ordered in to keep in stock!!
I remember many years ago we had to cut out the seat belts to make a toe rope to recover an Imp after a rubber donut broke. It was a regular occurance.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 31
Just Getting Started
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Just Getting Started
Joined: Apr 2011
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I have mazda 6sp in my RX8. I agree with above that the ratios are fairly close. Which is great for a high revving rotary with little torque, but somewhat pointless when you have lower revs and gobs of torque, like with this set up. It could get along with a 3sp by the sounds of it.
Does anyone know what the final drive ratio is like?
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