ATX upgrades - lockup converter available?

[Christ]

I'm reading the ATX upgrade thread, but haven't seen anything about this. I considered keeping the ATX, but only if there's a lockup convertor that fits.

[bhazard]

Aspire trans

[DrMaxwellEdison]

what's the difference between the Festiva ATX and the Aspire ATX, not to steal this thread or anything.... maybe it'll help with the topic being discussed...

[Christ]

I think if I have to swap, it'll be to a manual. I just don't see me swapping an auto to an auto... But ya never know.

I'm guessing the Aspire ATX has the electronics and/or fluid passages for lockup, so simply putting the lockup converter in the Festiva trans would do nothing.

[bhazard]

Its hydraulically controlled I believe..swap the whole trans.

The downside is that the diff is shorter geared so you will pick up acceleration but probably run the same cruise rpm.

[Christ]

Any way to gear it down, like how Chrysler autos have transfer gears?

[bhazard]

No transfer gears that I know of. If you know transaxles you could swap diffs with the festy trans. I dunno if f series auto and manual trannies can swap diffs but there's an f series 5 speed from the escort pony that has a really tall different gear...like 3.3x

[Christ]

Meh, too much work for me. Still not sure what exactly this car is for, just bought it because not a speck of rust, and brand new exhaust, etc.

[link5186]

Did some searching for ya. The ATX model for both the festiva and aspire 3 speed is F3A if I'm reading right, so I don't see why an aspire converter wouldn't work. It's not electronically controlled and everything for the TCC should be in the converter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_F3A_transmission
It looks like there was another auto used as well. Jatco 3N71 (nissan). I know my wife's aspire had the f3a.

[FestYboy]

no differance in the ATX between the festy and aspire except the locking converter but it's not worth it really unless you swap in the 323 hydro ATX (currently searching for 2 or 3 to use myself).

[Christ]

Did some searching for ya. The ATX model for both the festiva and aspire 3 speed is F3A if I'm reading right, so I don't see why an aspire converter wouldn't work. It's not electronically controlled and everything for the TCC should be in the converter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_F3A_transmission
It looks like there was another auto used as well. Jatco 3N71 (nissan). I know my wife's aspire had the f3a.

So, in theory, I should be able to just swap in the convertor and do some valve body mods to get it to lock up in all gears with a full manual shift.

That would be the goal, anyway.

So, that's cool. Again, not sure if I'll actually keep the auto, or what insane purpose I had for buying the car.

I love micro cars.

[htchbck]

no differance in the ATX between the festy and aspire except the locking converter but it's not worth it really unless you swap in the 323 hydro ATX (currently searching for 2 or 3 to use myself).

Me too... but they are BIG... very big. and the festy auto is already pretty big. An Aspire might provide a enough room under the hood.

[FestYboy]

So, in theory, I should be able to just swap in the convertor and do some valve body mods to get it to lock up in all gears with a full manual shift.

That would be the goal, anyway.

So, that's cool. Again, not sure if I'll actually keep the auto, or what insane purpose I had for buying the car.

I love micro cars.

lock up is rpm related, you can't control it manualy (with the factory festy/aspire ATX) though technicaly you COULD do it with the second gen 323 trans that's also used in the MX3 and EGT.

[htchbck]

So... the Aspire trans has an LTC? I may look for one, could probably swap in the festi final drive to keep the gearing the same, but still have the lockup? Or am I waaay off here?

[Christ]

lock up is rpm related, you can't control it manualy (with the factory festy/aspire ATX) though technicaly you COULD do it with the second gen 323 trans that's also used in the MX3 and EGT.

It's controlled by a fluid passage, right?

There's a mod for a413 Chrysler trans (I know, these aren't Chrysler products) that allows full lockup on every gear, as well as full manual shifting.

The Festiva partially already has the capability to shift manually, because selecting "2" locks out 1st, although I'm not sure you can force 2nd great with the car already in motion, and I know you can't force 3rd.

If its anything like the a413, there is a fluid passage that is only open in high gear, which puts fluid pressure against the tc clutch forcing the tc into a 1:1 input/output relationship'

If that's the case, lockup in every gear should be possible by routing fluid to that passage in every gear. Likewise, the rpm at which the passage is opened is probably either controlled by a governor or differential pressure valve, which would make a pretty simple job of modifying the engagement rpm.

This is mostly conjecture, though, because I'm not likely to actually keep the auto.

However, since I'm not sure anyone I know would want the trans, I'll probably open it up and inspect, if only to try some stuff out.