Transmission upgrade options for stock power and track only use?
 

4th gear just ate first gear so I'm in need of a new trans. I know they're cheap, but I'd rather not deal with downtime, especially at track events.

Is there an upgrade available at a reasonable price for stock-ish (bolt ons) power level?

Car is a dedicated track car.

I think your only real cheap option is sending your gearset to be cryo treated.
May be worth the headache, may not be. There's a set of synchros you can put in, but who knows if they'll do anything to help this issue.

Apparently Jack's Transmissions has something that might help: https://www.jackstransmissions.com/t...-frs-brz-parts

For three grand Jack's will build you a tranny that should last with NA power. Full disclosure - I do not have one and don't know anyone who does. That said, I sometimes think about doing it just because it sounds really cool.

Edit: I'm thinking I may do this when I replace the inevitable TOB/clutch.

The big issue that the OP seems to have experienced is the issue with the 4th gear circlip. Jack’s transmissions build fixes this. Though to be honest you can buy a lot of spare transmissions for 3k.

Can also learn to not dump the clutch. That's free.

Eh, with shipping it’s $1500 for a low mileage used one? Plus labor?
I wasted a good amount of coin taking the day off, driving to the track and not being able to drive. That doesn’t count the instructor.

I don’t dump the clutch. I can drive stick- thanks

Anytime

I guess that depends on what you consider low mile and if you are a DIY'er. I can buy what I consider reasonable mile transmissions for around 5-600. R&R is about 3 hours. It seems like usage is more of an issue then millage with the issues with these transmissions but it sounds like a build is a better option for you anyway.

I know our transmissions arent exactly the toughest out there, but out of about 10 cars that do track and time attack regularly with bolt-ons (so stockish power levels) for several years already I've seen 0 cases of transmissions braking in any way. Synchros degrade and some gears get crunchy on some of them but never total failure. Somehow you managed to break yours, but im inclined to say that just sourcing a used (but in good shape) replacement will be cheaper and you should not expect to break it again, it is not at all common (look at this forum, look at other people around you at thet track on the same car).

That's what I'm saying. Stock power? They're fine if they aren't abused.

OP's original request is pretty straightforward. He's looking for a more bullet proof transmission. I don't see any reason to cast aspersions his way for this.

I think what many of you are saying is that he may have run into a rarely infrequently occurring issue for a NA car. Makes sense to me.

I think the reason we're seeing prices being so high is more a result of supply and demand than anything else. It sounds like the stock transmission should be reliable enough for almost NA uses under appropriate operation.

For the power levels these cars offer, these types of upgrades are very overpriced. IMO, that's because they either aren't necessary so very few builders offer them making them one off or our particular community of owners are very willing to overpay for something that other platforms just expect to be standard. Either way, in this case it looks like there is one option to resolving the apparent issue.

Personally I wouldn't spend the $6k that is listed on Jack's website for a transmission upgrade of any kind if I'm not actually racing the car door to door (and even then I'm not sure I would). Even half that is too expensive too. Based on some of the things I've seen about this car, if you built this drivetrain to what is a basic level of something like the stock LS platform power levels you're going to invest almost as much as one of these cars are worth used. That's crazy IMO.

I'd say that we answered it in a pretty straight forward manner. The upgrade is also 3k, not 6k. I think the OP would likely go this route just for piece of mind based on his posts.