2006–2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata (NC)
Bring modern 8-speed transmission technology to the NC Miata with the Fab9 ZF 8HP Conversion Kit.
Developed around the ZF 8HP45 platform, this package was designed as a complete mechanical and electronic conversion solution for the 2006–2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Rather than supplying a handful of adapter components and leaving the remaining fabrication, wiring, and integration to the installer, Fab9 has developed the supporting hardware, driveline components, transmission control, shifter integration, and vehicle-specific wiring necessary to make the conversion practical.
The result is an NC Miata capable of taking advantage of the ZF 8HP's fast shifts, excellent gear spread, configurable transmission behavior, and substantial performance potential—without cutting up the chassis or reinventing the installation from scratch.
Complete NC-Specific Conversion
The Fab9 conversion retains the factory NC Miata Power Plant Frame (PPF) architecture through our purpose-built PPF adaptation plate. This allows the ZF transmission to integrate into the Miata drivetrain while maintaining the structural layout Mazda originally designed around the transmission and differential.
A purpose-built driveshaft is included and arrives configured for the conversion, including our billet aluminum 8HP45 adapter.
The supplied flex plate and starter system complete the engine-to-transmission installation without requiring the installer to engineer their own starting or flex plate solution.
CANTCU Transmission Control
Transmission management is handled by the included CANTCU controller with our terminated NC-specific transmission harness.
For vehicles equipped with our supported Plug-and-Play Haltech ECU systems, the harness is terminated for direct integration, dramatically reducing the amount of wiring required to get the transmission operational.
Additional Deutsch connector housings are incorporated into the harness to provide access to the vehicle's OEM CAN bus. This gives installers a clean integration point when retaining the factory Mazda ECU or developing other CAN-based configurations.
The system is supplied with pre-configured transmission software, providing a developed starting calibration rather than a completely blank controller.
The calibration remains end-user configurable, allowing shift behavior, transmission strategies, torque management, converter operation, and other supported CANTCU functions to be adjusted for the vehicle and its intended use.
BMW G-Series Electronic Shifter
The conversion includes a BMW G-Series electronic shifter along with Fab9's NC-specific mounting solution.
The mounting system positions the electronic shifter cleanly within the NC chassis and eliminates the need for the installer to fabricate a shifter mounting arrangement from scratch.
Combined with the terminated transmission harness, the shifter becomes part of the complete electronic transmission control package.
Transmission Cooling System
Every conversion includes a dedicated transmission cooler and AN line package designed to provide the 8HP with an independent cooling solution.
Optional Liqui Moly Top Tec 1800 transmission fluid is also available, allowing the conversion to be supplied with the fluid necessary for installation and initial operation.
What's Included
- Fab9 NC PPF Adaptation Plate
- PPF Installation Hardware
- CANTCU Transmission Controller
- Fab9 Terminated NC Transmission Harness
- PNP integration for supported Haltech systems
- Deutsch connectors for OEM CAN bus integration
- Pre-Configured CANTCU Software
- End-User Configurable Transmission Calibration
- BMW G-Series Electronic Shifter
- Fab9 NC G-Series Shifter Mounting Solution
- Flex Plate
- Starter Motor
- NC/8HP Conversion Driveshaft
- Billet Aluminum 8HP45 Driveshaft Adapter
- Transmission Cooler
- AN Transmission Cooler Lines
- Optional Liqui Moly Top Tec 1800 Transmission Fluid
Designed Around the NC Chassis
This isn't a universal 8HP installation package adapted to fit the Miata.
The system was developed specifically around the NC chassis, including the PPF, driveline, starter arrangement, electronic shifter, transmission cooling, CAN communication, and transmission control.
That means considerably less fabrication, wiring, troubleshooting, and component sourcing for the installer.
Haltech Integration
For vehicles using supported Fab9 Plug-and-Play Haltech ECU solutions, the conversion harness arrives terminated for integration with the Haltech system.
This creates a much more complete relationship between the engine management and CANTCU transmission controller, allowing the systems to exchange the information required for proper transmission operation and advanced control strategies.
Vehicles retaining the OEM Mazda ECU can utilize the provided Deutsch CAN integration connections for access to the factory vehicle CAN network.
Built for Street, Track & High-Power NC Applications
The ZF 8HP's combination of a deep first gear, closely spaced intermediate ratios, overdrive gearing, fast electronic shifts, and configurable control makes it an extremely versatile transmission for the NC platform.
For naturally aspirated track cars, high-output turbocharged builds, engine swaps, or street cars where a modern automatic transmission is desired, the Fab9 system provides the foundation for an NC drivetrain that simply wasn't possible with the original transmission options.
Key Features
- Complete NC-specific ZF 8HP conversion package
- Designed around the ZF 8HP45
- Retains the NC Power Plant Frame architecture
- No custom driveshaft engineering required
- Dedicated starter and flex plate solution
- Electronic BMW G-Series shifter included
- NC-specific shifter mounting solution
- CANTCU transmission management
- Pre-configured but fully user-adjustable software
- Terminated harness for supported PNP Haltech applications
- OEM CAN bus integration provisions
- Dedicated transmission cooling system
- Optional Liqui Moly Top Tec 1800 fluid
- Designed, developed, and tested as a complete system by Fab9
Transmission is not included unless specifically selected or stated otherwise. Verify transmission compatibility before purchasing.
What You Need to Supply
The Fab9 NC ZF 8HP Conversion Kit includes the major mechanical, driveline, electronic, and control components required for the conversion. The customer will need to supply the following:
- ZF 8HP45 EcoBoost-Sourced Transmission
The conversion is designed around the EcoBoost application ZF 8HP45 transmission. - Transmission Cooler Line Adapter
You will need the appropriate transmission cooler fitting/adapter for your specific donor transmission. Depending on the build version of the 8HP45, these connections are typically 16mm or 18mm. Verify the connection size on your transmission before ordering. - 2006–2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata (NC)
The conversion can be installed in either a factory manual or automatic NC Miata. - Standard ZF Torque Converter
A standard torque converter compatible with your donor 8HP45 is required. In most cases, the torque converter is included with a complete donor transmission.
Important Transmission Sourcing Information
We strongly recommend purchasing a complete EcoBoost 8HP45 transmission with its original torque converter whenever possible. This helps eliminate compatibility issues caused by mixing transmission and converter variants from different applications.
Before installation, verify whether your donor transmission uses the 16mm or 18mm transmission cooler connection so the appropriate cooler line adapter can be sourced.
The ZF 8HP45 transmission, torque converter, and transmission-specific cooler line adapter are not included with the standard Fab9 conversion kit.
