An adventure of faith!

[reverendzed]

Well today I had a go at something that I never thought would happen!    I began the first steps of my auto to 5 speed conversion!  armed with my greasy workshop manual and my 17 year old son we attacked our donor car and after some intial bewilderment began the process of pedal extraction and then we dropped the gearbox out (first time for both of us).  So far we haven't broken anything or ourselves!  Maybe some of you guys have done this exercise and I would be really grateful for any tips before I begin the removal of my auto and the install of the manual.  I'm a bit tentative as my Zed is right now looking and running sweet, but the added power and fun of the 5 speed makes this a real adventure.

[tattoo_ink]

haha thats the way ......rip into it mate ! its all in the greasy "bible" you have in your hand !! "psalm : zed.5speed" i recon sorry i couldnt help myself !

 

cheers chris.

[modular9]

keep us or keep me updated with the conversion. I too am sitting in an auto 2+2 and at the moment manually shift the gears ..

[maddos]

Having cheated and transplanted motor + 5 speed complete not exactly an expert. I seem to recall reading that you'll need the flywheel off the manual donor engine. Don't take as gospel but might want to check it out. The manual doesn't tell you how to do a conversion.

[Enzo]

Hi,

    When you change the flywheel check your crank to make sure you have a spigot bush fitted for the gearbox. I don't think they fitted them to the factory automatic cars because they were not needed. Also make sure you fit the flywheel bolts to the correct tension ( 100 ft/lb or13.8 kg m ). Regards David.

[Zeddophile]

As enzo250 said, make sure you have or fit the small brass spigot bush into the back of the crankshaft.  This locates the end of the gearbox input shaft, which (from memory) is smaller than the spud on the front of an auto torque converter.

 

Further to that, at some stage I did a full step by step manual conversion instruction post on the old site, I'm not sure where it is now, but it may help if you can track it down.  Definitely one of the easiest conversions around.  I hope you didn't remove the whole pedal box, as on mine the boxes were the same, it was just a matter of swapping the actual pedals - much easier.

 

Enjoy!

[Toecutter]

I put a L28 in my car the other week and coul'nt be fussed pulling the spigot out of the L26 to put in the L28 which had an auto attached to it. I went down to a local nissan dealer and bought the brass spigot for $20.00. Might be just as easir to measure and buy from local bearing supplier.

[reverendzed]

Well the journey continues!  Talking to a mechanic today and he reckons that if I am converting I also need to change the diff as the diff for an auto is different from a manual, has anyone else heard this?  thanks also to all who have posted so far, it feels as though my journey of faith has been done by many before!  We should call you the apostles of Zed's!

[Toecutter]

he might just be talking about the ratios in the diff!?

[reverendzed]

The diff ratios may have been what he was talking about, I have no idea! is there any way to find out what ratio my diff is?

[maddos]

Chances are being the auto would be a 3.54.

I didn't mind leaving this ratio in mine, I know it's not a race car, that's what my other one's for.

My other car has the 3.9 and yeah you do get moving quicker but if you're after something that will cruise really well just leave it.

Mine feels more comfortable cruising around town in 3rd in 60 zones.

[dalee]

Having all three options 1. auto, 3.54dif

                                2. stick, 3.54dif

                                3.  stick, 3.9dif

 

IMO, if its performance you are after go option 3.  The Standard manual dif 3.9, will give you 3400rpm @ 70mph and more go from a standing start

 

Option 2, is great for fuel economy and long journeys, 70mph = 2700rpm, but that cars a bit of a slug off the line. 

 

Dale

 

[zedevan]

isn't 3.7 another option? and whats in the factory 260z manuals? or am i just confused?

[Zeddophile]

I put a L28 in my car the other week and coul'nt be fussed pulling the spigot out of the L26 to put in the L28 which had an auto attached to it. I went down to a local nissan dealer and bought the brass spigot for $20.00. Might be just as easir to measure and buy from local bearing supplier.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't bother trying to reuse a spigot bush - usually stuff them pulling them out anyway, and for the cost its not worth the time.

 

As has been said before, yes the ratios are different, and if its a 260z, I have been told that the auto 260s had an R180 instead of the r200, but I'd check that out yourself.  Won't make an immediate difference, but the r200s are stronger, if that concerns you at all.

 

And yes Evan, I believe there was also a 3.7 in some model or other, but can't remember whether it was Aust. delivery or what the story was - may have been in the 280zx?

[sco_aus]

Yeh I have a 3.7, its quite a good midway point for your application and if you can help me track down a decent priced set of 4.1 gears, you can have it for free.  This is in a R200, not sure what you have.