Two years ago I swapped out the automatic transmission in my '78 280z with a rebuilt, close ratio 5 speed from Datsun Parts llc in CA.

Yesterday, a few hundred miles after the install, I've lost 5th gear. The shifter will stay in 5th, but pressing the pedal only revs the motor. There is also a chattering sound right at the shifter, as if there's a gear free wheeling. The sound is there in all gears, but of course very intense in 5th.

I'm thinking about pulling the back portion of the transmission off, but I'm not sure how to even start this process. It would be my first time delving inside a transmission.

Any hints or thoughts?

 

You may as well just pull it and get it on a bench as it will need to come out anyway. You can open it up and decide if it will be better to rebuild or scrap.

The FSM is your friend

They aren't that heavy and if you can get it on jackstands you should be able to have it out in an hour or so.

Good luck!

 

Here's the crux of your problem:I bought parts from him in the past that he "replated", but he didn't even bother cleaning them properly before replating. Based on that and his reputation elsewhere, I never buy anything from him that has a moving part. I suppose you're lucky that it lasted two years.

As mentioned before, get the FSM for your car at XenonS30, and get the FSM for the five speed from Xenon, as well.

This thread may help you in sourcing parts: Rebuild kit for 280ZX 5 speed recommendations

 

Yes he didn't offer much help when contacted. He offered for me to ship it to them to look at, but that's at least a 400$ round trip from Dallas. No thanks. There is a place called Nothing But Z's here in DFW, I am going to remove it and take it over there and see what they have to say. The FSM is very detailed, but I'd rather get someone with some specific experience and maybe a realistic warranty longer than 90 days. Thanks for the replys.

 

If you're in the DFW area, be sure to make some friends at the Z Club of Texas. They seemed like a pretty good bunch of people when I lived in North Texas 15 years ago.