tehweej

i can get a 280zx 5spd for about 150 and was wondering if there are any differences that would prevent me from swapping easily. thanks guys!

snwbrderphat540

no. not a single difference other than the speedo cog so yor speedometer will probably be off.

theramz

Just take the speedo gear out of your old trans tail housing, they all fit, slips right out. One screw and tab holds it in.

snwbrderphat540

true i prolly shoulda mentioned that ^^^ also i think think the ZX shifter might be shapped a little differently but those also are swapable. i dont remember if im thinking of the right tranny of mine though i could be thinking of the T5 i used to have... and shoulda kept....

tehweej

sweet. i just replaced my shifter bushings with the nice brass ones, wow that made a difference! but its even better that i can just swap the whole thing. thanks guys!

raythenegr0

What year? There were two different T5's used in the 280zx, both will drop in but they're a bit different.

NismoPick

Two different T5's or transmissions? There was only one Borg Warner T5 used... for the 82-83 5speed turbos.

Here's the n/a (top) & T5 (bottom) side by side:

tehweej

hmmm im not sure, i will have to check the year on it. i dont think its a turbo, but i will check.

theramz

If you just put new bushings in you don't have a T5

BoulderZ

Also, a Borg-Warner T5 is not as simple as a bolt-in swap of an NA 5 spd:
http://www.datsunzgarage.com/borg/index.htm

Dave

260zturbo

why waste your money on a t5, they are crap. the nissan tranny is far better in holding up and not craping out on you.

Ratfink

So what is wrong with a T5 in our cars? Mine is holding up great.
Granted, it is not made to handle a ton of torque. (around 300) But, for normal daily driving, the Nissan version of the T5 is great. That, and I hate driving automatics. Especially in a sports car.

The main thing I hate about the trans in our Z's is the shifter they put into it. If you have driven a fox body Mustang, you know it can be vastly improved. Summit makes a good shifter, and so does B&M. Short throw is the way to go. Just been lazy with mine.

snwbrderphat540

T5 was made by borg warner and BW only. they can in the turbo ZX option 5spd. all the other 5spds from ANY NA car and 4spds are nissans. i dont understand whats wrong with you peoples!!! lol.

Ratfink

What are you trying to say???

First off, Borg Warner has not made a T5 in some time now. (But they did when they were in the Z'z) Second, what does this have to do with T5's that are in the Z's?
Or maybe I understand what you are saying, and don't understand what you are complaining about? lmao

NismoPick

I wonder how many of these anti-T5'ers have actually had experience w/ a T5??? My n/a tranny lasted about 500 miles w/ my turbo motor (yes, I was VERY hard on it)... Swapped in the T5 and it's rock solid (I've been even harder on the T5).

snwbrderphat540

im complaining about people not knowing the difference im not saying you dont have one. and BW also makes big turbos! lol. also they had a BW and a world class in the 90's stangs so i wouldnt say its been to horribly long since they made a tranny.

tehweej

its amazing what happens to a simple question sometimes...

NismoPick

See... the thing is... there's a lot of info about tranny swaps on this site & others. So... not much else to talk about... gotta continue the thread somehow.

tehweej

oh well then by all means continue

Bleach

I wonder if some people use the term "T5" when they mean "5-speed"
There is no Nissan T5

The Nissan 5-speed is the transmission in the non-turbo 280ZX. The turbo 280ZX 5-speed is not made by Nissan. It is a Borg Warner T5.

Ratfink

When I say Nissan T5, I say that because they had a different gear ratio than many of the other NWC T5's.

Tremec bought the T5 in the early 90's. Call Borg Warner about a T5, and they will probably get pissed off. haha

Bleach

This is a Nissan Z forum. We're not ever referring to a Mustang transmission. T5 is the 280ZX turbo T5.

theramz

The only bad thing about the NWC T-5 (82-83 ZXT) is the shifter goes bad and is not reparable. The WC T-5 (Mustang/Camaro) shifter will bolt right in. I got one for $7 at the j-yard, sweet. There is a guy on ebay selling syncro kits for both.

Ratfink

I prefer to mention the Nissan, because there are too many variants of T5's out there, and if one thought they could stick some other T5 from a mustang, or truck or whatever, they are going to be a little upset.

I understand I walk on some thin ice mentioning something like a Rustang around here. lol

But, we can learn from the enemy.

skittle

my old 88 turbo coupe had a bw t-5 and that was a ford.