Hey guys I'm getting ready to start doing the conversion from automatic to 5-speed in a few days. I'm pretty sure I've got everything. I'll have to double check and I'll list everything to make sure, but I have a few questions.

When I install the pedals is there anything special that needs to be done? I know they all come out and go in as one assembly, but is there going to be any cutting or anything needed when it comes to the clutch pedal?

As for the clutch master and slave cylinders, are there spots where they will go or will that require drilling holes for them, or what?

Finally one of the things I was curious about, what is the best way to get the car up high enough so I can lower the transmission?

If you guys can throw any other tips or pointers my way that'd be greatly appreciated. My aim is to start either this weekend or next and to hopefully have it done within the timeframe of a week. I don't know how feasible this is or not, but we'll see. Let me know guys. I'll also be sure to take pictures as we do this.

 

I too would like to know about the Master and slave cylinders...

As far as the lifting of the car...two really tall bottle jacks, either 4 tall jack stands or 4 tall car ramps and a solid surface to work on...of course a lift always works good but I have seen this done on jack stands and or car ramps. Being these cars are low in the fron my buddy and I had to jack the front up to put the ramps under the car but it was secure once we had all four ramps under it and a decent amount of room...the bottle jacks can be used to lift it higher.

 

How do you manage to get the car up on four ramps? Drive it up a set of ramps, and then jack the other end up and lower it on the ramps?

 

the holes for the clutch will be either "pop" outs or a closed hole grommet, or a combo of both, i believe your dash must come out for the swap to make it easier, after all the dash takes 30 minutes to remove, and will save you hours of hassle. the swing arm assy. has the studs in it to mount the master on it. the holes may need to be punched out. when you take pics, take notes. that way you can do a write-up of everything you needed and did, for all those that are planning to do the same to there car, if you dont feel like it, i can do the writeup for you using your notes and pics. just pm me and ill give you my email addy.

 

We were able to back the car up onto the rear ramps then we jacked up the front and set those ramps under the front with the slope facing the front of the car...so we could get under the middle of the car. It sounds silly but at the time we did not have jack stands and had just one very large nascar style 2 pump jack.

 

that would work. That's what I was thinking of doing.

Also I was wondering, would it be possible to go about swapping in the peadals, the cylinders, etc and still being able to drive the car with the auto? I was thinking of trying to do each individual thing so I don't have to compromise the driveability of the car until I have a good day or two straight to swap out the tranny itself. I don't see why this wouldn't work, but I figured I might as well ask before I do this. If the dash comes out, then I think I might as well just buy some speakers and get a speedo from a 79 so I can swap that over all at once.

 

if i belive im right u must take out the dash its pretty eazy im sure u know how to .. just reinstall everything how u took it all off... sounds eazy i know but dont miss the clutch wires.. for some reason people alwas forget to hook up the " green " harness wires ... why ? yep u might have to punch out the opening for ther clutch master cycendar .. it might be a groumet thou ? u still have to take off your auto toruqe converter i belive its 4, 14 mm bolts ? i might be right or maybe its 12mm ? any more help or prolbems u run into im sure u can ask any one else on hear...

 

you can do the pedals first before the swap, just cant do the tranny before the pedals lol duh!!! just dont look funny always hitting the clutch when you dont have one!!!

 

LOL HA HA HA! Yeah I catch myself all the time trying to push my clutch pedal in...still use to the 5 speed in the camaro lol...how about pushing the brake pedal with your left foot and nose diving into the steering wheel..Ouch! LOL man I need to do my swap.

 

Just tell people it's an old school automatic. Make up a story about back in the day you still had to use a clutch to connect the tranny into Drive.

 

To thxone i got to know in your picture your profile picture i can see your car burning rubber.. but i got to know is that flames also ? kinda looks like it to me.. =-)

 

LOL Yeah I was just havin fun with PhotoShop lol

Attachment 4871

 

So thxone, all you basically need to do is just swap the tranny? You've put the pedals and stuff in for the swap? If so did you have to remove your dash?

 

Oh no not yet, I am trying to push a pedal that isnt there because I am so use to driving a manual. But I have had my dash out several times and I can see how it would be better to have it out, esspecially for the pedals. The time it would take someone to swap the pedals with the dash still in the car would take much longer than it would removing the dash, taking breaks, cooking dinner, falling asleep, waking up and finishing the next day.

 

yes, remove the dash, it is far easier, read my post above^

 

ok ok ok ..i just swap pedals two days ago and iam in the middle of THIS trany swap crap right now ..anyway i did not remove my dash to install the pedals ...
i removed the speedo and tach housing ..unbolted the ecu and all the stuff around it but i did not have to remove the dash its self ...its realy stupied of datsun to do what they did ..the auto pedal set up is the same as the five speed ...they only left out one thing ..right where the clutch pedal hooks in.... its the same the pedal mount is there right in the right spot ..however dastsun forgot to put the nut insert for the clutch pedals shank bolt to screw into ...
so freaking stupied and costly pretty much the could have made one pedal mount and put it in both cars but they didnt there fools...
anyway i didnt remove the dash..

 

I haven't swapped int he clutch pedal yet, but when I push it in it doesn't pop back into place like I guess it should. Does this have to do with not being bolted in or attatched to the rest of the clutch?

 

The pedal will go all the way in and kinda lock there, then if I push on it a little then it pops back to its normal position. Could the springs on it just be crapping out or something?

 

no your spring is fine ..when you bleed your clutch it will work good for sure ..
if your pedal pops back up then you hooked it up right ...

 

this is what I did to get pedal assembly, have fun


http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g108/barrywood247/

 

Wow man, how ironic. You paid the same price for your '83, that I paid for my '82.($200) And they are both the same exterior color, with close to the same damage on the body. Any chance yours has blue and silver interior? That would be a trip man, because mine is stock, and I enhanced it.