280ZX Performance / Technical Discussions related to Turbo charging, Supercharging, Engine, ECU, exhaust, and etc. performance enhancements.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

I have decided it is time to do a auto to manual swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-05-2006, 01:07 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
barrywood 24/7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
I have decided it is time to do a auto to manual swap

The fire crackers have died as well as the gun shots from the tanked up Tacoma residents, {my friends dad gets stewed every year and hauls out his pump shot gun to celebrate crazy old codger}.

Well I just got back yesterday from ABC transmission here in Tacoma to find out the fate of my turbo 400 that was installed in my 1970 LS6 chevelle. And it was smoked... ouch!, they said about $600.00 to rebuild which is a very decent price I felt, but I am just gonna yard one out of a pull a part car for $50.00. OK now for the z stuff... I just happened to drive my 82 turbo zx to the shop because my $ 200.00 dollar 0600000 thousand original mile turbo z has had a transmission issue since I bought the car on April fools day{the seller was the fool that day}.

So seeking their opinion I had a tech drive it well he went about 15 ' and said it was toast , then he goes hey would you like to sell this car one of the boys here would jump on this, god I don't see many cars this old with such low miles, I smiled and said no I love this car, drove off and decided to snag the 5 speed out of my 83 Na.

It took me no time at all to yank the dash out since I have had it out 3 times fixing the heater, I thought it was the core but it still leaked so I replaced the water **** and now that mess is a done deal. Any how I got out the pedal assembly out quick and next went to yank the drive line .


This is were it got ugly fast... I could not bust a nut he he, I got out the best nut buster I have ever used pb blaster , if you don't have a can or two of this in your garage do your self and your knuckles a favor and get some nothing is better I swear by it. nismo pick knows about the blasters ability I just found out a month or so ago. No luck cause I could not fit a socket to use my air on it and when I got my wrench on it it started to slip. please don't tell me it is a 11mm nut. So this was way harder than I ever thought . my sawzall was to cumbersome to work and my air cut off tool to big as well . Sears was my only hope dremal cut off wheels. Got them today and got one cut off so far. It is pissing me off like the intake exhaust manifold job.

I am going back out to work on it till I have the 5 speed out of the donor car. This means a all nighter for me. But I pull them on a regular basis so no worries . I will keep ya posted on my progress I figure i can be done in 24 hours. 5 speed in turbo car ready to test. question will I need to fiddle with my drive line I bet I will or I don't see why I cant use the drive shaft out of the donor car. Bleach I want to buy that brown shifter boot in your garage if it is still for sale. Well time for a monster puff and off I go
barrywood 24/7 is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 01:57 AM
  #2  
lww
Head Muckraker
 
lww's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 9,221
Yup, all you need is the drive shaft from the donor car. As long as it's the same style as your car (coupe or 2+2) it should fit with no problems.
lww is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 07:25 AM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
barrywood 24/7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
Great I love it when things are simple, not that the swap is simple, because it really is not. But then again yes it is. I am fast learning the time frame for certain auto endeavor's pretty well these days. Lets face it being a decent mechanic we all here know requires more than all the necessary tools, but indeed they sure help a ton.


I think the most important discipline in being a true journeyman (which by no means am I myself) is to not have any wasted moves while performing your job at hand. I have a few friends one for for the most part that really gets things done fast and correct. he is amazing to watch work. And has been at it since about 12 starting with vw bugs, then went to work at the local vw dealer here in Tacoma for 10 years or so, and now is the owner of too quicks German auto service. Very dedicated client ell some of over 20 years.

I guess my point is about myself and what I have learned just in the past 6 months since I got my first 280 ZX. I have from this and a few other forums gained I feel a respectable amount of free knowledge from all of the people. I am getting back into the swing of mechanical thinking and doing jobs I probably would not think about doing in my past. I t feels great to reap the simple rewards of all the time spent studying the proper procedures.

What is next sure wish I could rebuild a transmission set up a differential. Anyone else ever feel this way ? certainly you do or you wouldn't be here. I guess I'm a bit giddy (must of been my smoke break) but if you have completed this swap tell us how long it took and how you feel about the benefits of going manual, my guess is first and foremost for the fun or control you get with a manual or do you have evidence of more performance like say a better et at the drag races. I think I will grab my camera to take some photos of my progress which ain't much since I have a tendency of very long posts and puff breaks... gotta go fight the drive line nuts any suggestions on removing them cause I have choose to cut them off. This and every time here on out I will use anti seize on every thing.
barrywood 24/7 is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 07:42 AM
  #4  
Taste My Rainbow
 
skittle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: LOST VEGAS
Posts: 2,418
ha ha double post
skittle is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 10:15 AM
  #5  
The Evil Twin
 
Bleach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,294
not only do I have the brown shifter boot still ( I think ) but I have a T5 transmission and a 2-seater turbo driveshaft for sale already out of the car.... ??
Bleach is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 01:16 PM
  #6  
More Than Meets The Eye
 
WildmaN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 5,120
Originally Posted by barrywood 24/7
Great I love it when things are simple, not that the swap is simple, because it really is not. But then again yes it is. I am fast learning the time frame for certain auto endeavor's pretty well these days. Lets face it being a decent mechanic we all here know requires more than all the necessary tools, but indeed they sure help a ton.


I think the most important discipline in being a true journeyman (which by no means am I myself) is to not have any wasted moves will performing your job at hand. I have a few friends one for the most part that really gets things done fast and correct. he is amazing to watch work. And has been at it since about 12 starting with vw bugs, then went to work at the local vw dealer here in Tacoma for 10 years or so, and now is the owner of too quicks German auto service. Very dedicated client ell some of over 20 years.

I guess my point is about myself and what I have learned just in the past 6 months since I got my first 280 ZX. I have from this and a few other forums gained I feel a respectable amount of free knowledge from all of the people. I am getting back into the swing of mechanical thinking and doing jobs I probably would not think about doing in my past. I t feels great to reap the simple rewards of all the time spent studying the proper procedures.

What is next sure wish I could rebuild a transmission set up a differential. Anyone else ever feel this way ? certainly you do or you wouldn't be here. I guess I'm a bit giddy (must of been my smoke break) but if you have completed this swap tell us how long it took and how you feel about the benefits of going manual, my guess is first and foremost for the fun or control you get with a manual or do you have evidence of more performance like say a better et at the drag races. I think I will grab my camera to take some photos of my progress which ain't much since I have a tendency of very long posts and puff breaks... gotta go fight the drive line nuts any suggestions on removing them cause I have choose to cut them off. This and every time here on out I will use anti seize on every thing.
The driveline nuts are pretty simple, at least to me. Take a 12mm endwrench, and at the back of the driveshaft, are 4 nuts, being held on by 4 screws, that have a flat spot going to the inside against the driveshaft. All you do is turn the driveshaft to get access to the nuts, and one at a time, loosen, and remove them. And then woila, you can take it off, but make sure you have a catch pan to catch the gear oil if it is a manual. As for the automatic, not quite sure, if it would leak out or not. Hope this helps you out, and this is from experience.
WildmaN is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 01:36 PM
  #7  
The Evil Twin
 
Bleach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,294
drain the oil from the transmission first through the oil drain plug

When you get the 5-speed transmission, be sure to get a flywheel. Since you have a turbo, you're going to want the 2+2/turbo 240mm flywheel and clutch. Also buy a new pilot bushing for the 'clutch' since the crank in your block won't have one. ($3)

Last edited by Bleach; 07-05-2006 at 01:48 PM.
Bleach is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 01:45 PM
  #8  
More Than Meets The Eye
 
WildmaN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 5,120
Yeah I would have thought of that. But mine is on there so friggin' tight. I have to drain it from the end of the tranny, after the driveshaft is out.
WildmaN is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 01:50 PM
  #9  
The Evil Twin
 
Bleach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,294
Get a bigger hammer
Bleach is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 03:16 PM
  #10  
More Than Meets The Eye
 
WildmaN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 5,120
No the problem is, the plug is rounded a little. And if I put the ratchet in there with the big socket. It starts to round it off. So it is easier to remove the driveshaft to drain the gear oil. For me anyways, until I figure out how to fix the drain plug. I figured if I could get it off, and find another one. Maybe I could replace it.
WildmaN is offline  
Old 07-05-2006, 10:35 PM
  #11  
Bad Speller
 
bardabe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Moreno Valley, CA
Posts: 1,832
Originally Posted by WildmaN
No the problem is, the plug is rounded a little. And if I put the ratchet in there with the big socket. It starts to round it off. So it is easier to remove the driveshaft to drain the gear oil. For me anyways, until I figure out how to fix the drain plug. I figured if I could get it off, and find another one. Maybe I could replace it.
have you tried drilling a hole on it and using the Thign they use to pull out broken studs? and then just take it to Home Depot or Ace hardware. and get something with the same thread but a Hex Bolt instead????
bardabe is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigbro12
300ZX (Z31) Forums
11
08-21-2015 04:55 PM
dcrago
300ZX (Z31) Forums
8
06-30-2011 09:12 PM
loddie
280ZX Performance / Technical
18
02-27-2008 05:58 AM
thxone
280ZX Performance / Technical
14
04-14-2006 10:07 PM
na88
300ZX (Z31) Forums
3
09-09-2002 01:28 PM



Quick Reply: I have decided it is time to do a auto to manual swap



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:30 PM.