juggalo280ZX

A friend of mine owns a salvage yard but dosn't carry any vehicles older than 1990, are there any transmissions that my buddy might have that could bolt onto or easily adapt to the L28 (I believe) block? Or does anyone know of a company that makes trans. adaptors for the L28 block? Please help! Aspiring gearhead asking, only 16 years old but love cars, and love my 280ZX even more!

jfairladyz

I don't know if the T-5 had a detachable bell housing or not, but they used that on the later 280zx, turbo I think. Don't quote me on which one, but the 280zx did utilize it and it's a very common trans. Don't know how interchangeble though, but it's something you can look into.

Good luck.

runningonempty

I believe the turbo used a different cross member for the tranny and a driveshaft of different length. Still, it should be an easy swap. Check hybridz.com for more info. Be sure to use their search function before asking any questions on their site - they are prone to going postal if you ask a question that's been answered.

juggalo280ZX

Thanx for the info! do you know of any newer cars that use the T-5, I could use all the help possible. I've been told that the 240sx had a lot of similaritys to Z cars, would the trans possibly be one of them, like I said, i'm new to cars, but an expert w/ go-karts. I am willing to except any possible information no matter how small it might seem. or how questionable it may sound. All I want to do is learn from others experience before I learn from my own mistakes. Thanx again!

Bleach

The 1984-89 300ZX also uses the T5 but I heard that you can not use the back half of even those T5's with the 280ZX bellhousing. I would bet that there are no newer transmissions you can use on the 280ZX. Only the L-series transmissions will work.
There are other ways to get parts for the 280ZX besides a local wrecking yard...

DarrellBuddy321

some people use the 240sx tranny but i dont know how...

lww

You can use the '84-'86 T5 from the 300zx but you have to have the bell housing from the Turbo 280ZX to make it work. The 300zx had the starter on the other side of the engine.

The 240sx tranny can be made to work with an NA bell housing cut and machined to fit the 240sx case.

No newer T5's can be used on the L28 due to the spline count on the shaft. Nissan decided to use a 26 spline shaft when the rest of the world was using a 25 spline shaft.

You can have new WC T5 w/GForce gearset converted to fit your L28 for $1600 if you supply the Nissan T5 core and bell housing you need. \

From your original post I don't think you're in the market for that conversion.

Where are you located?

You'll be better off finding another junk yard that either specializes in Z's or one that isn't so particular even though you probably won't get the 'buddy' discount.

Good luck!

juggalo280ZX

Thanks for the mass info! I found a guy who lives suposedley near me (northern Illinios somewhere) who is selling every part I would need to go from an automatic trans, which I have, to a 5 speed manual. I believe his trans is out of an 82 280ZX, should I try to raise the money and go for that full swap, or keep lookin'? the guy has everything from the center councel to the clutch and brake assembly with a near perfect trans for $300. help me out here fellow Z drivers! should I do this, and is it possible with my Z being an 80 and his an 82? Thanks again and please keep it comin!

DynamicJ

300 is a little steep to me... I have a tranny from my 79 (not a T5) but it wouldn't be ready for a couple weeks..

juggalo280ZX

Shipping cost would be a ton from where your at, but is it man. or auto? this guy lives whithin an hour drive of my house.

DynamicJ

manual. I work for a company that does a ton of shipping, we have an 80% discount with most truck lines...

juggalo280ZX

I just found out that the guy who's close to me is selling the trans and everything else out of his 77' not his 82' does anyone know if this would be an easy swap or not, what about lessthanjabo's manual trans from a 79'? Either way I need it all or nothing, unfortunatley.

lww

Unfortunately, nothing but the tranny will work in your ZX. You would need a completely different set of cables, pedals, console, shiter, etc.

I would give him $50 for the tranny, clutch, and flywheel.

jfairladyz

I got a 4-speed manual out of a 78 in my 81. Works fine, but you lose that 5th gear gas mileage.

juggalo280ZX

That's still awesome news for me that at least the trans. would work. With all the components that wouldn't work, how much do you think it would be to buy them, and how hard to make the console fit?