replace 5 speed with 4 speed?
#1
replace 5 speed with 4 speed?
Well, just got back from the local Z guy and sadly to say I am very dissapointed with him. He told me I need a new transmission. Here is the story.
I was driving home from my girlfriend's house which is about 5 and a half hours away, the whole way I drive about 75-80 mph in 5th gear. About 45 minutes from home my shifter pops out of 5th gear and since I had my foot on the petal my engine started to rev out so I quickly pulled off to the side of the road scared that I just lost my transmission. Well I quickly found out that I still have all FOUR gears minus FIFTH. No matter if I have the clutch pushed in or not I can slide the shifter into where FIFTH gear is sopposed to be without a problem. When I drive normally in every gear except FOURTH gear I get a really loud noise. So when I drive I try to as quickly as possible and at the right speed shift all the way up to fourth. This works for around town. So today I went to my local Z mech. and he tells me my transmission is shot. GONE, bye bye thats all folks. That I need a new one. So I ask him how much its going to cost me for
A. a rebuilt 5 speed.
B. a new 5 speed.
C. when I can get it done.
He tells me that I should just go with a 4 speed. A FOUR SPEED, IN MY 280ZX. I asked him why? And he told me for 400$ installed he can put in a FOUR speed manual transmission. I relayed to him nicely that I would prefer to stick with a FIVE speed transmission because its better on gas and long trips. He told me that if he were to get a FIVE speed transmission and rebuild it, that it would cost me about 1200$, I about crapped myself. He told me the price difference was because he would have to buy the parts rebuild the transmission and then install it. Now I am in the USAF, I don't have a ton of money. I don't know what to do. I wanted to turn my Z into a semi-drift car putting down about 200whp. But now I don't know what to do. Should I go with the FOUR speed. Or find someone else that can rebuld my 5 speed for less. I was thinking about pulling the transmission myself and having him rebuild it and then putting it back in myself. I know a bit about cars and am able to turn a wrench so do you think this is too much of an endevor for me?
I am also looking for people in my local area that might want to help a fellow Z guy out. Like someone that has a bit of garage space or room to work since I live in an ampartment complex and they frowned on my when i was installing my radiator and new alternator. This is my daily driver. Thanks for all your help!
P.s. its a 1979 280zx 2+2
I was driving home from my girlfriend's house which is about 5 and a half hours away, the whole way I drive about 75-80 mph in 5th gear. About 45 minutes from home my shifter pops out of 5th gear and since I had my foot on the petal my engine started to rev out so I quickly pulled off to the side of the road scared that I just lost my transmission. Well I quickly found out that I still have all FOUR gears minus FIFTH. No matter if I have the clutch pushed in or not I can slide the shifter into where FIFTH gear is sopposed to be without a problem. When I drive normally in every gear except FOURTH gear I get a really loud noise. So when I drive I try to as quickly as possible and at the right speed shift all the way up to fourth. This works for around town. So today I went to my local Z mech. and he tells me my transmission is shot. GONE, bye bye thats all folks. That I need a new one. So I ask him how much its going to cost me for
A. a rebuilt 5 speed.
B. a new 5 speed.
C. when I can get it done.
He tells me that I should just go with a 4 speed. A FOUR SPEED, IN MY 280ZX. I asked him why? And he told me for 400$ installed he can put in a FOUR speed manual transmission. I relayed to him nicely that I would prefer to stick with a FIVE speed transmission because its better on gas and long trips. He told me that if he were to get a FIVE speed transmission and rebuild it, that it would cost me about 1200$, I about crapped myself. He told me the price difference was because he would have to buy the parts rebuild the transmission and then install it. Now I am in the USAF, I don't have a ton of money. I don't know what to do. I wanted to turn my Z into a semi-drift car putting down about 200whp. But now I don't know what to do. Should I go with the FOUR speed. Or find someone else that can rebuld my 5 speed for less. I was thinking about pulling the transmission myself and having him rebuild it and then putting it back in myself. I know a bit about cars and am able to turn a wrench so do you think this is too much of an endevor for me?
I am also looking for people in my local area that might want to help a fellow Z guy out. Like someone that has a bit of garage space or room to work since I live in an ampartment complex and they frowned on my when i was installing my radiator and new alternator. This is my daily driver. Thanks for all your help!
P.s. its a 1979 280zx 2+2
#2
that price seems a little steep for a five speed. I'd look around and see if you could find one yourself somewhere else, or find a used one somewhere. Just to give you an idea on prices, I bought a rebuilt 4 speed transmission (I know yours is a 5) and only paid $100 for it.
#3
yeah
i thought it was steep but i figure he wants to sell me the 4 speed since he has 3 laying around. but i asked what if i pull it then let him rebuild it and then I reinstall it. He hasnt called me back yet https://www.zdriver.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif
#4
I think your best bet might just be to check around some junk yards and see if you can find one. The chances of it being good are actually pretty high since it's not that common for the 5 speeds to die... Just a thought. You can do the swap yourself with fairly limited skills. You just need a place to do it. Rod.
#5
Hey, I'm in Windsor VA. I'm only 10minutes from Suffolk and about 30min or so from Chesapeake. But anyways, I'm buying a 2+2 turbo car from a fellow ZDriver member and it's got a 5 speed in it that I plan on pulling to install the T-5 that he's including with the car. I'm going to install the T5 so if you want the 5speed PM me an offer and it's yours. I'm not trying to sell it for a lot so what ever you're willing to spend on it I'll sell it for. If it ends up being bad then I'll let you know and it's no loss to you. But if it's good then it'll be a whole lot cheaper than a rebuilt one or a new one (if you can find a new one). I can even drive it out to you if you need me to. Just add $5 for gas
I have to get rid of one of my Z's anyways so I'm just going to be combining the two into one car and parting out the rest of the stuff.
I have to get rid of one of my Z's anyways so I'm just going to be combining the two into one car and parting out the rest of the stuff.
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