juggalo280ZX

I was talking to my dad today about rebuilding my 80 280ZX auto. trans for it to shift harder and faster and also to get as much of my engines power as possible. This get him thinkin about the good ol' days when he wanted to do ish like that, and he started telling my about when he put a hurst shift kit in his 442! Does any company make a performance shift kit for theZX? Thanks in advance, JR

lifegrddude

You can try contacting Level10, I think they had stuff for the ZX. I don't have any of their contact info though.

Bleach

I've never heard of kits for the auto before. I don't think the L28 puts out enough torque to make it worth the effort. Run a 300hp turbo and then you might think about it.

Another idea would be to lower your rear gear ratio for more torque and getting through the gears faster. Then install a 4-speed auto (overdrive) from a 1983-84 Maxima. (L24E engine)

You can rebuild an automatic with tighter 'springs' or something like that to shift a little harder and faster. I had a BMW that was done like that. I don't know much about that though. The work was done before I bought it.

s/cL3.0

Just swap a 5 speed and you can shift as fast as you want.

Dorifto

Haha ... nice. A friend of mine used to work at an auto tranny shop, and he was really good with 'performance' trans builds. He had a 240SX with the 4AT, rebuilt the trans using Kevlar and Steel bands, tighter springs, and a stiffer spring for the pressure relief valve - even with the stock KA24E, it chirped the tires into all 4.

I would think something similar would need to be done for that. Pretty much that's all a shift kit is ... I'm sure a good tranny shop in your area would do that at your request.

Hope that helps,
-Dave-O

whyfeel

Has anyone here done any build-ups of the stock 5spd trannys? Or is it easier to just get a T-5.

lww

No need. The stock 5 speed should be fine for around 220 to 250 ft lbs torque in these cars.

How much HP/Torque are you running or planning to run?

whyfeel

Well, I have an N/A '79, but I want to try and lay down 200 WHP in the long run. I am not sure how close to that I can get, though. I will probably have to break down and get the hi-compression pistons...

So as far as transmissions go it should be able to handle, it will be borderline. But, I have 2 '79 5speeds that are both high-milage/abused, and a blown '82 2x2 5speed. I really want either a later close ratio tranny or a t5 for the better gear patterns. Would it be worth it to just get the '82 rebuilt, or find a T-5 and rebuilt that one.

Bleach

I like the T5 in my car. Nice tight shifting. The 82 is a good transmission too. But the gearing overall is higher so for a non-turbo you would want to run a 3.9 or 4.11 rear with that transmission. In fact, even if you run your '79 transmission, swap to a 3.7 or 3.9

whyfeel

Yeah, a major reason for this swap would be for the gearing. I know it would be a throw but I want to try and have a very low RPM highway cruising speed, for better gas milage. I am building the ZX for a sort of touring car, so this makes sense even if it slows it down a bit. I was hoping to make up for that with some more horsepower. Then, if it slowed it down too much the ol' R180 diff could be swapped .

Bleach

Use the '82 transmission and keep your rearend stock. That'll work for your touring. Keep the cam stock. Advance the upper gear to the #2 position. Open up the exhaust pipe a little but leave the stock manifold. (2.25" should do) K&N filter and call it good.

whyfeel

Well, the engine is rebuilt with a high capacity oil pump, performace valve springs, aluminum flywheel, and centerforce 2 clutch. Also a crane HI6S optical ignition system. I am doing suspension fun with tokico springs / tokico hp shocks in a few weeks after I finish the body. I did have a cam with a /460 valve lift that was great, but I had to change it for a stock one for CARB. I will be doing the MSA coated headers 3-2-1 into 2-1/2 exhaust, no cat, turbo muffler. I later plan on putting probably a .495 lift cam in, 60mm throttle body, K&N cold air, rising-rate FP regulator, and then much later putting in high compression pistons and a metal head gasket to up compression.

Dorifto

Damn. I want my engine built like that.

DoTheDrew888

That setup sounds similar to my engine. If you are expecting good gas mileage with that engine then you are going the wrong direction haha. Actually its not THAT bad on gas but paying $2.40 for premium isn't fun.

whyfeel

I don't expect to get the greatest gas milage ever, great milage to me is about 25-26 mpg, and good is above 20 mpg.

For now, the only real performace I will have is the exhaust, which IF I keep my foot out of it should (from how I understand engines) help with gas milage. Between everything in the engine being brand new (w/stock cam in right now) and the Crane Hi6 optical ignition and the performance exhaust losing the cat, as LONG AS I CAN KEEP MY FOOT OUT OF IT, I think I can get a jump in mpg.

DoTheDrew888, what kind of gas milage do you get on average? Also, what kind of rear wheel horsepower do you have, dynod, or estimated?

Mooney

The T-5 thats in the Z's; is it the same as the T-5 in Mustangs just with a different bellhousing?

DoTheDrew888

No, it is different.

Bleach

However, the short shift kits for the Mustang work on the Nissan T5. Gear sets don't.

I'm using a stock '93 Mustang shifter that I cut short. It is more heavy duty and feels like a more solid shifter than the ZX turbo unit.

Mooney

Gotcha, I didn't figure I'd get that lucky, have a couple of those in the garage. 'Preciate it.
Luke

DoTheDrew888

Whyfeel, I just rebuilt my engine less than a 1000 miles ago so I haven't had a chance to get it dynoed yet. After tuning, im hoping for somewhere around 180HP though. I haven't calculated the gas mileage yet but it actually doesn't seem to be too bad. Probably somewhere around 20mpg and that includeds flooring it a fair amount.

whyfeel

Thats good, DoTheDrew888. I must admit, I have more miles than you on my rebuilt, about 2000 (spedo went out at around 500 lol estimate breakin period). You are talking 180HP estimate, correct? Also (last question and I swear I'll stop bugging you) how does your exhaust sound? Throaty but not ricer-esque buzzy hopfully?

BigBirdsZ

ok i may seem stupid for asking this but what is a T5/what car does it come in i see you guys talk about it all the time i thought it was the stock 5-speed trans

Mooney

I think it is the stock 5 speed trans, in '83 models. Before that there were two different 5 speeds, both had different ratios and probably dont hold up to as much as the T-5 torque/hp wise.

Heres a link on the B/W T-5: http://www.geocities.com/zgarage2001/borg.html

Bleach

The T5 is what came in the 1982-83 280ZX TURBO. Only the turbo models. The non-turbo got the Nissan transmission.

There were two different types of Nissan 5-speed transmissions though. One made from 1977-80 and another from 1981-83.

DoTheDrew888

Whyfeel, 180HP is an estimate and I actually think thats a little on the high side to be honest. Im eventually going to swap over to Big Bore SU carbs and hoping to get about 250rwhp with those on there. I just have to wait and see I guess. As for the exhaust, it sounds freaking amazing, I love it. It has a very deep throaty sound like a V8 and the cam gives it a very mean rumbling idle. It sounds NOTHING like the lawnmower Civics and Intergras with those gay fart cans. It is pretty loud but not loud enough to be annoying. Feel free to ask if you have anymore questions BTW.