Decided to take the Z to work today to get it warmed up for the trip this weekend.
While on the freeway at maybe 65 I was in 5th gear with it floored. (7psi) and something popped. The power suddenly was gone. I was afraid the engine had blown. (not a very loud pop though)

Pulled over and I finally figured out the transmission was stuck in 1st gear. The shifter moves around still. I can go into all the gears except for 1st but internally I can tell its stuck in 1st. I was able to get off the freeway and make it to work. 25mph is about 4500 rpm!

Needless to say I'll have to get it towed later today and its not going to be going to Canada this weekend. I have been contemplating this week on weather to sell the car and buy a 350Z... but the 280ZX just always drove so well and after 10 years of ownership it has quite a lot of sentimental value to me. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to do the bodywork and paint on it... I guess I have my answer now.

 

good thing it did it now instead of in the middle of nowhere canada.

 

ya, seriously you guys

 

that blows. you dont have any extra trannies sittin around? even if they arent t5's ? i gotta stoop to a 4speed my tranny is pissin and bitchin at me and leakin fluid. i cant believe one shift did that. blew teh main seal and screwed up the inside. probably a bearing and maybe some other stuff. i no longer have faith in datsun trannies. lol. join me!

 

I got rid of two T5 transmissions last fall when I decided to sell my house!

...and I got rid of my 4-speed Datsun transmission. I got rid of everything! Can't move it all with me. I was considering getting rid of this car anyway and this is just the worse possible thing... almost. At least the engine is still good so someone else may want it.

I wish I knew someone who had land in Washington that would let me store the car for a while. I was the only one in my social circle who had land.

 

Charles!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

 

You and Rod should get rid of your 280ZX too!

 

yes!!! everyone get rid of their 280ZXs!!! and go buy automatic convertible 350Zs!!

 

A decent T5 tranny shop can rebuild them for about $500. Or you can get the rebuild kit from : http://www.drivetrain.com/borgwarnerT5.html

Make sure you check the basic problem areas before you do anything drastic!

Check out Hanlon's transmission diagnosis FAQ : http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/HanlonTIC.html

 

Bleach... we should trade Z's!

 

well, in the last few weeks I've really been thinking how I don't want the 280zx anymore and would prefer to just have the Fairlady and a 350Z. Then this happens. I dont' want to do the bodywork to finish the car much less pull the transmission again and invest more time and money into it. My Z finally won an award at a show so now she can retire.

NismoPick, your Z is worth far more than mine. And if we traded I would have an unfinished 280ZX turbo that I don't really have time or parking space for.

 

WTF . . .I leave for a little bit and all hell breaks loose?

I totaly feel you though. Im just tired of investing hella money and time in to these cars. Thing is . . .i cant stop. As much as i hate it, i just cant break away. I didnt drive the Z from Dec. to April and after getting back in the seat i fell in love with the car all over again. ****en Z has a kung-fu grip on my heart. Dont sell it bleachy

 

wow, it sure is becoming popular for you s130 guys to whine about getting rid of your cars. you should get real Zs .

 

like your little girly base model z32?



ive got a T5 sitting in my garage that needs seals and gaskets for $40 +Shipping

 

exactly !!

 

well, I'm not going to get a Sentra... I'm going to get a newer Z!

we'll see... I was already over my car before it died. I guess after 10 years of marriage I'm ready to trade her in for a younger model. lol

 

So what are the options Bleach? Throw in a spare tranny? Sell it as is?

 

With my move and those legal problems with my ex wife (Nismo knows) and my pending move I dont' have the time for a tranny drop.
Either hang onto it as-is for a couple months and then look into a tranny swap or put it up for sale as-is right now.

My dad will be by later and we'll see if we can get it to my property. I'll keep you updated.

 

have time? i just swapped trannies in a total (including clean up and setup time) 2.5 hours. how can one person not have 2.5 hours at least once a week thats free.

 

Just get an G35 for a daily driver cause the z33 is kind of a step down from the z32 but the G35 is a step up in comfort. Just a thought....


oh the G35 is a bit cheaper on INSURANCE too.

 

put the turbo motor in the fairlady, change the 280zx back to na, then you still get to have boost in a sweet rhd fairlady!! or just give me the motor for the racecar, and ill give you a done up n/a back, with a good tranny. i can help out with storage if needed, i got freinds with acres and acres of land. that where i wanted to put the car Tangent (from ratsun) was giving away.

 

thats tough bleach... after owning your Z for over 10 years its going to be hard to let her go especially since shes been so good to you for all those years... if you do sell her.. im pretty sure your going to regret it sooner or later.. maybe you should hold on to her till you find the time and place to work on her...


but then again this isnt a bad replacement for her

 

Yo...Bleach...let me get that front bumper and rising sun hood up off ya!! I will give you $20

I guess there comes a time when every S130 driver will have to let one go...Maybe the next one will be a better one if you decide to get another one. I know I hate mine when something goes wrong with it...but when it is all good it's ALL GOOD. If I were you my first look at another car would be a Z32TT...but that's just me. Good luck in whatever you decide.

P.S. the car in the above post is a sin against all Z's...that is not a cool drop top car

 

haha, bleach is already buying tree-fiddy parts!!! can we say "Rising Sun, Reborn!" i may join the cult myself .

 

I guess we all love Z's but have different opinions on different models. I don't really care that much for the Z32. I do like the 350Z and if I bought a G35 I would always regret not having a 'real' Z.

Also, that vert Interlegos Fire 350Z is one of my favorites. Good color and the convertible looks good too. I think I did decide against the convert though. i'll get a coupe. I have my eye on one in Vancouver, WA. ya, I bought a 350Z hood already. Can you imagine a 350Z with the Rising Sun hood?!?

OH! The purple 280ZX turbo is here in my driveway now and 1st gear is completely blown now.

Also, I got rid of everything else. I have no NA engines anymore. I sold it all. Engines, blocks, heads, transmissions, and most every spare part I had in preparation for my move. Sourcing a replacement transmission, getting it here, and swapping them will take far more than 2.5 hours. I'm not that motivated anyway. I'm stressed out. I don't want to swap transmissions much less do engine swaps. The Fairlady is staying stock. Snwy, you have no idea about time. You live with your parents.

I'll just make my decision and go with whatever I want for myself.