Brotha_Z

I got a sweet deal on a transmission that came out of a 86 turbo!
But everyone(two people) i have tried taking my car to say they cant swap it because its the wrong tranny. My trusted mechanic acknowledges its from the turbo model and says he doesn't want to do it cause from looking at the tranny its wider and he'd have to do something to the wiring..? So my $500 job could turn into a $1000+ job. I know its a Borg-Warner T-5 5 speed (FS5R90A) and on z31 .com its written that the transmission should bolt up to the motor just fine you just need the turbo drive shaft which i have, there's nothing saying i have to do any special cutting, welding or slotting of bolts..

Has anyone ever done what im trying? just need some insight!

zxguy1986

Well, I am struggling with the same question here with my '86T. All I want to replace is the reverse gear detector/switch on the side of the tranny. The OEM switch (Nissan part no. C2005-06PO1) failed but is 15mm diam where it attaches/screws-in to the housing. NO OEM parts available from Nissan. The aftermarket replacements available are all 14mm diam and do not fit. This tells me that Nissan switched trannys mid-production for the '86 300zx. The basic Borg Warner T-5 in some, a modified or redesigned something-else in others.

Went to Nissan dealer to find my part, dealer printed out an exploded parts diagram of the tranny with the reverse switch. TWO different trannys shown on the same page, one with the wide bell housing up front having a diam of about 17-18", the other with a clearly smaller bell housing.

No names/nos given on the diagram to identify the two trannys - but we have to believe Nissan. We have two different T-5s possible in our '86Ts - and aftermarket parts are available only for one of them... So it could be right that your replacement tranny may not fit your Z. Just measure the bell housing to compare

rogerz

if you would really like answers that would help you and avoid flames give the following info when you post: year of car, n/a or turbo engine, stick or slushbox. Most of us can tell by the year what model you have ie 85T is a turbo z31. Z cars come in many flavors and they are all different. example 84,85,86 Z31's pretty comparable. there were changes in 87,88,89. in addition 300ZX can refer to two completly different cars the Z31 and the Z32. No mindreaders here the more info you can post the more likely you get a cogent useful answer. The cars with L engine (straight six) changed almost yearly from their introduction. A 240Z and and a 280Z have similarities but they can also have wide variance.

since you don't feel the need to inform us what car you are trying to put it in hard to answer.

if trying to fit it into an s130 or an s30 its for sure no go.

if trying to put it into a z32 (also a 300zx) the answer is again no

if trying to slip into a z31 then it should be a no brainer and someone is blowing smoke up your blowhole. go to a dealer with the tranny numbers and see what they say about fitment. I haven't fiddled much with the later z31 cause I don't like their look but I know between 84-86 just put it in cause I have done it. I do know there are probably different trannies check with dealer it you have a good one available best bet on finding out what is what.

Brotha_Z

Son.. its in my title i have a 86 z31 NA that i'm trying to put the same years turbo model transmission in. sorry if i wasn't descriptive somewhere else, that being said i am appreciative of your words. Sounds like my next move will be taking my tranny serial number and checking fitment with nissan. ill report back so we can get this info out there.
Thanks guys

Zuphoria

it should bolt up along as its a t5 from a z31 and not an s130. The bellhousings are the same for the turbo/na. The flywheel is different, your going to need a turbo one.

Darcy Bekkema

I've swapped the T5 for 71c in my 87 couple years ago everything bolts up with no issues. My 86 has a T5 in it at them moment but will be getting 71C put into it after it's rebuilt.

Brotha_Z

Alright so everything worked out. No need for a turbo style clutch or even a turbo flywheel, she just bolted right up to the motor. only thing different was the transmission mount to body was further place on the transmission so i had to bolt it one hole down on the body. oh and i also cant find a rear extension seal that will fit i have bought 3 so far, two from Napa and one from orielly's and none will go in. The previous one also didn't just slip out whole like the non turbo did it had to be torn out..?

Darcy Bekkema

I had same problem. Easy fix
Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com[32136]+\(z31&cPath=2317_2318_2391_2405

Brotha_Z

Alright i received my seal..
I guess these Borg Warner seals came attached to the dust cover because on my old FS5W71C the seal would slip inside the dust cover and this new one for the Borg looks like it was shrink wrapped around the whole thing?
I marked on a picture in red where i think a seal would go like the first transmission had, i know this new one didn't have one around that lip i marked. Before all this i ended up cutting the old one out cause i thought i needed to to replace it but i think that's how i boned myself.

Nissanfan92

Just curious would a transmission from a 87 N/A work in mine

ken99

The only difference I know between a 86 and 87 NA tranny (both being a F5W71C) is the speedometer sensor. The 86 has a pinion gear sensor driving a conventional speedometer cable. The 87 has a pinion gear driving an electronic Hall's Effect sensor. I don't know if the 86 mechanical sensor is a direct swap for the 87 electronic sensor. Otherwise it is the same transmission.