I have an automatic 1990 300zx n/a that i have been working on my motor was hydrolocked and i am swaping it out. I found a problem with my transmition when i pulled out the old motor. I am debating whether or not to replace or rebuild the auto tranny or to convert the car to a manual. I would rather have a manual transmition but im not sure how much work is involved other than finding a manual transmition and new pedals. If anyone has done that conversion has any advice or information that would be great.

 

bernie on tt.net has a complete 5-speed swap package for sale. it's a really good deal on a tranny and everything needed to make the change. go for it. you can go on tt.net, find his name (bernie(nova)) and send him and email about it.

 

If it was me, while I too like a stick, the cost and time involved in getting a stick in there vs rebuilding the auto is a no brainer. My guess is that auto can be rebuilt for less than 200$, I fail to see how any manual you have to pay for can compete. On top of that there's standing on your head under the dash screwing with pedals, YECH.

 

lol Please search TT.NET for a trans rebuild that cost even close to $200 without being a COMPLETE failure. Trans rebuilds are rarely successful on any car, much less the Z32.

 

you can't even get the tranny out of the car for $200. if you brought the tranny to the shop, it would cost $200 just to get the case taken apart! forget about new parts, cleaning, and assembly. work like that gets charged $50 an hour usually, or more.

 

Well, I said if it was me. Far as tranny rebuilds rarely being successfull in any car, I don't think you'd have much luck trying to convince the people that are driving trannys I rebuilt. Can't speak to the z32 trannys, haven't messed with them much, but there's some real similar trannys out there, that use the same parts, doing just fine in 1~2 ton diesel tow trucks. Let's just say I'm a little suspicious of the claim it can't be done. A lot of people think you can't get 1k hp through an AOD, and have been proven wrong.
The original poster said the motor would be out in a way that suggested the tranny would come out with it. From there it's just a matter of rebuilding it, and I would. Without any particular improvements over stock hp, 200$ parts cost isn't unreasonable unless all the gear terrain is fried. The last tranny I did cost less than that, and included a fresh converter and pump.(727 torqueflite)
I will give ya that if he can't rebuild his own tranny, that's a whole different dynamic.

 

Gear grinding within 5k miles of rebuild:
http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300z...t-of-mine.html

Good rebuild costs ~$2k
http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg...&forum=general

Z32 trans ain't some run-of-the-mill trans
http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300z...-bit-more.html

Not easy to find a mechanic qualified to work on the Z32 trans
http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg...&forum=general

Rebuilt transmission dies after a week and a half...
http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg...&forum=general
http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg...&forum=general

... I can keep going...

Success stories exist, but they're an island in a sea of failure.


The Z32s auto trans is troublesome to begin with, and rebuilds only add to that. The manual trans, however, is MUCH stronger (especially the newer ones - it was updated in 93 and again in 97 for the Japanese market), and will last longer. So he can either spend a little less now rebuilding it and likely have to do it all over again (thus multiplying the cost and adding inconvenience), replace it with another automatic trans (which isn't a bad option, just boring), or he can spend more, convert to manual, and likely not have to worry about the internals of his transmission ever again.

 

I have never rebuilt a tranny myself and I am certainly hesitant to try on a transmition that is difficult to rebuild right in the first place. So i guess its have a shop rebuild it, replace it with a used automatic, or swap to a manual. I've already accepted the fact that this is not cheap. I will do all the work other than the rebuilding myself.

There is just as good of a chance of a used auto going out on me very quikly anyway... is it worth trying to go with the quick fix... or just drop the money and do it right...

 

manual man. the biggest question is, how do you want to shift? it's got to be manual.

 

I drove my Z with an auto for 6 months and thought I liked it. I was wrong. Swapped in a 5-speed before Christmas and it's like having a whole different car. The 5-speeds are a little lower geared than the autos so the car seems much quicker and for me the shifter is positioned perfect and the clutch is smooth and I just basically love it. The only downside is that the wife wants to drive it now.

There are lots of write ups about converting and if you make sure you have everything you need when you start it's really easy. I changed it over a 3-day period just working on it in the evenings.

 

Good call.

1st gear ratio: 3.214:1 man / 2.785 auto
2nd gear ratio: 1.925:1 man/ 1.545 auto
3rd gear ratio: 1.302:1 man/ 1.00 auto
4th gear ratio: 1.000:1 man/ 0.694 auto
5th gear ratio: 0.752:1 man/ NA

Larger ratio -> better acceleration.

And I said it to somebody in a PM just earlier today... the Z32's manual gearing is beautifully matted to the VG30DETT's powerband.

 

Yes that's the ratio chart I was looking at when I made the decision to switch. I debated about the decision for a long time since the auto wasn't too bad once the car was up and moving but when I saw the difference in ratios it was like wow a 5-speed should be a lot better.