Hey everyone. I need to replace my clutch on a 1980 280zx. I have never done it before, but I have been thinking of doing it. All I have to guide me is my handy haynes book. I dont have any Idea on what it is going to consist of and how long it will take. I priced a clutch kit and its was 136.00. One a scale of 1 to 10, how hard is it, 10 being the hardest.

If you have any advice or hints about doing it let me know before I get started. Thanks,

Steve

It's 4 hours of work. IF (big IF) you can find a lift to do it on, so much the better. Doing on your back is not as plesant. Don't forget to drian the transmission before you drop it, as a slick of 3 quarts of gear oil will make the job even harder.

One a scale of 1 to 10, how hard is it, 10 being the hardest.

About 75

No seriously I have had the gearbox (transmission to you lot) In and out more times than I care to remember due to incorrect bearing carriers clutch issues two changes of engines and whatnot

It’s a depressing job

Personally I wouldn’t attempt it alone and would pressgang a friend or family member to help

So depending on your set-up and assuming you don’t have access to a lift and you have help, this is how I do it, others may have better advise and or different methods and I accept no responsibility for bad language, divorce, busted knuckles or busted car.

Remove internal trim around gear lever

Remove gaiter

Remove gear lever retaining pin (good time to check the plastic bushes)

Drain oil from box (several pints of gear oil in your hair when laying on your back, really spoils your day)

jack rear of car as high as a trolley jack will lift (still wont be enough)

Place axel stands underneath suitable rear strong points

Remove exhaust section

Unbolt rear sway bar (prop wont drop without it)

Unbolt prop shaft UJ at diff end

Remove prop shaft

Place jack under gearbox for support (I also place a small bottle jack under the engine)

Disconnect speedo cable

Disconnect reversing switch

Remove gearbox saddle mount assembly

Unbolt clutch slave cylinder

Unbolt gearbox from engine

gently separate the two, supporting the gearbox at all times on the jack

Be very very careful not to let the input shaft take any weight as it can screw it

You will have to twist the box whilst pulling apart at it will not directly drop due to bell housing clearance issues

When reassembling buy a clutch alignment tool and check the pilot bearing in the flywheel

Personally I would rather bum shuffle naked over broken glass and salt before attempting to pull the box from mine again – in fact when putting my new purpose built 2.8 in and encountering a clutch issue upon firing it up for the first time I pulled the engine again rather than drop the box

I hate the SOB job

Anyway

Have fun

Swear alot, drink beer and succeed

Let us know how it goes

WOW, I’m so glad that it’s not the clutch. I found this place in Ocala fl. its about 30 to 45 mins. from my house. It’s called Z cars of Ocala. They specialize in z cars and foran cars. It looks like its going to be the slave cylinder and the master cylinder. This news is such a relief to me, because there is know way that I would have been able to do that job, and I sure heck dident want to pay $600 for a clutch job from another place. By the way, does that sound right or is that really high? And one more question, when you redo the clutch, should you replace the flywheel? I have had about 2 places say that you should. Anyway, thanks Steve for giving me the heads up and I’m so glad I won’t have to deal with what you have gone though. Like dad says, learn from other people’s mistakes.

Thanks steve

Generally, you do not replace the flywheel. It should ALWAYS be re-surfaced (taken to a machine shop and have them mill the surface 100% FLAT)

$600 sounds like a lot for replacement of a stock clutch in my area. Greater San Franciso Bay area.

gees you blokes make it sound hard you can do it in about 3 hours if you get your finger out just put the front wheels up on some ramps and start ripping $^!# off...!

I have done clutches on 5 different sports cars.

MGB

Austin Healy

TR-6

AC Cobra

240Z

I will take the 240Z job anytime over those others.

gees you blokes make it sound hard you can do it in about 3 hours if you get your finger out just put the front wheels up on some ramps and start ripping $^!# off...!

3 hours!!!! You Aussies always did has a strange perception of time, bit like the Rugby really

You need to win a very important match and you dont start playing until a year later

Anyway joking aside, I would rather overstate the job than understate it and raise hopes.

greyghost

I agree with you on your comments sir, but it doesnt make the task any easier and its still a kack job and is no fun unassisted, particularly for the uninitiated.

Originally posted by SteveK

I would rather overstate the job than understate it and raise hopes.

I've got to agree with SteveK here. I KNOW that because I am not a professional mechanic my first gear box change will be a time consuming task, because I want to make sure I don't miss anything or break anything, and because my time is no cost to me I would rather take it slow and do a good job.

My first car in the dim and distant past was bought with a blown engine. Getting it running was a bleeding nightmare. I must have removed and installed the replacement (also shagged) engine 20 times. To start with it took me about 1 week to remove and replace. the 20th time it was about 1 hour. I'm sure removing and replacing a gearbox for the 20th time would probably take 3 hours no problem.

Andrew

Couple of tips if you are pulling out the tranny with only floor jacks holding the car up....

1. don't use ramps on the rear tires, as you need to rotate the drive shaft to take it off (learned this one)

2. if floor isn't super smooth, put your floor jack (that will hold up the tranny) on a piece of plywood or something smooth...that way, you'll be able to just roll the tranny back 5 or 6 inches, and then roll back forward.

First time I did this tranny / clutch swap, it took 2 days....second time (cause I didn't mate the correct years of parts) took only 2 to 3 hours...that's with beer breaks.

I have learned the hard way that the slave cylinders on the hydraulic clutch on the S30s like to have fresh fluid one a year or the slightest amount of water in the fluid will rust the piston shut on the slave, which is probably what happened in this case.

Everyone have a Grateful day!

--Dog

It really helps if you have someone around that has changed a clutch before, does not matter if it was a z or not. The hardest part for me was getting the exhaust out of the way. Get an alignment tool. I think this is a must. Draining the tranie is a good idea too, I never did because I always had someone with me to balance it on the jack. Good luck, its not that bad. The first time you have to change a head gasket you will be dreaming of just having to change a clutch.

Regards Curtis

I bought a 240z clutch kit off e-bay, and need to replace my 240z clutch. I know a kid, just got his journeymans and wants 150 to do it. I will probably let him. :-)