Tranny swap

[zman525]

What 5 or 6 speed transmissions are compatible with a stock 76 280z? I really want to do a conversion but i dont kno what I should be looking for.

[texasz]

Any stock tranny from '70 all the way up to '83 are all interchangeable...this means a nice easy bolt in swap. You are talking big $$$ for a 6-speed as there is some serious fabrication involved, visit hybridz for more information on this swap.

[zguitar71]

The ZX turbo trans requires some modifications that the others do not. The non turbo 81-83 ZX is the best 5 speed IMO. It has the best gear ratio spread and a stronger 5th gear.

[GunnerRob]

The non turbo 81-83 ZX is the best 5 speed IMO. It has the best gear ratio spread and a stronger 5th gear.

This is the transmission I put in my '75 280z. It fit right in with no modifications or problems. The first four gear ratios are identical to the stock four speed and fifth gear is 1: 0.745. This knocks down the rpm's from fourth gear by about 25% giving much better gas mileage while still providing good acceleration in fifth. And if I'm correct, I believe this series of transmission is a bit more durable than the previous versions.

[zman525]

thanks a bunch guys. now i gotta go locate one!

[240ZMan]

The first four gear ratios are identical to the stock four speed ...

I think that's only true for the early 5 speeds (75 - 79?). On the 81-83 all 4 of the lower gears are different from the 4 speed (that's why you should also change your differential) but most importantly, the gap going from 2nd to 3rd is much smaller so that the engine can still be in its power band.

[zman525]

Is there any trannys i could swap from other types of cars? or is it only Z's

[GunnerRob]

I think that's only true for the early 5 speeds (75 - 79?). On the 81-83 all 4 of the lower gears are different from the 4 speed (that's why you should also change your differential) but most importantly, the gap going from 2nd to 3rd is much smaller so that the engine can still be in its power band.

According to http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/ neither of us are right

The early five speeds for the US came out in '77. And none of the five speeds have the same gear ratios as any of the four speeds, althought the early ('77-'78) are the closest.

To be honest with you, I didn't notice a difference between the two in my Z. Now, if I were racing the car on road courses, I would think I would notice right away.

[speedyblue]

You can swap them from 240k's, 260C's and 280C's and the earlier skylines with the Lseries engine.

The 280zx tranny thay are talking about is the borg warner one that is tougher and clunkier than the standard Z one.

Some have used later model nissan gearboxes too

240sx tranny swap

[datto_240z]

Apparently a Nissan Silvia(S13 i think) 5spd fits in without too much hassel. There is a Yellow 240Z in QLD, Aust with one in and in the magazine article it said the lever fitted through the original hole!

But going for a box from a different car means the plugs arnt going to be the same and the other connections are going to be in different spots, that means fabrication which means $$$

You poor americans, geting givin a 4spd... Us aussies only got 5spds(or autos)!!!

[sblake01]

The 280zx tranny thay are talking about is the borg warner one that is tougher and clunkier than the standard Z one.

The only 280zx that had the BW tranny was the turbo.

[zguitar71]

You can swap them from 240k's, 260C's and 280C's and the earlier skylines with the Lseries engine.

The 280zx tranny thay are talking about is the borg warner one that is tougher and clunkier than the standard Z one.

Some have used later model nissan gearboxes too

240sx tranny swap

The 81-83 non turbo ZX is not a BW trans. The shifts are better than the BW and the older 5 speeds and the ratios are different than the BW and the older ones. 1st for the non turbo ZX is 3.06:1 which is fairly high but that allowed the ratios (2nd, 1.8; 3rd, 1.4; 4th,1; 5th, .74) to be closer together than the older lower geared 5 speeds. The fifth is the highest at .74 than the other 5 speeds too so high speed crusing can be done with lower rpms. A 3.90 ratio diff or 4.11 works great with this trans.