280zx Transmission Question

[gabe]

I hate to ask these dumb questions but I'm a newbie and don't know alot about car mechanics. I own a '73 240z with the original transmission and want to put in a 5-speed transmission from a 280zx. I've read that these will work in a 240z, correct? I spoke to a guy who supplies them and he said that they will have to probably shorten the drive line to make it fit----is that true and what is the drive line? Is it an easy swap or is this a big problem to do? I beg for your guidance and suggestions. I should also say that I'm putting in a L28 engine from a 280z. I don't know if that makes a difference or not as far as the drive line. As far as I know the L28 will fit in the 240z with no adjustments made.

[veritech-z]

I think he was talking about how some of the early 240s had the differential in a more forward position than the later ones. Depending on which one you've got, you may or may not need the different drive shaft (I'll let someone with more intimate knowledge of 240z standard equipment give you advice, since my car is a 77 280z and I haven't had to deal with that issue myself). You could get the tranny out of a 280z instead of a 280zx, unless you want a t-5 from the later turbo 280zx models. As for how hard this is, that will depend on what tools and workspace you have available, and whether or not you end up needing a custom drive shaft. You can swap a transmission with jackstands and basic hand tools in a driveway or garage (I've done this many times myself), it helps to have an assistant, and ideally you would have an engine hoist so you could just pull the whole engine/transmission assembly out together. I would look at the clutch while you're in there, it's one of those things that is better to do "while you're at it" than to go through this job, then have to do it all over again a few thousand miles down the road.

[sblake01]

You wouldn't need to shorten the driveshaft in either case. The trannys are the same length. Even if you had the earlier slightly forward differential you'd already have the matching driveshaft.

[code3z]

Check out this guys web page. He does a good job of explaining tranny issues.

http://www.geocities.com/jasonparuta/

[jmortensen]

It's really simple. What you need is the ZX trans, ZX pressure plate, and the throwout bearing collar to go with it. That's it. As long as you stay away from the turbo 5 speed, the NA 5 speed flywheel interchanges, the clutch disk interchanges, and the driveshaft interchanges.

The only other potential hiccup is the slave cylinder. If you have an early Z you have the adjustable slave cylinder, and so you have the throwout fork with the hole in it to accept the slave cylinder. Your choices here are to swap out the forks (not the throwout bearing collars, just the forks) so that you can continue to use the adjustable slave cylinder, or you can swap out the slave cylinder so that it works with the later fork. I like to have the ability to adjust the clutch at the slave, some prefer to not have to worry about it.

[Arne]

Very concise, Jon. I think you covered the entire project in two short paragraphs.

[240ZX]

One additional suggestion.....if you do install the ZX 5spd, then you will want to either install lower gears (3.90) as stock units are 3.36 IIRC....or install an R200 differential out of a n.a. ZX. The R200 diff from a ZX comes stock with 3.90 gearing....which is a factory match for the 5spd. Just some food for thought!

Tom

P.S. Jon, good post!