280ZX Trans Swap

[Arne]

Yes, you can use the existing pedal box with the correct pedals. Just be certain to get pedals for as similar a year as possible to ease the swap. Like Stephen said, all you want is the transmission with its clutch fork and none of the parts farther back. You might want to get the flywheel and rear engine plate from the ZX if you can, those will work for you too.

But the rest of the clutch hydraulics need to be from a Z, not a ZX.

[ramsesosirus]

Alright guys, after several hours at the junkyard, I have the manual trans in my basement.

It was a 79 280ZX ( i found a service reciept) and the trans was a 5-speed. I got the trans, the driveshaft (which has the 4 bolts to the axle, since it was a R200), the flywheel, and the slave/master cylinder.

A couple problems/issues....

1. Will the shaft from my auto 76 work with the 5 speed? The shaft I took has the 4 bolts at the rear yoke connection, I have read the R180 has a center bolt; IS the length the same for an auto or 79 5speed? and will the trans slip joint fit in the 5 speed?

2. Can I use one torque converter to flexplate bolt from the auto? I broke one off in the flywheel from the manual when removing; I will need to get the broken stud out somehow...( I DO have the right flywheel to crank bolts though...)

3. Do I really need the metal ring from the manual car tunnel? the boot was ripped so I just left it there;

4. When I buy a starter, do I need the 280Z manual or the 280ZX manual starter? 280ZX auto/manual had the same starter, right?

5. WIll the crossmember I got bolt to the body of the 280Z? Or reuse my xmember with auto mount/ buy manual mount;

6. When buying slave and master clutch cylinders, do I need the one from 280ZX or 280Z? Or are they the same? Will my 76 280Z have holes plugged for the master cylinder?

As far as the pedals I will buy off ebay, but might have to get the whole box and just use the pedals;

7. And whats up with the distributor? I read the auto and manual had different points, auto having two and manual having one; Should I get a 76 280Z manual trans distributor?

8. Can I change the rear gear ratio in the R180 to accomodate the 5 speed better? I heard 5 speeds dont work well with rear ratios lower than 3.90 or so;

Sorry for so many questions; The car is away from my home right now, in a garage out of the elements. I've been reading MANY articles about this swap, so I'm not just being lazy, just making sure and clearing up confusion.

BTW I got all the parts for just over $100, with a $20 tranny core charge.

THANKS!!

ALSO will the pedals/box be the same for 76 77 78 280Z???

Just thought of this while searching ebay....

Edited November 10, 2008 by 280ZSS

[Arne]

As we have told you several times already in this thread, you want the ZX transmission. Everything else needs to be for a Z, not a ZX.

1.) Yes, you want to use your current 280Z driveshaft. The ZX driveshaft won't work.

2.) I don't recommend it. The flex plate bolts are shorter. I'd buy a new one to replace the broken one.

3.) You'll need a ring, but I doubt that the ZX ring is the same.

4.) Any Z or ZX manual starter will work fine. From '78-83 both the auto and manual starters were the same.

5.) Use the crossmember you have on the automatic. The ZX part won't fit.

6.) The slaves should be the same, but if not get the one that's listed for your car, not the ZX. The master cylinder is probably different, again get the one for a Z. The holes in the firewall should already be there, coverd by a blanking plate.

7.) No 280Z had points, that was 240Zs. Don't worry about the ignition.

8.) You don't have to change the ratio. A five speed will work with whatever you have. Wait until you've driven it with the five speed, then decide.

[sblake01]

Arne, for question #2, sound to me like he's referring to one of the small bolts that holds the pressure plate to the flywheel. I don't know if they are the same as the bolts that hold the flex plate to the torque converter. I've had good luck in removing broken bolts from flywheels with a Crafstman screw out tool mounted in my drill press. If it gets a good enough bite on the broken part it will spin it out without having to actually drill it. A machine shop could take care of that. Don't forget to buy a pilot bushing. If you're not sure what that is, it's the bushing that goes in the end of the crankshaft and the input shaft of the manual trans rides in it. Auto trans cars don't have them.

[ramsesosirus]

Thanks A LOT guys; you really help me out! Arne, sorry for asking same questions multiple times, but I am young and studying to be an engineer, so they taught us check,check,check, build once.

Thanks sblake, yeah I broke one of the pressure plate to flywheel bolts off. I don't know but I may have turned it the wrong way (stupid mistake, but it happens after several hours in the junkyard and cold...). The broken stud is now in the flywheel, not protruding so vice grips won't help. Thinking of an easy out, drill, or possibly dremel some screw lines in the stud, and using a screwdriver. Once I broke the other 7 bolts loose, they came out easily so I just need to get it started...

Yeah I wondered if the bolts I remove from the torque converter to flexplate would work for the one broken bolt, or can I just pick one up from a hardware store?? That is the only bad thing that happened, otherwise the time in the junkyard was well worth it, and I'm really glad my buddy went with me, I would've went crazy by myself!!!

ONE last question for future use, IF I ever decide to upgrade to R200 3.9 gears, no matter what I'll have to mod some mounts bc no 1st gens came with 3.9 ratio, right? Like the 280ZX R200, that should work in my car but, what exactly needs to be changed for that?

Oh and I do plan to get the pilot bushing when I get the clutch kit. Didnt know how to get it out the crank of donor car and the yard was about to close, plus they're not too expensive.

THIS SITE IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL!!!!!

[sblake01]

I use a tool that was actually designed to pull hydraulic lifters to remove pilot bushings. They're not that hard to remove but you don't want a used pilot bushing anyway or, at least, I wouldn't use one. I wouldn't go with just a 'hardware store' bolt. It should be a grade 8 or equivalent automotive bolt. I do believe a 79 ZX differential would work in a 76 because they hadn't changed the flange mounts yet, that was either 80 or 81 but someone needs to check me on that. The difference is in how the half shafts mount to them and I believe you can put the flanges from the earlier differentials on the later ones but youl'd also need the mustache bar that goes with an R200 (again, from a Z not a ZX). Like Arne said, I'd wait on that anyway, you're going to have your hands ful with the tranny swap.