l28 + zx 5spd into 70 240z

[Pleadingbark]

Im putting a l28 with the zx 5spd into my 70 240z. I've read its all straight forward from what I've seen, but I have 2 questions, first being do I have to do anything to the transmission tunnel or shifter hole, and secondly do I need the drive shaft from the car im getting this out of?

[Walter Moore]

1. Yes

2. No (But it would be a good time to replace the U-joints...)

Search "5 speed" for more details. There are dozens of threads with details.

[Diseazd]

PB......You will have to cut the tunnel and modify the console ( pain in the azz ). You can use the early 4 speed from your 70 with the L28 motor. Your early car has a short drive shaft and the half shafts are at an awkward angle. You should probably use your early 4 speed, a long driveshaft, a 72 or later mustache bar, 72 or later diff hanger and a 72 or later diff mount. This would be what I would do if I were you. IMO. Guy

[Marty Rogan]

I put an L28 and '83 5 spd. into my early '71 (same as a '70) track car. I did end up cutting the trans tunnel and trimming the console. If you go that route, you will need to get the tunnel rubber boot and hold down ring from a later 240Z to cover up the enlarged hole.

I am considering doing this upgrade to my 6/70 blue car. I just can't bring myself to cut into the tunnel however. So if I can't find any other way to make it work, I may take Guy's advice and just stick with the 4 speed. It's shame, because that 5spd in far superior to the old monkey motion shifter 4 spd. I have a 4.11 diff that I can use. I wonder how well that will work with the 4spd?

Marty

[LeonV]

Swap shifters from the 4-speed to the 5-speed and there will be no cutting required.

[Arne]

Swap shifters from the 4-speed to the 5-speed and there will be no cutting required.

Wrong. The shifters from the early 4 speeds are totally different design from the late transmissions. Not interchangeable.

If you don't want to cut the tunnel, some people have cut/welded the 5 speed lever to work. The welding needs to be done well, I've heard of them breaking later.

[Marty Rogan]

Wrong. The shifters from the early 4 speeds are totally different design from the late transmissions. Not interchangeable.

If you don't want to cut the tunnel, some people have cut/welded the 5 speed lever to work. The welding needs to be done well, I've heard of them breaking later.

You beat me to the reply Arne. I was trying to find some pictures to show the difference. The linkage on the early, versus late 4 speeds are different. The early one uses a completely straight stick that is bolted in at the bottom. The later style uses a fulcrum in the middle to bolt it in. Well, it's more of a pin, with a "C" clip that holds it in. I cut and welded the shifter in the early '71 first. It did allow me to fit it in their without cutting. However, the stock trans boot bunched up so badly that it made the trans slip out of 3rd and 5th gear. I ended up cutting the tunnel anyway, since it was not acceptable to have the trans pop out of gear on the track!!

[LeonV]

Wrong. The shifters from the early 4 speeds are totally different design from the late transmissions. Not interchangeable.

If you don't want to cut the tunnel, some people have cut/welded the 5 speed lever to work. The welding needs to be done well, I've heard of them breaking later.

I'll take responsibility for that mistake, as I was reiterating what others have said to work and haven't done it myself. Didn't know there was a difference in shifters between early and late 4-speeds as all my Zs have been 5-speeds. Will the later 4-speed shifter not work? Many have said that swapping the shifters works, is there another one that can be swapped and will work?

[Arne]

There is no standard lever that will work for a late transmission (either 4 or 5 speed) in an unmodified '70-71 body shell. In the later transmissions the shift lever is about 1.5" farther forward (from memory, correct me if I'm wrong) than the early transmissions. You either need to enlarge the opening in the tunnel forward by 2" or so, or modify a later shift lever to fit the smaller opening.

Here is an early shifter:

Here is a (broken) modified late lever for early tunnel opening:

[Zed Head]

Found some drawings of the three shifter types - http://www.gracieland.org/cars/techtalk/gearing2.html

Down at the bottom.

[Pleadingbark]

Ok, I have a few 5 speed z/x shifters, and a friend that does fabrication, Im sure we can get somethign to work.

[Pleadingbark]

Got everything in, cut the tranny tunnel and now just need to bend or reweld a shifter up so it quits hitting the front of the console. Just kept the stock drive shaft in.