280Zx Turbo L28 and Borg Warner T5 transmission in a 1972 240Z

[chaztg]

I know this has been done over & over, but this is the first time I've had an opportunity to take a stab at the conversion first hand. These are pictures of my friend's Z. The shifter is from a Mustang. I fabricated the trans mount. His car has the early transmission mounting attachment method (2 vertical bolts). I opted to chop up a later style trans mount instead of butchering the stock 72 one (in case he wants to go back "original" one day). Luckily, the T5 gearbox was pulled from an S30 which already had the conversion done to it, so no driveshaft modification was required, which I assume would be to shorten the 280ZX one or adapt a 72 driveshaft to use the T5 front yoke. It's a matter of only an inch or so of distance to make up, but a custom mount is the only way to do it, at least for 72 and earlier. Working on Datsuns can give someone an over-simplified set of expectations. Over the years, I've never had to make something like this mount; before, there's always been a ready-made part that "fits." All that was needed was to find the part from some donor car at the junkyard. I'm sure the Borg Warner will be a very noticeable change, the action feels really precise and with the Mustang shifter the gear lever knob will be in perfect reach.

[madkaw]

You will really like the T-5 precision- especially with an aftermarket shifter.

It makes the driving experience much better than slopping around for gears

[chaztg]

From what I've read about this topic, T5 aftermarket shifters are scarce. Hence, using the Mustang one. Only problem is that it's too bulky to use with a stock inner shift boot fitted for an S30 shifter

[madkaw]

Any aftermarket shifter made for the T-5 trans should work. I guess I don't understand the "scarce" statement. The shifter is BW, not Nissan. So any shifter that will bolt up will work. As far as the boot, that's another story. I used the ZX boot because it's bigger, heavier, and seals nice. I believe I used the inner and outer both to keep things quiet. I'm using a Pro-Tower shifter with adjustable stops and it is sweet-90$ off of craigslist new in the box!

I still have the original shifter in perfect condition if anyone needs one!