FS5W71B transmission identification (close-ratio vs. wide ratio) - with pictures

[EuroDat]

Looking at the rag, the oil looks like it needs changing. The sludge on your drain plug is normal. No chunky pieces.

[L.Flores]

Hello guys, I've been following this thread for a bit and would like you're help with this transmission.  I bought this rebuild transmission 2 years ago and was told to be the fs5w71b close ratio transmission from the 82-83 280zx, (could it be from the 83 model?) but after reading all the info here, I'm starting to have my doubts and .The second to the last pic is a reference point to the bell housing bolt casing from mine 

Edited November 20, 2020 by L.Flores

[pogden]

@L.Flores, yours looks like a close ratio gearbox to me, though your bell housing does look more like the one from my wide ratio. It is possible that yours (or mine) was at one point rebuilt and reassembled with a bell housing from a different year, or (more likely, IMO) they were just assembled at the factory with bell housings that came from different castings. I think all of the relevant changes between the early (wide ratio) and later (close ratio) boxes were internal or in the rear extension. 

[L.Flores]

@pogden I also found out that they are 2 types of CR transactions the on from z/zx 79-80, 1st to 4th are the same but the 5 is .773 vs .745. On the zx 82-83.

[Zed Head]

It's not too hard to check the ratios.  Put it in fifth, mark the ends of the shafts and give one input turn.  .745 is before 3/4, .773 is after.

But yours has the reverse lockout plate, which only came on the later 81-83 units.  So it's almost certainly the .745 5th.

[EuroDat]

I wouldn't be to concerned about the front bellhousing section. There are a lot of different "interchangable" castings. You can even use thd front section from the F4W71B with no modifications.

 

Reserve lockout assembly:

The early model close ratio also had the reverse checking assembly with p/n: 32180-E9801 and the later version of the close ratio used p/n: 32180-E9802. Both assemblies are interchangable, but the later version uses a stronger spring. Both parts are NLA through Nissan.

[Zed Head]

19 minutes ago, EuroDat said:

Reserve lockout assembly:

The early model close ratio also had the reverse checking assembly with p/n: 32180-E9801 and the later version of the close ratio used p/n: 32180-E9802. Both assemblies are interchangable, but the later version uses a stronger spring. Both parts are NLA through Nissan.

I had a 1980 5 speed with the .773 5th and it didn't have the lockout.

[EuroDat]

14 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

I had a 1980 5 speed with the .773 5th and it didn't have the lockout.

I have only come across one of these early close ratio transmissions and it had the reverse lockout assembly. The 280ZX was an early european 280ZX and from what I can remember (back in 2013) it was a Feb 1980 model. It could be somewhere in that early version that they added the reverse lockout assembly.

[L.Flores]

Thanks for all your help guy's @EuroDat @Zed Head @pogden, I feel more at ease, and not feeling like I got bamboozled 🤣.

[Zed Head]

Replying to EuroDat:

I could be wrong but I have memories of being disappointed that it didn't have it.  It was a very useful improvement.  I did like the .773 5th ratio better than the .745, you could feel the difference.  .773 is more usable.  At one time I had a 76 4 speed, 78 5 speed, 1983 5 speed, and the 1980 5 speed.  But the 1980 5 speed came from a 1981 car, a 2+2.  I checked the ratios on all of them using Whiteout marks and counting.

I sold the car so can't check.  I see that it's supposed to have it but am almost certain that mine didn't.  I do notice though that the drawing I posted also shows the outer dust sleeve on that tail section even though mine didn't have that.  But the ratios are from the same FSM.

Oh well, one of those mysteries.  Maybe I'll come across another .773 5 speed someday.  My new mission.

https://www.nissanpartsdeal.com/parts/nissan-rev-check-assy~32180-e9801.html?vin=&make=Nissan&model=280ZX&year=1980&submodel=&extra1=&extra2=&filter=(1=2S;2=L28E;3=J;4=MT;5=F5;6=C;7=FED)

Edited November 20, 2020 by Zed Head

[EuroDat]

Hey Zed head,

It is a rare transmission these days. Knowing what I know now, I should have taken photos and made a lot more notes when we rebuilt it.

I think the designers were constantly improving along the way. The reverse lock out could very well be an adition in the timeline of that early close ratio.

I noticed in your link they quote 32180-E9803 as a replacement for the 32180-E9801. That means there are at least three versions of the lock out assembly.

In the 71C (300ZX european parts cat.) they quote 32180-55S11 replaced by 32180V5000 and then 32180V5001. I have both the 71C and 71B. Next time I'm playing with the transmission, I will check to see what the difference could be.