Q45 newb - going MANUAL

[hk20000]

Scored this little (or rather, huge) gem at the local public auction...



1996 Q45T. The best packaging ever since it's the trim that does NOT have HICAS or Active Suspension or 4WS so less things to fail...

Picked it up for the cheap, did the basic fluid maintenance on it and it purrs. Swapped out the notorious Knock Sensor under plenum but the code came back, so I just spliced a wire on the plug that sits atop the engine and mounted another Knock sensor somewhere easy to reach on bank 1. No check engine codes ever since and it's treating me well.

I got a few quick questions for you:
1) Is the 1996 Q45t really 4039lb? What's added to it that's so heavy compared to the 1990-93 model?
2) If 4039lb is for the curb weight of a Q45a what would be a realistic expectation of weight of the Q45t which is sort of a stripper model?

Now I've always been the kind of guy that rows my own gear, so I am looking at eventually doing a 5 speed swap on it, I know it's been done before but information is scarce.

I have read this thread on this forum:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/q45-5-speed-project-t336991.html

and this article on the tech articles:
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan-240sx-vh45-engine-swap-information.html

But it's down to the little details I have concern about, namely:
1) Will a 1996 car (only year with the OBD2 setup, and missing the VVL) run properly with the transmission harness unplugged from the rest of the harness?
2) What exactly is the driveshaft situation? I have heard that you can do 300ZX front half shaft + Q45 rear and then there are those that say it simply has to be one-off no matter what.
3) Clutch pedal setup: I hear a 300ZX pedal will do just fine. Will it be possible to retain the automatic brake pedal while just adding a 300ZX manual clutch pedal to it? Can I just maybe hacksaw a bit off the left side of the brake pedal and mount some aftermarket pedal covers to cover that up?

Thanks for your time and patience reading all that. If you have a more relevant thread to this swap please let me know too.

[maxnix]

HICAS (4WS) was not available on the 1996, and neither was the Active Suspension if I remember correctly.

Weight is about 3850 lbs.

I or Infinitiguy19 might have a copy of the 1996 FSM if you don't. I don't think it is up anymore.

Not sure it is worth converting to 5MT (maybe 6MT!), but if everything else is perfect and you have too much cash, why not? I would like to see someone modify the transmission tunnel so the transmission fits correctly.

[hk20000]

Isn't it true that if you shorten the shifter linkage on the Z32 transmission the shifter will fit right through the shifter bezel inside the car?

I read about the flywheel situation too - have to shift the starter ring for the starter... Also might have to wire the ignition key interlock into always release mode...

I just want to hear from someone with tech info about this.... I love a manual big sedan:
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... ation.html

[elwesso]

I have another thread with all the 5-speed info, but I'll give you some quick stuff here. Been about 52k miles since the swap and things are still going well..

I think the OBDII situation will work OK, but I don't know.. Its worth a try however I can't guarantee you won't get any CEL's or malfuntion lights.

Driveshaft will have to be new, there's no mixing and matching parts. Nice thing is that the OEM Q45 yoke will work, just needs to be 6" longer shaft.

you need to use the Z32 flywheel and starter setup, you cannot use the Q45 starter without significant modifications to the bellhousing. Because of the location of the starter on the Z32 manual box, you'll have to rework the exhaust manifolds slightly, mainly around where the cat is.

Brian... I was actually able to get my driveshaft angles to work out within OEM specs with some careful shimming of the trans mount. I'm essentially vibration free at the moment with my recently reworked driveshaft.

I don't think the 6MT is worth it honestly. The Z33 box is significantly weaker than the Z32 box, and much more expensive. Z32 trans can be had all day long for $200-$300 in good shape (get N/A model)... I don't really find myself needing another gear with the 5-Speed, the VH has such a wide powerband and you want to keep the rev's up anyway.

[hk20000]

Thanks so much I wished to get someone who has done this to chime in.

I'm familiar with these custom swaps I also have a F20C powered AE86 with custom driveshaft and other stuff...

I'm hoping to do this swap without removing the engine from the vehicle, do you think it's possible? From what I see you are looking to put these parts into the car:

1. 300ZX NA 5 speed manual transmission
2. 300ZX NA flywheel
3. 300ZX NA clutch with corresponding bearings
4. 300ZX NA starter motor
5. 300ZX NA or turbo clutch master cylinder
6. 300ZX NA or turbo clutch slave cylinder

That and a 6" longer front half shaft bolted up to the transmission...

Is it at all possible to do without dropping the engine out of the car? I reckon there are some weird problems about the starter engagement and something or another... But I guess I will have to pull everything to see...

[elwesso]

You're basically right there.. The pedal setup is going to have to be completely custom, you'll have to bend the pedals in the position you want them in. It's not easy but very doable. My setup has a 300ZX brake pedal, and a Nissan Pathfinder clutch pedal.

The engine didn't come out of my car for the swap, although it has to be sort of raised up to take the exhaust manifolds off, which is not an easy task with the engine in the car..

[Unnatural1]

An OBD II car, like yours, will definitely turn on the MIL (CEL) without the transmission harness connected. OBD II PCM's monitor the TCM for errors. I don't know if you have emissions testing to worry about. Around here that wouldn't fly, as you can't have the MIL on and pass, but it should run just fine otherwise.

If someone does want to give a Z33 6MT a try I've got one that needs a syncro or two. BTW, it appears to be much longer than my auto. I have no idea where it would position the shifter. Maybe the backseat?

[hk20000]

yeah luckily for my area if it's 1996 it still goes through a sniffer test, so if the emission equipment still works it will pass with an MIL on....

I am going to rock auto to get the small bits for now....the hunt for a Z32 NA transmission will be the biggest difficulty...

[maxnix]

I don't think the 6MT is worth it honestly. The Z33 box is significantly weaker than the Z32 box, and much more expensive.

I was thinking more Tremec. Good you got it all lined up now.

[Unnatural1]

yeah luckily for my area if it's 1996 it still goes through a sniffer test, so if the emission equipment still works it will pass with an MIL on....

I am going to rock auto to get the small bits for now....the hunt for a Z32 NA transmission will be the biggest difficulty...

Alright, well then you should be good to go!

[elwesso]

Yeah I wouldn't mind doing a 6 speed from a corvette or CTS-v. They are known strong boxes and almost would have a double overdrive. 6th is 0.56:1.

Been thinking about making an adapter for that.

[hk20000]

But that largely depends on how the starter engagement looks like on a CTS-V transmission....if the OD of the Corvette/CTS-V transmission is very different from the Q it would be an issue...



the gear lever is in a remote location with linkages too....

[hk20000]

Here guys this is getting down to the hands-on moment of doing the swap.


I have secured a 1994 300ZX TT transmission.
I'm buying the adapter plate from mazworx through a member on here.
Now the little bits and pieces:

Will the 300ZX transmission shift linkage line up with the G50 chassis transmission hole?
Will the 300ZX use the same mounting brackets as the one used by the G50 AT?
I read that you need a pathfinder MT clutch pedal assembly - why is that?
How to always engage the park interlock switch? Is it just a wire from the linkage somewhere?
Will the car run into a safe mode situation if the engine is revved hard while the TCU indicates that it has been in Park the whole time?
I read that the precat on the passenger side of the car will interfere with the 300ZX TT starter, what's the cleanest fix to that?

Thanks and with all of NICO's help let's pull this swap off in the summer of 2012....

[elwesso]

If the deal goes through on the mazworx plate let me know I can sell you a plate no machining required and probably cheaper than mazworx.

1. No
2. No
3. It helps because it's more offset.
4. We set mine up to be wired up in neutral all the time.
5. No
6. You'll want to remove the manifolds and take the cats off both sides.

[hk20000]

1. So I am looking at installing one of those shortened linkage brackets like this? http://www.xcessivemanufacturing.com/ON ... =4&pid=111
2. No biggie that's why I'm doing this at a machine shop....He must be able to cobble up something to reuse the mount from the AT.
3. Ordered that brand new from Nissan dealership for $50 haha not bad price at all!
4. Do you have more details into how that is done? I can't pull the key when the shifter is in N in my 96 though?
5. OIC
6. Isn't it only the starter side that needs the precat removed?

Now some new questions:
a. Will I be able to retain cruise control functions after using an MT?
b. Is there any benefit at all to change the driveshaft to a one-piece type?

Also I don't have AIM but the other member hasn't got back to me for a while now I assume he is not going to sell me his plate.....elwesso can you pm me the price for your plate?? I don't have AIM I'm from Canada but I have a Washington state shipping address.

[hk20000]

elwesso please email me at hk20000@gmail.com or pm me, thanks.

[hk20000]

hey Wes,

I found the phone number on your website and left you a voice message about the plate. Please call me back when you see this. Thanks.

[IThaJ0kaI]

I don't think the 6MT is worth it honestly. The Z33 box is significantly weaker than the Z32 box, and much more expensive. Z32 trans can be had all day long for $200-$300 in good shape (get N/A model)... I don't really find myself needing another gear with the 5-Speed, the VH has such a wide powerband and you want to keep the rev's up anyway.

I just wanted to clear something up.

The z33 box IS NOT weaker than the z32 box, in fact it is stronger by quite a bit. The early boxes (pre cd009) had synchro issues but those were fixed in 2006. As far as price, I paid $400 for my z33 box with 20xxx miles from a wrecked 2008 350z.

Also the z33 uses the same diff ratio as the q45, so the gearing would be matched to the trans quite well.