auto to manual swap

[ranger4x4]

okay so i don't know too much about datsuns or nissan, but my friend has an older datsun 280z (or its a 280zx im not quite sure) but it has a straight six and an automatic transmission, he says when he's driving that he has to floor it so that he can get up to speed and once he's up to a higher speed it drives fine. my diagnosis of the problem is that the torque converter inside the bellhousing is shot, and if we have to pull the transmission then we would just convert it to a manual transmission, would there be an problems with that (crossmembers, drivelines etc) drilling a couple holes for the clutch pedal won't be a problem, but im just wondering if there's anything extensive that might need to be done so that a manual transmission would work instead of an automatic

[evildky]

well if it's a 280Z (75-78) then it's easy enough to swap the whole pedal box, easier than trying to swap out the big brake pedal for the smaller one and add the clutch pedal, just pull the dash and swap the pedal box, of course you'd need the clutch master cylinder and the hand and soft lines, and for the early cars I am not sure but you might need the driveshaft

if the car is a 280ZX (79-83) then the pedal box swap is a lot harder and the same parts are needed and the 280ZX auto shares an output shaft with the Turbo 5 speed, if you use an N/A transmission you'd need the driveshaft as well, and of course when swapping driveshafts you need to use a 2 seater shaft in a 2 seater car and 2+2 shaft in 2+2 cars, t

the hardest part is pulling the dash on either car but if you take your time and read the manual you'll find it's much easier than most cars, and just to be clear the transmission moutsa re all the same so you won't have any trouble there, and in converting to a manual you'll need to pull the flexplate and spacers and replace with a flywheel also the engine backing plate should be swapped as you won't need the removable lower panel to access touquec onvertor bolts any more

[evildky]

and oh yeah, you'll need to wire the neutral safty switch into the clutch safty switch and I seem to recall the backuplight wiring as plugging right in, I know it's seems like a lot but it's much easier tham most modern cars