Gearbox options.

Post by **Jezz_s13** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Hi Guys,

Do any of you guys know if there are any cheap uprated gearbox options for the CA18? Something that can cope with 500+bhp comfortably?

I gather the S14 (SR20DET) box is a bit stronger than the stock CA (S13) box but just wondering if you have come acorss anything better? Or whether the SR box can be re-worked in any way to toughen it up.

Has anyone tried grafting a R33 GTST box onto the CA somehow?

I don't really fancy spending $4000 on a OS Giken box if I can help it LOL.

Cheers,Jezz.

Post by **gani** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

guys make adapter plates to use gm turbo 400 six speed trannies. one guy did it on an sr20 so it can be done. i suggest talking to mckinney motorsports.

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Last time I checked the guys at Enjuku were at 500+HP on their SR20, and it still has a stock transmission. Nissan is infamous for overbuilding their drivetrain components.

Post by **Dystopia** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

you could put one of the Borg Warner T5 from a 280zx on there ... probly take some work but a damn good transmission

Post by **Jezz_s13** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Cheers.

A few guys over here have munched S14 boxes at below 500, one guy is running his at 497 just now but he's not long been abusing it so the jury is out on that for the minute. Hopefully it'll cope. Would be far the easiest & cheapest option for me because I know where I can get a cheap one.

I'll look into the 280z box, should be able to find one of those if it can be made to fit, likewise the R33 GTST box is good for ~650 I gather which would be just the ticket.

What car is the gm turbo 400 six speed transmission off? Being from the UK theres more that a chance we won't have any over here.

Will check out mckinney motorsports though.

Oh it's an auto isn't it? That'll never do. LOL

Post by **r34 gtr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

nah, if it was a GM auto transmission, it would never be a 6 speed. its the one used on lt1 trans-am's and camaro's. (dont quote me on that though).

could someone tell me how this whole adapter plate thing works? wouldnt you have to modify the driveshaft if there was an adapter plate between the transmission and bell housing? or between the bell housing and the engine?

- tim

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Forget that, just use some JB weld. You'll be all set! Heheheh

Post by **r34 gtr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

that stuff is the best. i used it to help connect some steel piping for a structure with a tarp over it to keep rain off a skate ramp. 3 days after it was built we had a tornado and it passed by fairly close to my friend's house (where the ramp/structure was). the wind and mass amounts of water on the tarp snapped the poles but not the joints i made with jb weld. it was awesome.

- tim

Post by **biosehnsucht** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Clutch changes would suck tho.

Post by **r34 gtr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

im guessing so.. its a pain enough to swap in an aftermarket CA clutch, i dont even know what you would use with the TH400..

- tim

Post by **Nathan** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

r34 gtr wrote: i dont even know what you would use with the TH400..

- tim

A torque converter

Post by **biosehnsucht** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

haha, I meant if you used JB-weld instead of an adapter plate.

Post by **r34 gtr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

i know, i was just stating an example of its awesomeness. im sure it would hold.

nathan, i swear to god no american company has ever made a 6 speed auto, it just isnt right. american cars should be limited to either a 3 in the tree or 4 on the floor.

- tim

Post by **biosehnsucht** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

makes me feel nostalgic.. and I'm only 22.

Post by **slw240sx** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

cryo treat the gears and stuff it will increase the strength by alot.

Post by **Jezz_s13** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

yeah?

I was looking at a site the other day where they were claiming 20% extra strength from Cryo and 25% from shot peening.Surely though this depends how hard the gearsets are to begin with?

One of the SXOC lads stripped his CA box shot peened it and rebuilt it, I was thinking of doing something similar to the SR box and putting it into the CA bellhousing etc.If I can get some decent info on whether it'd worth doing I'd be definately up for doing it as the SR box has to come to bits to get it into the CA housing anyhow.

I can also get plasma nitriding done but I'm not sure if this is suitable.

Post by **r34 gtr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

not to jack the thread, but does anyone know how much lower the rear end on a 300zx is as opposed to the s13? i am thinking of using one since my car obviously doesnt want to be run at any kind of higher rpm for any amount of time. when i do that i pay for it in oil, by the quart sometimes and not uncommonly in groups of 4 quarts.

does anyone know what is involved when changing to a 300zx (are the n/a or tt any different?) rear? and what else can i do to keep the revs down on the highway? besides drive at 20 under of course..

- tim

Post by **Jezz_s13** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

you mean diff? It's not easy to fit the Zed diff AFAIK but courtesy do various ratio pinion and gear sets for the S13/S14 diff for about $400

I'm running a UK S14/SR20 LSD which is 3.69:1 which gives 200mph @ 8139rpm on 225/40/18's or will do hopefully one day when the enigne is finished & I've got the balls to try it LOL. (5th gear on uk CA gearboxe is 0.82:1)

The UK Sr20 box has a shorter 5th gear though (0.83:1) so I may use the CA 5th (if I can) to keep the revs as low as poss to get to the magic 200mph.

oh i've got hold of a super cheap sr20 box for $110 so i'm happy (very happy), i'm going to strip it, replace the bearings (with uprated if avail) and treat the gearsets somehow either peen or cryo by the looks of it. Hopefully it'll cope with what I throw at it.

Well thats the plan. LOL.

Post by **Jezz_s13** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Oh if you want a 3.92:1 ring and pinion set i could probably source one for little money here ~$40-60 at a guess, postage might be a bit of a twit though to the US.

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

The N/A Z32 has the same gears as ours, the TT Z32 has the higher gears. Problem is that it's going to mess up all of your gearing. I think the KA actually has the highest 5th gear ratio of any of the cars. I'd prob just swap them out. I'm thinking about doing that to mine as I do quite a bit of highway driving.

Post by **r34 gtr** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

if possible i would like to be under 3 grand at 70 or 80 on the highway. above that i have problems with overheating, oil loss, massive fuel consumption, etc. im going to college soon and will be driving alot to see my friends who seem to be going to places about 2 hours from me. i also might be taking my car out to texas this summer (austin then to my friend's ranch) and would a) want to be able to get there as hassle-free as possible and b) get there in half the time if need be.

basically i want gearing like a z06, when im doing 60 in 5th i want the engine to be damn near idling.

jez, how much of a difference does the 3.92:1 set make? if its anything significant i think i would be up for it. as for new gears, if i was a real badas$ i think i would get custom straight-cut gears so i could just shift without the clutch really, really, really fast. and if you can find me a uk s14 sr20 diff (or even lower if possible!) i can just get you to ship it to me in england. its so nice being in 2 places!

ryan, why would the z32 tt differential mess up my gearing? im just trying to get a lower final gear so i can cruise easier. a final gear would just lower all of the gears by the same amount, right? sure i might accelerate slower but ill just compensate with more power. and the z32 rear has a limited slip (half the reason i want one).

- tim

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

I think that if you went with that 3.92:1 rear, it would get you close. I think that you're over estimating the CA. It's a small 4cylnder and you're going to have to rev it higher to get the same power of other motors. If you are trying to get it below 3K @ 80, you'd better keep dreaming. If you put a final in there low enough to do that, you car is going to turn into a turtle. And you say that you'll make up for it with power, but that shoots your gas mileage out the window. In actuality, this motor gets pretty decent mileage on the highway if it's running correctly. I was getting low 20's on the highway. If you're expecting more than that, get another car. The reason a Z06 can do that, is because it's got twice the cylnders and GOBS more torque. When you have a bunch of torque, you can gear it way low and still be able to move around. But the CA can't do that man. It doesn't even hit peak torque until somewhere around 6K. Most of those V8's hit peak torqe in the 4-5K range. At 6K, most have already hit peak HP and passed it. I don't want you to get me wrong though. I know where your coming from. I felt the same way about my CA for a long time. It takes some getting used to. But you will get used to it. If nothing else, try it out, see how you like it. If you don't swap it back. The rearend is pretty simple so it's not a bid deal to change it out. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Post by **Jezz_s13** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

What ratio's do your boxes run?

A std UK CA gearbox (0.82) and diff (3.92) gives 70mph @3k with 225/40/18's

S14 diffs are like rocking horse shyte and generally sell for about $250

here are some gearing charts I've done...These are with UK ratios, any q's ask.

I think the ratios are included on the Excel spreadsheets.

S14 Gearbox, with S13 Diff (S14 Auto Diff) and 225/40/18 tyres.

http://bagpuss.swan.ac.uk/200s...8.xls

S14 Gearbox, with S14 manual diff and 225/40/18 tyres.http://bagpuss.swan.ac.uk/200s...8.xls

S13 gearbox, S13 diff and 225/40/18 tyres.http://bagpuss.swan.ac.uk/200s...8.xls

225/40/18 tyres are...

3.58% longer geared than std S13 195/60/150.79% longer than std S14 205/55/16's

and this is my car's gearing as it stands at the minute...

http://bagpuss.swan.ac.uk/200s...z.htm

S14 diff weighs 40kg with casing, prolly about half that out of the case.

Post by **ca18datsun510** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

the turbo 400 is a big, heavy, super strong, horsepower soaking 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC.

the 6 speed manual is a t-56. similiar version are used in the vette, camaro, t/a, viper, mustang cobra etc.

Post by **Nitrus0nous** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

"wtb: starion/conquest intercooler"

how much are you willing to spend for one? I know theres a guy around here with at least 10 conquest/starions.

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Well part of the reason for the higher engine RPM's is due to the US having a 4.083 rear end. Thats a pretty big difference compared to the UK's 3.92. I wonder what they run in Japan. I think the european models got different gearing due to the autobahn. (Though that has little effect on the UK). Maybe we need to find somebody with that info from Japan.

Post by **IvoryJ30t** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

by the way, the N/A and TT Z32 use the same transmission.

also, the Z32 gearset [Z32, RB25, RB26] has the tallest 5th gear. [0.75]

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

Yea, they just have differently geared rear ends right?

Post by **IvoryJ30t** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

yup the TT is a 3.69 and the NA is 3.916

Post by **float_6969** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:42 am

I thought the NA was the same as ours? (4.083)

Gearbox options.

Gearbox options.

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