Little help from the Vert family

[GoinTopless240]

Well guys,I was driving up to meet some of the SE Niconauts to bring them some tires to play with. Here I was cruisin at about 70 when the revs start to climb and I start to slow down. Press the gas and nothing. transmission was still in 5th. I downshifted to 4th and everything is going again. Shift back up and nothing again. So I stay in 4th and make it to the next exit. I stop and put it in 1st and nothing. Clutch pedal is still firm, hear chatter from my usually noise Ogura, let it out and nothing. I smell gear oil and look under and Nothing. Dry as could be. I found that I still sorta had 4th gear and got it out of harms way. Any thoughts? Clutch fluid was fine too.

Hijacker - feel free to chime in about the KA transmission swap - is it really a tough job? Is it easier to pull motor and transmission at same time or just to transmission?

Any help would be great. Hoping this doesn't kill this years NOPI trip.

[USC Justice]

Do you have access to a lift, or are you working from jack stands? If you are working from a lift,it is much easier to pull just the transmission. If working from jack stands, I would pull the whole assembly and then separate. Pulling the entire engine set from the jack stands set up can be done in about 3 hours by yourself. With buddies and beer (after completion of course), it should be less than a 2 hour job. At least that's what I have been averaging.

Don't know what to tell you about the KA transmission swap, I have read about it, but never done it.

Hope it goes smoothly.Donald

[jspec603]

I'd have to agree with Justice. Pulling the entire engine/transmission is pretty easy. And as stated, if your working on stands that may be the way to go. I'm actually in the middle of an SR swap, and so far all of the 5spd related mods have been very easy and straight forward. I'd honestly say that with all of the proper tools and assuming all the correct parts were present, you could do this swap in a day, maybe two. It's too bad your so far away as well. I've got the auto trans and ka sitting in my garage just hanging out collecting dust. Good luck with which ever way you choose to get her back on the road!

[sil_eighty86]

I helped do a ka transmission swap on my buddys sr. Not hard at all. I will get you the link to his write up.

[GoinTopless240]

Thanks gang, well I started getting ready to pull the transmission today. Drained the fluid and I can honestly say the magnetic drain plug works....tons of metal shavings. Not a good sign. My post was mostly related to swapping the KA manual to the SR motor. From what I've read these trannies are not the most stout. And yes I get the wonderful duty of working from jack stands (yea ). I've got the motor running so well I'd hate to upset anything, I'll let you all know how much fun it is. I've loosened the motor mounts and hoping to let it tilt down a bit, we'll see. Still looking at the 300zx trans swap...i might get lucky and stumble upon one. I'll keep everyone posted. USC... thought you left the forums.. wow! talk about a brother from the past. Hope all is well up your way. The crossmember went to good use BTW. Well off to wrestle with a transmission y'all..

[Eikon]

yeah, good to see USC back on the forums.

If you are just seperating the trans, I'd leave the motor in. If you have a set of swivel sockets you should be able to get those top bolts undone. That's a lot easier than all the hassle of getting the whole motor out.

As far as transmissions go... What i've learned is that the KA, SR and RB20 basically all share the same transmission internals. They are all good for about 400hp if you max them out. They all tend to last about the same time as well.

The Z32 and the RB25 are also similar trans... and they are beefy!!!

Unless you are planning some big hp numbers, i'd just get a cheap used KA transmission and toss it on there. Heck, if shipping weren't so expensive, I've got my brother's old 5spd KA trans in the basement of my house. Wonder if he'd even know I sold it on him... lol

[GoinTopless240]

Well I decided to pull it with the motor in. Loosened the motor mounts and lowered it down and pulled away. Looks like the clutch is ok, throw out bearing is ok. Everything seems to be internal at this point. I think I may go with a KA transmission and swap bellhousings from the SR transmission. I didn't really like the short legged 5th gear. I used to tach 3K at 70. Might like the longer 5th of the KA and the cheaper price tag. I'll keep y'all posted.

[DeXteR]

I'm confused...

You have a KA and were thinking of using the Z32 6-speed transmission or you have an SR and want to swap to a KA transmission?

Either way... Here's a couple good links regarding the Nissan transmissions:http://www.az-zbum.com/informa...shtmlh ... ms...=9505

[GoinTopless240]

Thanks Dex, sorry for the confusion. I currently have the SR motor. I have read that the KA transmission internally will fit, but you have to swap the bellhousing from the SR transmission so that it will bolt up correctly. I have to check Bart's write up about it again. I got the tail housing off, just not the bellhousing. I think something let go on the front half. The back half of the transmission looks fine (teeth on gears and no slop). I'll let y'all know what pans out. Seems I lost all the gears.. well except 4, but that's 1 to 1 so short ofsplitting the shaft in two I still had that.

[GoinTopless240]

Hey everyone, I've been dealing with the transmission swap for a few weeks now and wanted to give everyone an update. It seems that the SR transmission crapped out. I located a 240 transmission and decided to swap bellhousing and tailhousing (240 tail housing was cracked and looked ugly). I had a few struggles and had to modify the SR housing slightly to accept the 240 bellhousing, but she is back together tonight. I fill'er up tomorrow and test drive. Hopefully everything is done with this chapter and I can move ahead again. Have a few improvements planned and will post as they happen. With NOPI dead this year, I have a little extra time. I just wanted to say thanks for everyone that responded. I posted something in the Tech forum if anyone wants to see what struggles happened if you are doing this.

[Eikon]

good update! glad to hear it's running again.

FYI.. NOPI might be dead, but NICOfest is not. Apparently the Atlanta Motor Speedway is still putting on a show that weekend. NICO will be part of it.