Manual Transmission Q45?

[driftjunke]

Do any Nissan/Infiniti manual trannies bolt up to a VH45DE? I heard that the earlier Z ones did.

J.D.

[redmanfx]

Only the automatic transmission will bolt to the engine. As a matter of topic, it's been lightly discussed but none have actually accomplished a manual transmission hook up as far as I know.

red

[pito11213]

Well apparently the stock transmission in the Q is the same in the 300zx TT. The difference IIRC is the bell housing. Someone has allegedly taken care of that (I believe it is 450zx) but we have yet to see pics so you know how that goes.

[elwesso]

IMHO we need ot find a manula transmission that would have a shifter close to where the stock shifter is... That seems to be a big problem when putting it in the Q... However that may not be an issue for you.....

An adapter plate must be made, so why not go with something cool, maybe an SMG

[PoorManQ45]

IMHO we need ot find a manula transmission that would have a shifter close to where the stock shifter is... That seems to be a big problem when putting it in the Q... However that may not be an issue for you.....

A shift kit can fix the "mis placed" shifter problem. You'd probably have to make your own though .

I believe that 450zx said that he did a transmission swap. Email him and ask about it.

[1qckser]

450ZXTT has done it, except its in a 300Z, email him about the bell housing adapter plate.

[sijoko]

If you are going to go through the trouble of fitting a manual transmission, then a t56 would be better suited for the VH45DE.

-sijoko

[elwesso]

Do you say that from a reliability stand point or what.....??

My dream is to have a manual Q45...

[PoorManQ45]

If you are going to go through the trouble of fitting a manual transmission, then a t56 would be better suited for the VH45DE.

-sijoko

I don't understand what you mean?

Are you comparing a stock T56 to a stock 300zx transmission? If so, please stop it.

I hope that if someone would go through the time, trouble, and exspecially money, that they would not go and use a stock transmission for the swap.

What ever transmission you use should have at least $1000 of "beefing up" upgrades done to it. To me, it just seems that if you're going to go through the trouble, then put the best darn thing you possible can in there.

Wouldn't a T56 transmission require major modification to the bell housing to fit the VH45DE? Whereas the 300zx transmission is supposed to only need an adapter plate, and a spacer to get the new flywheel to properly line up.

Also, the T56 transmission would require major electronic work to be done in order to keep the ECU from throwing CELs left and right

[QShip]

Hellooo...

It's been done. Call 450ZXTT! Look at 1qckser's post!

[PoorManQ45]

The problem is that he refuses to prove that he has done anything besides drop a VH45DE into a 300zx chassis, and even that is debatable.

Hey look guys, I own a McLarean F1! You want pictures? Well, I'm not going to show them to you, just because I don't have to

BTW, Pito was the first to point towards 450zx, I was the second

[QShip]

He has pictures. Have you called the guy?

[driftjunke]

Thanks for all of the replies guys, I have heard of this twin turbo vh45de 300zx. I beleive he is from Georgia, I know there is one in Conyers. We are looking to do something different, and we already have a 95 q45 motor ecu and wiring harness here at the shop. We are gonna drop it in a S14.Any link to this 450ttzx?

J.D.

[IvoryJ30t]

PMQ-

the T56 would not be that hard, considering it is a bellhousing type trans.

you need to have a bellhousing made that will bolt to the vh, and the t56 will bolt to the bellhousing. im still trying to work out a flywheel option [custom clutch on a z32 fly, or a standard clutch on a custom fly with a reworked starter] i already found a company that will make me a bellhousing.

the z32 trans needs an adapter because the bellhousing is integral with the front case of the transmission.

i wish i could just hit the lotto. i have another $15,000 i need before i can undertake this project.

[elwesso]

I dont see why you couldnt just trick the ECU...

Pins 10,11,34,35 have direct contact with the TCU...

[1qckser]

Until you get your car running you should not cast doubt on anyone else who has achieved something you cant, talk to the guy, he is very nice although busy and does not have to prove anything to you.

[sijoko]

The reasons I would go with a T56 are:

- More aftermarket support with different gear ratios available.

-Readily available from various sources ( they go for around $1500 used on Ebay)

-Uses a hydraulic throw-out bearing, which makes a custom install easier.

-Has a removable bellhousing (as stated by IvoryJ30t) which makes it easier to have an adapter plate or a custom bellhousing made.

-Finally, six gears are more fun than five.

There are probably other reasons, but you guys get the idea.

-sijoko

[AZhitman]

Until you get your car running you should not cast doubt on anyone else who has achieved something you cant, talk to the guy, he is very nice although busy and does not have to prove anything to you.

Agreed.

Also, putting a manual on a VH for the purpose of powering a Z32 is a HUGE difference from swapping a manual trans into a Q.

The topic has been beaten to death, but here are some of the preliminary problems you'd have to overcome:

1) ECU - a workable solution is probably within reach, but keep in mind all the issues to be overcome here

2) Trans tunnel / shifter placement: Your shifter would be nowhere near the current autotrans shifter, necessitating an entirely custom console and possibly dash - also surmountable with sufficient $ and know-how. Keep in mind all the sensors and wiring currently in this space will need to be relocated.

3) Clutch pedal - can't see where you'd mount one as the firewall / footwell wasn't designed for a clutch.

4) Clutch M/C - Again, very little room to work with on the firewall.

5) Clutch slave cylinder - Even less room if you find a place for the M/C.

6) Relocation of the E-brake - Major fabrication, see custom console above.

7) Driveshaft - Custom fabricated shaft required - Again, $ is the issue.

8) Cruise control - probably easier to delete completely.

9) Proper gearing - you'd want to make sure whatever trans you decide upon WORKS well with the VH's powerband. Might necessitate a 4.08 or 4.36 gear swap to adjust final drive ratio for optimal performance, and would take you right back to the ECU.

It'd be an awesome project, but likely to become a money pit...

Personally, I'd rather buy a mid-90's Acura Legend Type II with the 6-speed and supercharge it. Less money, a great-looking car, and aside from the wrong-wheel-drive matter, a suitable substitute.

[PoorManQ45]

8) Cruise control - probably easier to delete completely.

For the cruise control, couldn't you change it so that it reads the Throttle Position Sensor and the Tach? Also, with a different transmission, it wouldn't be hard to convert to an electronic speed sensor. The cruise control could be run from that.

[911/Q45]

Personally, I'd rather buy a mid-90's Acura Legend Type II with the 6-speed and supercharge it. Less money, a great-looking car, and aside from the wrong-wheel-drive matter, a suitable substitute.

Another option would be a previous gen BMW 5 or 7 series with a stick and V8. Pricey and more maintenance, but well sorted and plenty of techs are familiar with them.

[louiegz]

I prefer to drive stick more than automatic, but I done think the Q would be the kind of car that I would like to drive stick. What would be nice if there was a way to put a 5 speed auto transmission in the Q. Would be great to have a second gear that wasn't as tall to have some more around town pep in certain city driving situations.

[elwesso]

Lou.. If you ever get into modding (doubtful) but a 4.08 and hihger stall really helps...

Even if I dont have the 4.08, the higher stall really helps

[driftjunke]

Well I have solved my manual transmission dilemma for the VH45DE, I met up with 450ZXTT last night, words can't even describe this car, it is sick. There's still just as much room left with the VH45DE in the engine bay as there was with the VG30DETT. He is running stock everything, ECU, Cruise Control, stock Q45 IIRC 3.86 rear end. Everything sits in like stock on this Z. I guess a lot of reason why people have doubt, is because a lot of people think of putting the tranyn in the Q45, and forgett that he has the VH45DE with a Z transmission in a Z, so provision for all of the manual peices are there. How difficult it is to put the manual transmission in a Q45 it self I guess is undetermined, what slim is telling everyone, that the Z transmission with an adapter plate will bolt up to a VH45DE. But if someone came make a VH45 with twin turbo's, and a manual Z transmission fit into a Z, then a Q45 should be no problem.

Eric

[elwesso]

Another thing to remember for concerns of master cylinders and stuff.. We have the active cooler location and the TCS pump, located in the drivers and passenger side wheel wells, respectively.....

[PoorManQ45]

The problem with that wes is that it takes away about 15% of our already pitiful gas mileage when putting in the 4.08 gears .

Getting a 5, or even 6, speed transmission in the Q45 would allow you alot more freedom for tuning with the VH45DE's torque curve. You could tune 1st through 3rd for off the line, around town, driving, and have 4th and up for freeway cruising .

I kind of agree with Lou in that I don't think it would be apropriate to have a full manual in the Q45. I think a paddle shift transmission, similar to F1 or the Audi system, would be an excellent option. I just don't really think it would be right to have a full manual in a luxury Q45.

[PoorManQ45]

That's cool man. Please tell us that you took pictures. We would all really like to see how his car looks. And exspecially how he got the transmission to adapt.

Where did he get a flywheel for the VH45DE?

Where did he get the drive shaft? Is it custom made?

Any idea how much the whole project cost?

[DR.Q]

I put a manual in an SVX, a car that only was made with AT. Some of the things Greg lists were not that hard on the SVX. The shifter would have come out in the ashtray, but I welded rods onto the shifter to make it fit the AT shifter location dead center. The thing to do with the pedals was to scrap the brake pedal and move the gas pedal over. Then use a clutch/brake pedal combo from another car. The M/C was a PITA on the SVX, but there was just enough room on the other side of the fire wall. The stock drive shaft fit the donor transmission(Legacy, Forrester, WRX & Impreza), but had to be lengthened to reach the rear diff. With the SVX, one shop in Tacoma, WA(Small Car Performance) did a couple of these swaps and then decided to make and sell a kit with prefabbed parts so anyone with some mechanical knowledge could do it themselves. The total number of known swaps is quickly approaching 100. Having said that, I would never do something like that again to a luxury car. I achieved the desired result with the SVX: much better off the line acceleration with better gearing and significant weight loss. It dropped over one full second off the 0-60 and 1/4 mile. But it gutted the luxurious feel of the car. It was louder and rougher than stock, and mine was one of the better conversions. I sold the car soon after and bought another AT. I guess the moral is: be prepared and be sure it is what you want. I was lucky that I sold my stock transmission to cover the Legacy transmission and rear diff, and sold off some spare parts to cover the clutch, flywheel, pedals, shifter and other odds and ends. If I had spent $3000-4000 like many others did, I would have been pissed. Oh well, to each his own.

Stephen

[elwesso]

It might be easier to create paddle shifters... Somehow retrofit the TCU so we have a fully manual but "automatic" transmission

I drove a new grandprix today with the paddle shifters, and that thing is awesome.. The car overall isnt that great (it was nice) but this paddle shifter thing BLOWS the G35 out of the water.. I mean the G35 is **** with the manual shifter.. This thing shifts the gear EXACTLY when you want.. You hit the button, it shifts then.. It doesnt downshift on its own and you can go straight to 4th gear.....

Anyway.. something like that with like a level 10 transmission might be the best thing.. We could somehow retrofit a paddle thingy where you are supposed to mount the phone controls...

[1qckser]

Wes thats called a manual valve body, Level 10 could duplicate that, but again who wants to have to keep playing with the automatic shifter to down shift, when im on a long cruise and have the jazz crankin and need to blast past another car just a simple push of the gas, a quick automatic down shift, and done, Robs car shifts as soon as you move the lever, his transmission is no joke, I cant explain how nice and hard each gear hit, it had no delay in shifting, you moved the lever and bang it was done.

[AZhitman]

Yep.

And the bottom line is, it's not gonna be ANY faster once it's done, so what's the point?

Fun to speculate though.