Other types of transmisions for the VH45?

[Ford Falcon]

G'Day viewers,This is my first post here, so I just wanted to introduce myself. I have a couple of questions about the Q45. I scanned some posts before posting, but please excuse me if these have been asked before, and I hope I'm in the right section. Anyway.....

I really like the Q45s and I'm planning to buy one in the near future. In the mean time, I have an '88 Nissan 300ZX with fairly high mileage, and I'm entertaining the idea of replacing the VG30 motor with a VH45 instead. My questions are:

1. Is this more trouble to fit than it's worth? (I've seen it installed in a 240z). I've heard a lot of people rave about the strength and power potential of this all-aluminum block.2. Are there any manual transmissions that will bolt up to it, or can be modified to fit the VH45, or anyone know of any companies in Southern California that do these types of fabrications?

Thanks for reading this.

Dave

[MiniMan]

Welcome to the forums Dave. The actual block is strong as a sh*t brick house so to speak. A guy in Australia had it running well over 1000hp.

There was another fellow in the states who had a high milage block running 13psi. Can't remember how long it held it for... but it wasn't too long. To run more than 8psi of boost through the engine as stock is like running through a crowd hoping you don't touch someone.

The only manual transmission I know of to be able to bolt up is the 300zx TT transmission. Even that needs adapter plates though. There was a guy in Texas who made an adapter plate for the VH45DE and TT transmission to swap into a silvia. Haven't heard back from him in many months though.

The real question you should be asking yourself is never "Can it be done?" It is "How much do I want to spend?"

Corey

[Ford Falcon]

G'Day Corey,

Thanks for responding to my email, and the welcome. I'm an Aussie myself, transplanted over here to the US, and I've not heard of the Infiniti until I came on over here for awhile.

By the way, have you seen this link: http://www.zparts.com/showcase....html ? This is what initially whet my appetite. I figured if this can fit into a 240z, then it should also fit a 300zx (Z31).

You're right on about the money thing. If you have it, you can pretty much do whatever you want with a car. Still, just the stock VH45 block alone has heaps of horsepower...more than double what I currently have with the VG30. My other option was a VG33 block with a large turbo, but I like the idea of an Infiniti motor instead...they are the high-performance Nissan motors.

Mate, if you by chance happen to recall the guy in Texas who has the fabrications to mate the Z32 transmission to the VH45, I'm all ears

I read someone drop a name on another board about a company called CunninghamRacingwho fabricate these things too...not sure where they're located.

Thanks,

Dave

[IvoryJ30t]

what you would need to do is have the adapter plate made [not as simple as it sounds, the plate must be precise!! or you will chew up trans input bearings]

the plate would bolt to the block, and the transmission would bolt to the plate.

a z32 flywheel is a direct bolt on. the fly needs to be shimmed equal to the adapter plate thickness. this brings the fly back in alignment with the trans.

the best part about the z32 trans is the fact that the starter bolts to the trans, and not the block plate. therefore everything is in alignment.

another route im lookin at is having a T56 bellhousing machined to fit the VH. ford cobra flywheels are 8 bolt [at least i think they are] but im unsure of the spacing.

the hardest part of this is that the machining must be VERY ACCURATE. if its off slightly, you will chew up trannies.

there are no manual transmissions that will directly bolt up to the VH.

also, you might need a standalone ECU. i seriously doubt that the stock ecu will like not having its tcu to talk to.

[Ford Falcon]

Hey Ivory!Thanks for the information. I like the idea of the adapter, and even though it'll probably be expensive to acquire, perhaps that's the cheapest route to take?

I've also read others mention using a Hollinger or Getrag transmission, and now the T56 too, which sounds even better, having a 6 speed, but probably a little too pricey for me right about now.

Do you know of any companies that build custom made adapters? I've been googling for awhile, but haven't found much.

Also, what would be a fair price to pay for a low mileage T56?

Thanks again. I'm building on my knowledge before I decide on the VH.

Dave.

[IvoryJ30t]

in my efforts to find an adapter, i have only found one person who has done it, and i have not been able to contact him.

your going to need a very skilled and patient machinist. an adapter plate is not an easy thing to do correctly.

no companies market/produce them.

the T56 looks very promising. the gear ratios are real nice. the ratios are very similar to the z32 trans, except for the double overdrive for high speed cruising.

if you look toward the T56, get the version with the .8 5th, .62 6th.not the .5 6th. thats too steep to be useful.

[Ford Falcon]

I've located a company in Australia that have quite a number of adapters they've already created, and it seems they are also adding to this list. Anyway, I've emailed them and patiently waiting on a response....http://www.rodshop.com.au/

I know they have the Z32 in Australia, but not the Infiniti. I'm anticipating that if they would consider fabricating it, they'd probably need a schematic of the VH block where it would connect with the transmission. I'll keep you posted.

In the mean time, does anyone have those specs, or do I need to find an engine reseller and make a template?

[IvoryJ30t]

instead of a template, what would be best is to bring the transmissions from both the vg30 and vh45 to the people who are going to make the plate. a drawn template wold not be accurate enough. you need to be within .5 mm or less.

i was going to explain how the plate can be made, but without a large drill press, someone who can weld VERY well, and various other tools, its exteremely difficult to do right. being a few mm off on the drilling will require a whole new plate.

get in touch with that austrailian shop, they look like they can take care of it.
Modified by IvoryJ30t at 11:03 AM 10/22/2004

[IvoryJ30t]

see, the problem with the z32 trans is that the bellhousing is integral with the front case, so an adapter plate is needed.

with transmissions that have seperate bellhousings, its a little easier because there are more options.

[Ford Falcon]

G'Day Ivory,So you think maybe another transmission would be a better option? I was considering the Z32 because even though it's the next series up from mine (Z31), it's still a Nissan.

Would you say something like the Tremec is a better option? I can keep the same differential and driveshaft, or will I need to change those?

I've heard of custom adaptor plates costing around the $1K mark. For that money it might be preferable getting another transmission instead, but it still needs to be designed to fit to the block.

What "more options" do you get with other transmissions?

Thanks,

Dave

[IvoryJ30t]

its easier to adapt a bellhousing type transmission.

the reason being, you can have a machine shop take the vh45 trans, and a blank bellhousing for a T56 for example, and just drill the bellhousing to bolt to the vh.

the adapter plates take alot of labor. you have to drill it for the transmission and the engine. the plate needs to bolt up to the motor, and then the trans bolts to the plate.

with a seperate bellhousing type transmission, you shouldnt have a problem getting a blank [undrilled] bellhousing from one of many engineering/race places, and have a machine shop align the bellhousing with a template from the vh45 transmission, and drill it.

the bellhousing would be less than half the work of an adapter plate.

also, if this is a z31, the driveshaft will need to be replaced anyway. theres no way around that. the driveshaft is the cheapest part. any heavy truck driveline garage can make you a whole new driveshaft for a few hundred. [200-300]

the flywheel is another problem if you go with a trans other than z32.

this isnt as easy as it seems.

[Ford Falcon]

Thanks for the info mate, I really appreciate it.

But since the Q45 transmission is automatic, wouldn't that be precluded from my choice of transmissions?

Okay, so this is my shopping list so far:

* a blank bellhousing from a race engineer shop, custom made to fit a* T56 transmission, on one side and the* VH45 block, on the other.* custom made flywheel (such as RPS?), and a* custom drive shaft.

Then I need to consider the drive line and, depending on how low the motor sits in the bay, whether I have to modify the oil pan and if the transmission will fit properly in the tunnel.

Then there's the custom transmission mounts, engine mounts, cross-member, probably custom headers and exhausts and the wiring, ECU and gauges.

My Z31 has an LSD. You think I could still use this? I don't plan on turbo-charging this beast, well, not in the near future.

I think my first step now is to find out the dimensions of the VH45, see if it can actually fit neatly in the Z31 bay. Ideally I'd like to have it fit without modifying the hood.

[IvoryJ30t]

im not sure exactly, but i think the motor is around 750mm wide, and about 700mm long.

its gonna be a tight squeeze.

the reason for the vh45 transmission, is not to use it, but to use it in making the bellhousing. since the transmission has an input shaft, what the shop would do is possibly weld a pipe perpendicular to a template with the inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the input shaft. then clamp the plate to the transmission, and very accurately drill holes in the template using the transmissions mounting holes as a guide.

this template would be transferred and aligned to a blank bellhousing.

then the bellhousing would be drilled and possibly doweled to bolt and aligh to the VH. the transmission would then be bolted to the bellhousing.

that is not possible with the z32 trans because the z32 trans has a one piece bellhousing/front case.

[IvoryJ30t]

the transmission mounts will probably need to be fabricated from plate steel. thats another process.

the LSD in the car can be used, just dont beat on it [burnouts, donuts, drifting] or you will fry the viscous coupler.