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VK56 to Z32 5-speed adapters

Deluded

By Deluded
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Deluded Newbie

Deluded

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Any interest in VK56 to Z32 5-speed transmission adapters? We are machining two for certain for our new Bonneville Z32 effort; we sponsored the Z32 which currently holds the Blow GT production F class record at 224mph. Our target speed next year for our slicktop is 260+ in the C engine class. We've also set 4 current records over 200 with a Mitsu VR4 Galant.

 

These adapters are full round, CNC’d aluminum. The VK starter will be utilized as a space consideration for headers, but the custom flywheel’s design does not preclude the use of the z32 starter; we’d just have to order them with a relocated ring gear (these are being built by a well known company trusted in this industry). Just as many others out there, the adapter does require machining of the bell housing to shorten it by the thickness of the adapter. The adapter plate is 0.5†thick 6061; we could debate the virtues of 0.625â€, but it would mean nothing when you ended up with a cast bell housing that had been machined to an unsafe thickness to bolt to. While I understand price is a determining factor, how many of you would have a sincere interest in this kit?

 

Something else to consider: if one was willing to weld the adapter to the bell housing, enough additional material could be removed so that a stock z32 flywheel could be used. A simple mod to the nose of the VK starter will allow it to accommodate the ring gear difference or the stock Z32 starter could be used instead. That would make the adaptation much less expensive for guys on a budget.

 

Thoughts/input?

 

edit: just realized we were using a cima starter rather than a Z32 for mockup... so no trans-mount starter will be supported.

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Deluded Newbie

Deluded

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LoL i think hes talking about the Bonneville salt flats...

 

Also what are the main reasons you went with the Z32s 5 speed over the 350Zs 6 speed? Gearing?

the six speed doesn't offer any extra overdrive gearing nor has it proven to be superior strength-wise from what we've seen. with the torque and hp that should be easy with this engine i am confident that the close ratio box would just be an extra shift especially in a super charged application. also, for the adapter plate design the bolt spacing between the block and trans seems a better match without any compromises in rotation or offset. for others out there the 5 speed has become a great value with so many in the wrecking yards (i do have 4 of the six speeds, so there was no bias money wise). we did everything we could to make a possible budget project for everyone else. also, no need for custom trans mount for this swap in the z32 :) should have flywheel price mon or tues.

i'll post some links the carlson racing 300zx later. we (my shop RaVer Motorsports) built the engine, turbo system, and hex-tuned the oem ecu for the record. got to meet Dandy Tanaka and even received a very nice email from them when we got their record. my wife licensed at 200mph at the salt flats last year so the plan is for her to be the driver for our new car.

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Deluded Newbie

Deluded

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Well, sorry for the delay... I had to pursue the flywheel maker to the point that I was worried that he wouldn't want to do them or that I would give up and work around a stock dimension flywheel. Good news on two fronts: first, custom aluminum 12# flywheels will be under 400$ delivered in very small quantities. next, while waiting we did look into a budget setup that uses the stock fw and it appears that this will work very well, too. I'm not looking to make any money on this so we're sharing all our information but flywheel supplier and part number. that said, i won't even appologize if you use the following information without verification and then run into problems :)

 

Here's the low down: bolting a NA Z32 flywheel to a VK56 for use with the Z32 trans poses four surmountable problems (the requirement of an adapter plate is a given).

1) the starter ring gear is 4mm or about 3/16" too far away from engine to trans flange (back of the block) so that the VK starter will not properly engage.

2) the starter ring gear on the OEM flywheel is designed for a rear-engaging starter drive gear which is the opposite of the VK starter. you can't simply flip the ring gear on the flywheel, either.

3) the clutch wear surface is 6mm or about 1/4" too close to the engine to trans flange (back of the block).

4) the input shaft crankshaft bushing depth is wrong (similar to 3 above).

 

a custom flywheel with the correct OEM ring gear fixes all but number 4 which is a simple matter of a custom bushing, and since the VK crank has extra support length from the factory this is easy.

 

to use a stock flywheel requires these mods: Disassembly of starter and simple machining in a lathe to mount 4mm deeper in the block. this looks to be very safe with the starter we used for mock up. the flywheel wear surface dimension can be remedied by machining an extra .240" off the bell housing for the adapter plate. this forces you to weld the adapter to the bell housing, but that is really not a big deal; the adapter on my buddy's 10 second L28 powered 510 is welded to the trans. a 55$ new ring gear can be pressed on to fix the issue of engagement direction. it appears that an OEM bushing works for the input shaft with this set up. in a z32 chasis the passenger side head may have a clearance issue unless the trans is moved forward a small amount; no way to tell for sure until we have one in the car.

 

it looks like the adapter plate will be o.5" 6061. thicker than that compromises the strength of the bell housing flange where it bolts on. we can machine a nice bevel into the id of those adapters slated for welding so that a deep filling weld is provided for without extra prep work.

 

another idea occurred to me last night at the shop regarding crank angle sensor mounting that I'll share once I have a cad drawing finished. it allows the stock ecm or a custom tooth wheel to easily mount up without machining to this adapter.

 

next big project is cnc'd parts for building a good intake manifold. ironically, this will be one of the most expensive and time consuming parts of this project for us.

 

Here some links to the record setting land speed z32 we sponsored as well as the ’28 model T that we swapped a vg30dett into for racing on the salt.

 

http://www.scta-bni.org/Bonneville/BNIrecs_cat_e.htm

http://www.scta-bni.org/El%20Mirage/ELM%2006/May/photos/friday/IM000620.JPG

http://www.turbohoses.com/ken_carlson.htm Click on the thumbnails for large images

 

next update with pics

Edited by Deluded
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notheredave Newbie

notheredave

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I have the motor and someone is working on retrofitting the q45 electronics (so I can run a Jim Wolf Tech ECM) to it. And I have a late model Z31 TURBO tranny (same internals as the Z32's) But it has a regular shifter setup. YES YES & YES I am interested in the setup. Email me at: zpsychotech@gmail.com

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fast-datsun Newbie

fast-datsun

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Any interest in VK56 to Z32 5-speed transmission adapters? We are machining two for certain for our new Bonneville Z32 effort; we sponsored the Z32 which currently holds the Blow GT production F class record at 224mph. Our target speed next year for our slicktop is 260+ in the C engine class. We've also set 4 current records over 200 with a Mitsu VR4 Galant.

 

These adapters are full round, CNC’d aluminum. The VK starter will be utilized as a space consideration for headers, but the custom flywheel’s design does not preclude the use of the z32 starter; we’d just have to order them with a relocated ring gear (these are being built by a well known company trusted in this industry). Just as many others out there, the adapter does require machining of the bell housing to shorten it by the thickness of the adapter. The adapter plate is 0.5†thick 6061; we could debate the virtues of 0.625â€, but it would mean nothing when you ended up with a cast bell housing that had been machined to an unsafe thickness to bolt to. While I understand price is a determining factor, how many of you would have a sincere interest in this kit?

 

Something else to consider: if one was willing to weld the adapter to the bell housing, enough additional material could be removed so that a stock z32 flywheel could be used. A simple mod to the nose of the VK starter will allow it to accommodate the ring gear difference or the stock Z32 starter could be used instead. That would make the adaptation much less expensive for guys on a budget.

 

Thoughts/input?

 

edit: just realized we were using a cima starter rather than a Z32 for mockup... so no trans-mount starter will be supported.

 

 

any adapters for sale and pricing?????????????? MACK

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