lakehaze

No opinions on the z33 6-speed? I hear rumors of people pouring 650hp through them with a clutch upgrade. Probably not a good idea, but surely they could handle 300hp, no? Anybody vouch for the shift-action feel of a 350z or G35? Truck-like?

Thanks guys for the perspectives. Noted that the TKO is in the wrong direction, thanks. No idea where'd I'd be able to test one of those. I'm still pondering. I'm probably destined for a t-56, if for swap simplification only, but I'm still searching. I'm off to google 'z33 transmission'.

Yeah, it looks like I'm just going to have to wait until I'm back in Used Car Heaven(USA) before I'm able to sort out what is possible. This topic is just too subjective. I figured that silky/crisp = precise. This just goes to show how subjective the topic is. Thanks for the help anyway

I'm looking for a 280z shell to receive the engine and trans. I'm not sure how specific I can be about something as subjective as shift feel. I think it's unrelated to ratios and short throw kits. Silky... Crisp? 'Like a glove', smooth? I'm of the opinion that American manual transmissions feel removed and cumbersome compared to my Japanese manuals. My Hondas, z31, AW11, and AE86 all feel 'silky', like the stick is connected directly to the machine. The gates are predictable and intuitive, like the shifter is reading my mind and sucks the stick into the next gear. American throws feel distant, and uncoordinated, with lots of distracting play. I haven't driven many American manuals, (Just a Sunbird and FoxII Mustang), so maybe I just got unlucky. It's possible that this is just personal taste, but I've never encountered an import tranny that felt as lifeless and interrupted as those two trannies. Oh, except for my 88 Toyota pickup; that felt quite clunky. I'm confident that after the swap, a GM T-series will shift like a factory GM car. That's my concern; will the T-series feel like the Mustang? Can anybody vouch that a GM feels more like a Honda than like a Ford? Is there a transmission option that will feel intuitive like my imports? Or is clunkiness the price to pay for sturdiness? Does anybody else share the opinion that American cars shift 'clunky'? Or am I just crazy?

I've got the V8 bug, and I've been lurking Hybrid. Loads of info here, but the one concern I have doesn't return much in the search. What's the silkiest manual transmission for a light-V8 s30? I'm planning a relaxed V8, no high output goals, maybe 200-300bhp? 'Cause V8s are fun even at low speed. Something reliable, light, with EFI, Probably an LTx, but I've been eyeing some LSx rolling chassis. But will the t-56 cut it for shift quality? If the power is low enough, are there silkier reliable options, z32, supra? Is a Tremec TKO an improvement on shift feel? If it's going to shift like a truck-like Sunbird GT, or clunky 99 Mustang shifter, then I'm pulling the plug right now. (Will test drive every manual v8 I can, as soon as I get back to the States.)