GreenState Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 So..... '71 240z with the stock 4 spd transmission (3.3) and STI R180 diff (3.9). I have a 5 speed 280zx transmission (3.9) here I want to install. Will the stock 240z driveshaft work or do I need to do something else? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenState Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 Whoops, this should be in Drivetrain, not here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74_5.0L_Z Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 You will most likely need a custom driveshaft made. It's not that expensive. I had my Ford T5 to datsun R200 driveshaft made for about $250 (twelve years ago). That price included balancing and all new parts: tube, u-joints, slip yoke and Neapco adapter flange . All you need to be able to tell the driveshaft shop is the center to center distance between the u-joints, the make and model of the transmission, and the make and model of the differential. Any decent shop should be able to do the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 He's going to the stock factory 280Z setup. A factory Z driveshaft should work. Hope he knows about the mustache bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenState Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 He's going to the stock factory 280Z setup. A factory Z driveshaft should work. Hope he knows about the mustache bar. What detail of the moustache bar are you referring to? Currently have the '71 bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I screwed up (or got screwed up by the post). I saw 3.9 and thought you were talking about the differential. Not sure why you used 3.9 to describe a transmission. Although you should consider that point (3.9 vs 3.36), since the ZX 5 speed will be boggy in 1st with a 3.36 diff. But that wasn't your question. The 1971 240Z used the 71B type transmission. It should be a straight swap. The transmissions are essentially the same, except for the gears. I'm not sure what 74_5 is referring to. You might have to carve some space out of the shifter opening for the shift lever in 5th gear or bend the lever. I have an early 71 driveshaft in my garage and it is the same on the ends as my 280Z driveshaft. Omly the length is different, because the early z"s had the diff set forward. There's a ton out there on the internet about the swap you're planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenState Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Sweet. Thank you. I was 99% sure I was good to go but I was questioning myself for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srgunz Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) Sweet. Thank you. I was 99% sure I was good to go but I was questioning myself for some reason. If in fact you have a 1971 then you have the early 3 piece case gearbox. You will need to do some tunnel cutting to swap to a 5 speed. The later gearboxes are 2 piece. You will need to do some more research to see if this is the way you want to go. In my 72 I used the same driveshaft. I think yours may work as well. Edited April 2, 2013 by srgunz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) Crap. I hate being wrong. I thought the weird ones were used in 1970. They changed the transmission tunnel from the 71 to 72 model? Here's a link that might be helpful - http://www2.zhome.com:81/ZCMnL/tech/69-83TrannyShifterDrawing.jpg Sorry for the misinformation. Edited April 2, 2013 by NewZed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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