Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I came accross a 1980 280ZX at Ralph's autowreckers on Scott Road in Surrey today.
This has the FS5W71B transmission. It can easily be mated with the Diesel tranny front half to adapt for a roadster.
The reason I bring this up is, according to notes I've been given, the lower ratios are very close to the stock U20 5spd ratios with 5th being a good bit higher.
3.062
1.858
1.308
1.000
0.773
With this transmission, you could run a 4.11 rear for good acceleration for autocross etc, and still have good legs for the highway, keeping the rpm down.

Running the #s I get 2760 rpm @ 60 mph in 5th with a 4.11 rear and 195/60/14 tires...........

I always find Ralph's a little pricey tho. They want $300 for the tranny. Don't know if or how well they will take to bargaining.......

Daryl Smith wrote:I came accross a 1980 280ZX at Ralph's autowreckers on Scott Road in Surrey today.
This has the FS5W71B transmission. It can easily be mated with the Diesel tranny front half to adapt for a roadster.
The reason I bring this up is, according to notes I've been given, the lower ratios are very close to the stock U20 5spd ratios with 5th being a good bit higher.
3.062
1.858
1.308
1.000
0.773
With this transmission, you could run a 4.11 rear for good acceleration for autocross etc, and still have good legs for the highway, keeping the rpm down.

Running the #s I get 2760 rpm @ 60 mph in 5th with a 4.11 rear and 195/60/14 tires...........

I always find Ralph's a little pricey tho. They want $300 for the tranny. Don't know if or how well they will take to bargaining.......

I'm running a 4.11 limited slip diff. At 70 MPH, I'm pushing almost 5K. Gears are great for the track, but man I wish I had something taller for road tripping. Traveling 65 MPH is just no fun and I don't really want to run this at 6K all the time. I'll keep this in my memory banks.

Skyman wrote:

Daryl Smith wrote:I came accross a 1980 280ZX at Ralph's autowreckers on Scott Road in Surrey today.
This has the FS5W71B transmission. It can easily be mated with the Diesel tranny front half to adapt for a roadster.
The reason I bring this up is, according to notes I've been given, the lower ratios are very close to the stock U20 5spd ratios with 5th being a good bit higher.
3.062
1.858
1.308
1.000
0.773
With this transmission, you could run a 4.11 rear for good acceleration for autocross etc, and still have good legs for the highway, keeping the rpm down.

Running the #s I get 2760 rpm @ 60 mph in 5th with a 4.11 rear and 195/60/14 tires...........

I always find Ralph's a little pricey tho. They want $300 for the tranny. Don't know if or how well they will take to bargaining.......

I'm running a 4.11 limited slip diff. At 70 MPH, I'm pushing almost 5K. Gears are great for the track, but man I wish I had something taller for road tripping. Traveling 65 MPH is just no fun and I don't really want to run this at 6K all the time. I'll keep this in my memory banks.

I'm in the same boat. I was under the impression that this was a one piece transmission housing however.

Will

"...I was under the impression that this was a one piece transmission housing however."

Nope. Same as the diesel truck tranny pictured on the second page, fifth post, of this thread. Just different gearing. Looking at that picture, it looks like the tranny mount is in almost the same position also Maybe someone who's done the "B" tranny swap can tell us how well it matches up with the original mounting point? Length? 1600 driveshaft match right up?

I'm going to assume this tranny is fairly high milage. how much for a bearing and seal kit? New synchros?

Random Datsun Transmission info:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/l16-5-speed- ... 75359.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Datsun Z car tranny info:
http://datsunpartsllc.com/cart/index.ph ... 6&parent=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Seems there was another 5 spd used with the L series engines - FS5W63A.
I have been reading that these were refered to as a 'dogleg' transmission. I am wondering if the FS5W71B came in a dogleg version at all, and possibly if you pick up a 'dogleg' tranny, the diesel bellhousing may not fit! However, it may be possible(?) to swap in an A series bellhousing??? if the a series matches with the R/U engines....just saying .......haven't had a look/compared the bolt patterns.....

info and pictures here:
http://datsun1200.com/modules/mediawiki ... e=5-speeds" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From nicoclub.com forum:
FS5C63A: That's the L-series dogleg. Came in both L-series and NAPS-Z type front housings. The L-series ones are more common as the 200SX '77-79 had it almost in every car. The '77 710 and the '78-79 510 had it as an option on everything but the Wagon. The NAPS-Z version was only used as an option on '80-81 510s and was very uncommon. In '81 they even tried the 60L below. Bad move...

FS5C60L: Another dogleg, used on some late '81 510s but usually used on 210s (2 different cases, A-series and NAPS-Z). You do NOT want that tranny. Reason below.........

SLOroadster wrote:

Skyman wrote:
I'm running a 4.11 limited slip diff. At 70 MPH, I'm pushing almost 5K. Gears are great for the track, but man I wish I had something taller for road tripping. Traveling 65 MPH is just no fun and I don't really want to run this at 6K all the time. I'll keep this in my memory banks.

I'm in the same boat. I was under the impression that this was a one piece transmission housing however.

Will

I don't know what to tell you guys.....

Stock size tires 175/65 14 running in 5th with a 5.12 rear axle charts out to:

73.2 MPH at 5000 RPM....

4.11 should be 4000 RPM at 73 MPH

I would suggest you check your tach or axle ratio....

I had a version of the 200sx 5-speed dog-leg trans in my '73 620 pick up. Great box. As I recall it had a very different/very smooth casing, but was exactly the same length etc and bolted right up to the L-18 I was running. You just had to remember that reverse was up and to the left, and first was where second is, etc.

Gregs672000 wrote:I had a version of the 200sx 5-speed dog-leg trans in my '73 620 pick up. Great box. As I recall it had a very different/very smooth casing, but was exactly the same length etc and bolted right up to the L-18 I was running. You just had to remember that reverse was up and to the left, and first was where second is, etc.

I've driven a 200Sx 5 spd and the ratios are horrible, unless you are looking to cruise down the freeway. It was in a 510 with an L16 and the spacing was all wrong. 5th gear was huge, and the rest were very widely spaced.

Will

I don't recall being upset by the gearing, but it has been a lot of years, and I may have just been excited to have a 5 speed! I would assume the final drive on the truck was different, so maybe it was a good match?

You cannot use a the A series 5 speeds as the input shaft is much smaller and the pilot bearing is a different size. I have quite a few of the A series 5 speeds and 8 of the L series 5 speeds.(some of which have reverse where first is normally)

Ross
sports imports

Daryl Smith wrote:Seems there was another 5 spd used with the L series engines - FS5W63A.
I have been reading that these were refered to as a 'dogleg' transmission. I am wondering if the FS5W71B came in a dogleg version at all, and possibly if you pick up a 'dogleg' tranny, the diesel bellhousing may not fit! However, it may be possible(?) to swap in an A series bellhousing??? if the a series matches with the R/U engines....just saying .......haven't had a look/compared the bolt patterns.....

From everything I've read, the dogleg is weaker. Autocrossers like the shift pattern, and the 510 folks like 'em because they don't have to shorten the drive shaft when replacing the stock L-series 4-speed w/ the 5-speed dogleg.

Never heard of a dogleg in any 71-series transmission. but datzenmike would know for sure.

Like Ross said, A-series engines and L-series engines bolt patterns are different.

Found this site:
http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/240SX5spd/transmission.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Same idea, just use the diesel tranny front half.

Wasn't Steve H. on here building a stroker a while back?

Daryl Smith wrote:Found this site:
http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/240SX5spd/transmission.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Same idea, just use the diesel tranny front half.

Wasn't Steve H. on here building a stroker a while back?

My choice would be '80 FS5W71B

ratios almost exactly the same as the U20 5 speed....with a higher 5th.

the '77-'79 FS5W71B is also a great choice.....3,4 and 5 the same as a U20 trans....

Update:
I recently had my transmission changed back to the .759 5th gear which is stock on the 240SX.
Rear end is a 3.70, tires are 185/65/15.
Currently running with the 1800 engine, but, set it up for the 2065 cc engine which I hope to have completed soon.

Impressions?
It works great with the 1800 for level and smallish hills, for those in the lower mainland around Vancouver think Alex Fraser bridge type hills, without shifting down. Actually still accelerates from about 50 mph in 5th on that incline. That acceleration is steady, but, pretty slow, it's a tall 5th. Based on this, I believe it was the right decision to put the .833 gear in for the 1800.
I expect the .759 will/would be much better with the extra torque of a 2L+ engine (stroker or U20).
(Other options for the various transmissions are .773, .813, maybe a couple others?)
RPM below is approximate (within 50 rpm)
50 mph @ 2000 rpm
60 mph @ 2300 rpm
65 mph @ 2500 rpm
75 mph @ 3000 rpm

This will make the long road trips for family visits and Datsun meets @ 400+ km I have planned somewhat quieter, and maybe gain a bit of milage.