5 speed anyone

[jrbd10]

Does anyone know what 5 speed trany i can use or bolt on to my 74 710 L18?:confused:

[datzenmike]

That would be mostly a function of length. Measure yours from the motor back to the very start of the drive shaft. There are two lengths of 5 speeds, one will fit your car without modifying the drive shaft. Yours will probably be either 31 1/2", or just over 26" long.

 

If it's the shorter, then any 5 spd from a '77-'79 200sx will fit, but it does have a peculiar shift pattern and is known as a dog leg:

R 2 4

1 3 5

The '78 and up (L series motor only) HLA 510 may also have the same short dog leg as above.

 

If it's the longer, a 5spd from the following will fit:

'77-'79 620 truck

'80 720 (2wd only)

'77-83 280zx (not the T-5 from the turbo car)

'78-'80 810

'81-'83 Maxima

 

A long tail would give you more choices I would think.

 

5 spds became available on or around '77 so maybe a '77 710 might have one as well but unknown length. This list is possibly as accurate as it is incomplete.

[jrbd10]

cool thanks ur very informative but do what would i gain with a 5th gear

[zerow]

cool thanks ur very informative but do what would i gain with a 5th gear

 

One word: Speed. The 5th Gear in any Datsun 5 speed transmission is overdrive, or less than 1:1 gear ratio. At highway speed, you would shift into 5th and your engine would have to turn less RPM to keep up with acceleration. With your current 4 speed, you shift into 4th and keep giving it gas until you run out of pedal. With the 5th gear, you effectively make your engine work less to get more speed.

[jrbd10]

ok now that i think about it...that was such a dumb question i should zap myself

[datzenmike]

It takes the same amount of power to pull your vehicle along at the same constant speed in 4th or in o/d. The o.d gear reduces RPMs, which saves a small amount of gas at speed, but also reduces the available torque for acceleration, hill climbing, towing and pushing into a head wind. In these cases 4th gear would be better, but for all others, o/d is ideal for highway cruise. If the o/d gear is 'too tall', or the engine under powered, the car will actually go faster in 4th than in 5th.

 

An o/d 5 spd is perfect for a car with a lower rear gear set (higher numerically) like 4.11s or 4.375 which give good street acceleration, but poor mileage. In effect the o.d removes some of the rear gearing and lowers RPM to save on gas.