Which 63A 5 speed do I have.

[leoeotw]

I got my hands on a 5 speed from a 1977 200sx and I am wondering where I can find the full ID for the trans. I see the 63A#1 but where can I find the F??? part of the ID? it is pretty dirty now but I wanted know where to look when I clean it up.  I got it to try and swap it into my 76 620 (it came mated to an L20B engine so I know I am good there) but now I am not sure I want to mess with the driveshaft issue and mounts. It may end up for sale or trade. 

Thanks for any info on this.  

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Lot of guys love that trans because it's short and has that cool "dogleg" shift pattern, but they aren't very strong. I'd find a truck, Z or ZX 5-spd instead.

[datzenmike]

The FS5W63A is not on the transmission, only the 63A is cast into the rear half or tail. Of all L series transmissions only the 63A dogleg has a smooth front case without ribs or waffle pattern, a rear case and an adapter plate sandwiched between. It's 26" long so won't fit your 620 without drive shaft and transmission mount mods and as mentioned not a good choice for a truck and why the 5 speed option in the truck is an FS5W71B built to handle a 6 cylinder car engine.

 

510 guys 'love em' but small engine and light car so less strain on them.  

 

 

 

 

[leoeotw]

I have been trying get a z or zx 5 speed but they too are getting expensive and hard to get. I have one for my wife's 280 so can't touch that. Like other people I had a zx parts car years back sold the 200 rear with limited slip with my 240 and sold the rest at a basement low price. when this combo came up only 40 minutes away I grabbed it quick and researched it later. truth be told I would have bought it knowing then it would not be a good choice for the truck.

[datzenmike]

The 4 speed in your '77 is basically the same F4W71B that was used in the '71 and on z car. Same transmission. The optional FS5W71B five speed came out in '77 on the z car and the 620, and later used in the 810. (also a six cylinder) The later 280zx used the same transmission, it just had a different ratio set of gears.

[leoeotw]

Back in my younger days when these things were common in junk yards, I got a 5 speed and put it in my B210 hatchback. Some turbine style mags, louvers and a monza twin exhaust tip and I thought i was the sh@t. A plus on this is the engine I got has the electronic Dizzy not the matchbook with the module on the side but the other one. It was suppose to be a running driving combo a guy took out of a roadster. I recon I will clean the trans up and sell it and hunt the Z 5 peed. 

Thanks for the input guys.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but I just did a quick search on car-part.com for a 1978 280Z 5 speed and found many.

[datzenmike]

The mid ratio 5 speeds are the best I think. Specially in a heavier truck and 4 cylinder. You'll get more use out of 5th.

 

Presumably you have a 4 speed so you have the front case that has the unique L series engine bolt pattern. With this you can use any FS5W71B from other engines and convert it to L series. This gives you a much wider range of transmissions to choose from and likely cheaper than the ones in the zx.

 

L series

'77-'78 280z L28

'79-83 280zx non turbo L28

'78-'80 810 L24

'81-'84 Maxima L24

'77-'79 620 L20B

'80 720 2wd L20B

 

Z series

'81-'86.5 720 Z20/Z22/Z24

'80-'83 S110 200sx Z20/Z22

 

SD series

'80-'86.5 720 ( 2.2 and 2.5 diesel)

 

CA series

'84-'86.5 S12 200sx CA20 and CA18

 

The 71B ended '86.5 and was replaced by the much stronger FS5W71C.

[leoeotw]

2 hours ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but I just did a quick search on car-part.com for a 1978 280Z 5 speed and found many.

I had not even looked at this site. I think the consider TN southeast so I used that and didn't get an exact match but There was a couple of leads. Thanks.

1 hour ago, datzenmike said:

The mid ratio 5 speeds are the best I think. Specially in a heavier truck and 4 cylinder. You'll get more use out of 5th.

 

Presumably you have a 4 speed so you have the front case that has the unique L series engine bolt pattern. With this you can use any FS5W71B from other engines and convert it to L series. This gives you a much wider range of transmissions to choose from and likely cheaper than the ones in the zx.

 

L series

'77-'78 280z L28

'79-83 280zx non turbo L28

'78-'80 810 L24

'81-'84 Maxima L24

'77-'79 620 L20B

'80 720 2wd L20B

 

Z series

'81-'86.5 720 Z20/Z22/Z24

'80-'83 S110 200sx Z20/Z22

 

SD series

'80-'86.5 720 ( 2.2 and 2.5 diesel)

 

CA series

'84-'86.5 S12 200sx CA20 and CA18

 

The 71B ended '86.5 and was replaced by the much stronger FS5W71C.

You know with all those possibilities; I still find the one that won't fit easily. LOL