Transmission-palooza

[mtngoat]

Grist for the mill. My son and I dug out every transmission from all their hidey holes. One by one we scrubbed off scuzz and copied what numbers we could find. Installed shifters, tried things out. 2 dead. 3 shift gears and stuff. We need an L series 5 sp for the wagon, and to sort out if either of the U20 5 speeds are possibles for our 2nd 2000. 

 

There is another still in the wagon. Unknown version but likely from a Z car. Got stuck in 5th, which sidelined the car for 9 years. Hence needing one!

 

1 U20 is one of the deadites. Shifts ok, but input shaft will not complete a turn in either direction before locking up... hard. 

The 4 speed 2nd from right has a cracked tail housing and frozen input shaft. 

 

The other three shift and input shafts turn fine. I did pull the dogleg trans for some reason or other, so technically it's suspect anyway. Thinking of opening it up, if I can figure out what it is maybe rebuild kits are around. 

 

I have no need for either 4 speed.  The U20 version which turns and shifts will be incorporated onto a mothballed U20, which we intend to build a run stand for. 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by mtngoat

[datzenmike]

Only thing of interest is the dogleg. This is not available here in North America so it was, or came on, an import engine from Japan. It's known here as a long dogleg. If you measure it you'll fine that it's about 31.5" long same as the first 4 transmissions on the left. Out doglegs were 26" long*. This was used in the Japanese Bluebird U known here as the 610 and in Australia as the 160B or 180B. In '75 the  Bluebird U was available with an optional 5 speed in the SSS model with twin SU carburetors in Australia and in Japan a the SSS E with EFI.

 

* the '77-'79 Datsun S10 200sx had them and they are the correct length to 'drop in'. They were optional on the '78-'79 A10 (HL510)

 

The 71B L series 4 speed IS an L series four speed just from looking at it.

 

The 510 4 speed could be for sedan or wagon depending on the gear sets inside. Visually it could also be from a 521 or later '73 620 truck, both use the same looking transmission. If you place in first gear and mark the input and output shafts, then turn the input 20 turns while counting the output a sedan transmission will turn the output 5.5 times a wagon almost 6 times.

 

In Europe the U20 5 speed was used in the 'new' Z car by using an L series removable bell housing which swaps the starter over to the right side. A few made it over here through Nismo parts.

 

The L series 5 speeds in the 280z and ZX, 810 and Maxima and optional on the 620 truck would be best. They are designed for six cylinder power but you would need to shorten the driveshaft and modify the transmission mount. Well documented.

[iceman510]

The non-510 4 speed (71B) might be able to provide some components to fixing one of the others.

[datzenmike]

I bet the output seals are the same but it's used and new are still available. Main components are all different and what's left... bearings and synchros are... used. The U20 are known to be problematic for finding rebuild parts that are made of unobtanium.

[mtngoat]

Good input, thanks guys! I already shortened the driveline on the wagon, so it's ready to go with any of the 31.5" transmissions as it is. 

 

I don't remember what caused me to pull the dogleg. I did like it a lot, this is a backroad car and thus gets stuck now and then, and the pattern on a dogleg is tailor made for rocking the car! Back and forth is simply...back and forth in the shift pattern. Very handy. 

 

Are there rebuild kits for that thing still around? Which designation is that one?

 

I do have a stock driveline on hand as well, I think, so that opens up my options a little. On craigslist there is some guy in puget sound who posts transmissions and engines a lot, and from his pics appears to have a decent sized steel building utterly stacked with Datsun parts, mountains of them. He lists a bunch of transmissions and stuff....

 

I know zip zero nada about the insides of a transmission, but I suppose now is the time. Got a kidlet to wrench with now, might as well expand our horizons and see if we can fix one if necessary. One of the few things I never dug into...transmixers and differentials. He cracked up when I opened up the can on a bad flasher unit, fixed a burned contact, and put it back together with recrimped edges. I said dude, this is what Datsun fixing is! I know I could have bought one, but what's the fun in that? 

Edited November 10, 2025 by mtngoat

[datzenmike]

Long and short 'doglegs' are called the FS5W63A. Just watch out they were also used in the B-210 to fit an A series engine and the Z series engines in the '80-'82 A10 HL510.

 

The 510 4 speed is an F4W63. In both cases the 63 is the distance in mm between the main and countershaft and this is the limiting factor in bearing and gear diameters you can use. A larger number like the 71B is stronger because you can make the gear teeth thicker.       

[mtngoat]

Oh wow, insight into the part number theory...sweet! So if I'm reading that right, the -71's would be preferred for max power handling. 

 

If I recall the Z series block transmissions have a different tilt to them for the Z block, left upper bolt is left of a rib for L series and right of a rib for the Z series. I seem to recall you can swap bellhousings in some cases? 

Edited November 10, 2025 by mtngoat

[rosso]

the Z31 transmission: FS5W71C is the strongest 5-speed that I know of the series. I have one in my VG33 510 wagon. It's very long. 🙂

 

[datzenmike]

L series tilt 12⁰ right of vertical and Z series about 8⁰ left of vertical.

 

L series rib is close to left bolt hole...

 

 

Z series rib is close to right bolt hole.

 

I just remember L is left. Yes the transmissions are basically the same, the front cases have the bolt pattern for the engine they are used on and can be swapped. I have an L series front case on an '85 S12 CA18ET transmission and the tail is actually from an '85 720 diesel truck.  

[datzenmike]

8 minutes ago, rosso said:

the Z31 transmission: FS5W71C is the strongest 5-speed that I know of the series. I have one in my VG33 510 wagon. It's very long. 🙂

 

 

Approximately twice as strong as the 71B, uses wider gears for strength and in '85 the 71B moved to the 62mm counter bearing from 56mm and this continued on the 71C. The first/second shift rod was increased from 14 to 15mm and the shift forks revised.

 

Older 1st/2nd fork on right...

 

Newer wider 1st/2nd fork on left...

 

 

[mtngoat]

Hey Rosso, how did that vg33 fit into your rig? What was the donor car? What about mounts and exhaust? I seem to recall you could get kits for a VG30 somewhere....

 

Goatlet, fresh with Datsun fever, wants to do a conversion at some point. KA24 vs some VG or another. He's also carrying on about some modern 2 liter, SR?

Edited November 11, 2025 by mtngoat

[rosso]

On 11/11/2025 at 10:42 AM, mtngoat said:

Hey Rosso, how did that vg33 fit into your rig? What was the donor car? What about mounts and exhaust? I seem to recall you could get kits for a VG30 somewhere....

 

Goatlet, fresh with Datsun fever, wants to do a conversion at some point. KA24 vs some VG or another. He's also carrying on about some modern 2 liter, SR?

 

I think the VG33 looks right at home in the 510. With a Holley carb and no electronic stuff it looks great. Most of the people who have looked at this at car shows have really liked it.

 

I used most of the conversion parts from Experimental Engineering (Dave Carroll) so the swap was almost a bolt in operation. I don't do fabrication. 😞 

 

 

 

I don't think Dave is making his kits anymore, so you would need to find someone who has a kit or pieces that they are not planning to use for you to buy. The manifold is pretty slick. More unobtainium is the distributor which is from a Datsun Saudi truck. Other HEI dists are available but the Nissan one is so much nicer. 🙂

 

The motor was imported from Japan by a company in Lynnwood so we don't know what it came out of. All the parts that I have ordered for Pathfinder VG33 have worked fine. I drive the car as my daily driver and i love the V6 - no turbo lag, just a smooth 180HP. It is also fun on the track.

 

(Here's a link to my youtube channel with some videos.  https://studio.youtube.com/video/-ZKgTUdQorw/edit) Sorry this link does not work.

 

Love this car!

 

Edited March 20 by rosso

[datzenmike]

Couldn't get link to work.

[rosso]

Here's a short video that I can post here. Not sure how to get you to the other bigger files on youtube.

Edited November 13, 2025 by rosso

[rosso]

Here is the in car view of my 510 VG33 wagon at Pacific Raceways I hope.  🙂

 

 

[mtngoat]

Thanks for the details! That engine sits very nicely in the bay, good fit. 

 

Found a $500 2002 Xterra in PDX. This is tempting. Not sure how to get it home...

Edited November 18, 2025 by mtngoat