For those guys using the turbo Z T5 transmission, what is it like?

Mine is super solid and shifts great. Downshifting grinds only in 3rd gear and unfortunatly I've heard that is the gear with the most trouble.

One thing I don't like is the hum this transmission makes. At lower rpms when I'm lugging the engine a little... taking off in 2nd or accelerating slowly from 20mph in 4th gear or something like that... the gears inside the transmission seem to hum or vibrate a little. That's what it sounds like to me. It goes away by 2000 rpm or so.

I'm running synthetic gear oil in the T5. Standard weight for manual transmissions. I did more research on the 'auto tranny' fluid and figured out that this model was not supposed to have that fluid.

My transmission is supposed to be a low mile tranny, about 70,000 miles on it now. It should still be like new considering it came from an unmodified turbo engine and now I'm running a NA engine on it.

 

nope never used one, but you can have my trick 4-5speed when I pull it..

 

I haven't driven mine in awhile since it's been in the body shop for the past month. It may be because the car has less than 90k miles, but my T5 shifter feels pretty stiff. Like, it really sits in the dead center of the shifter pattern when not in gear. Man I miss it...

 

I love my T5 tranny a lot more than the N/A trans. It's got a much more firm shift, and w/ my short throw shift, really grabs the gears good.

I've heard a lot of people that don't like the T5, because it's so stiff... panzies!

 

ya, the shifter sure is rock solid. Its like a much newer car. My Datsun truck has good bushings in the shifter and that one is wobbly compared to the T5.
I have also heard people complain it is hard to shift and whatnot. I don't agree. I think the T5 is the way a car should shift.

nobody hears the gears vibrating? Maybe my engine mounts are loose or something...

 

throw out bearing maybe or pilot bushing making noises?
ill have to be looking at a tranny i think too ill see if i can get a T5 but ill have a luck finding it here...

 

thats what i was thinking. why dont you just let me have your tranny, bleach. that should get rid of the problem

 

How different are the N/A 5-spd vs the T5's? not too familiar with the N/a ones and thier power capabilities.

 

Hey bleach dont you have a CFDF?? Did you adjust the pedal at all?? When I first installed mine the wights were tearing into the Throw out bearing ..

 

I have a 83 Turbo 280ZX, its an automatic and wanted to see if anyone has had any experience with it.

 

I can answer that! I used the N/A tranny after swapping in my L28ET... I think it lasted about 1700 miles before 2nd & 3rd gear syncros were shot (and that's not because of grinding when shifting). That tranny just couldn't hold the torque as well as the T5.

Bleach... when does the tranny make the noise??? when in gear? what about when you stick in the clutch? Can you feel the vibration in the shifter?

 

Which "it" are you talking about? I have an 82 280zxt auto... can't stand it. Maybe it would be more fun to powerbrake if it had about 250hp & a high stall torque converter... but ya just can't rip it clean in an auto.

 

The noise is only when the transmission is in gear and the clutch is engaged. The throwout bearing was new along with the clutch and pilot bushing in Feb of this year. I sure hope that nothing is going out already.
I know what noise the bearing made when it was shot last time and its not doing that now. It sounds like the gears inside the T5 are just a little noisier. when accelerating, the shifter feels pretty solid. I don't feel the vibration in it.

 

My '82 makes a noise while in neutral, but as soon as I put the clutch in it goes away. Until I release the clutch and it comes back. I was thinking the throwout bearing, any thoughts?

 

Prolly not the throw out bearing, if the clutch isn't in... Could be tranny bearings. Same noise when it's moving in gear?

 

Bleach do you have a CFDF ot a centerforce clutch??

 

No I think it goes away when I am moving him down the road. Just makes the noise when the clutch is out, and in neutral. As soon as I get him going, I don't hear it until I slow down and stop, and release the clutch.

 

I've got a stock clutch. What is CFDF? Carbon Fiber Disk Fertilization?

My noise sounds more like rattling metal. Could be loose bearings or something that allows the shafts inside to vibrate a little... or maybe one of those bolts holding the shifter plate down is coming lose! haha... I'll take a look at that one.

 

CFDF = CenterForce Dual Friction.

I got one in my Z... turbo & 2+2 model cost: $300. Grabs like a biotch, and will take all the beating you can throw at it.

 

CFDF will last if properly broken in. It's still a little weak for built motor.

Superior Friction will put together a Carbon Fiber 6 puck clutch that will hold over 600 hp.

If you have a (Non-world Class) T5 from a 280ZX Turbo, get another one. You'll need it. The high torque (World Class) T5's didn't come out until the late 80's and early 90's.

They're good for up to about 200 to 230 ft/lbs of torque and as some have stated, third gear will generally be the first one to fail from a weak synchro design.

My suggestion, find a T5 from an early 90's junk yard Mustang GT/Cobra and snag the T5 which were rated at 300 ft/lbs of torque.

Then, you replace the bell housing with your Datsun one, convert to hydraulic clutch, have a custom drive-shaft made to use the Ford T5 output shaft and the R200 input shaft.

Now you can use any 26 spline performance Ford clutch (of which there are MANY for WAY less than the CenterForce DF) and go about your business breaking u-joints instead of tranny's.

 

I like that Idea LWW

 

Best idea for a tranny yet. Now lww, you know everyones gonna want to know: How do we tell if it's the WC or not? I mean just cause it's the right car doesn't mean the tranny got swapped. Any particular markings to look for. Mustangs are one thing there are plenty of here in VA. And 230lbs/ft just aren't going to cut it

 

I had the same noises in my KA24 tranny, It was my front Cage Bearing...drain your gear oil, i bet you'll find some metal shavings in it.

 

Good description:
http://www.5speeds.com/t5/

Full list of Tag's and implementations.
http://www.kamikazeracing.org/dl/BorgWarnerT5.txt

The key here is the tag #. Nothing else matters.

Go forth my children and find GOOD T5's!

Actually, one of the reasons I REALLY LIKE the T5 is it's weight. A fully built T5 can weigh as little as 85 lbs!

A Tremec 3550 will weigh about 130 lbs!

 

well, I'm going to just run it for now untill I meet one you fools and you can drive my car and tell me what you think. I got this T5 as a supposivly 65,000 mile unit pulled from a parts car. So now its got maybe 70,000 miles on it. I've driven my car less than 10K this year since it was installed.

I do have a spare T5 with 102K on it... still in a turbo parts car. Muahaha My plan was to hang onto that one as a spare if needed. I also heard there are kits to rebuild and install better syncros in these trannys. My goals are about 250/280 hp once the turbo engine is isntalled. Should be ok for a while.
Thanks for the input