I just finished rebuiding the tranny. It's real simple if you have the right tools and instructions. Air tools (particularly an impact wrench with 450ft-lb reverse) are a freakin' god-send. The dial guage is a must for measuring endplay - the most important factor in transmission longevity... Input shaft enplay is right at .000" but if I remove the shim it goes to .002" and the spec is .000-.002, so I left the shim in there. I measured the diff endplay with the shim still in place because I had no plans to disturb the bearings that were not bad (the parts and service guys at nissan told me that if the bearings look ok, then don't replace them) and that reading was at .015" which is right at the low end of spec, so that's good.

I replaced the outer boots/grease on the axleshafts after cleaning and disassembling them to inspect the bearings and races - they all looked good so they were reassembled, packed with the special blue CV grease and the boots installed. They are ready to go on the car.

What's this talk I hear about the 'blue' clutch from nissan? I just checked my new clutch and it in in blue shrink-wrap but the clutch friction disc itself is the same as my old one. I paid like $150 for this from the local Nissan dealer.

BTW, I getting my parts/advice from Nissan North, Columbus Ohio. Just like every dealership I've ever been to... Sales is kinda shifty and sleazy, Service is kinda gougy and desperate to replace 'broken' parts but if you get a tech alone you can get some good advice for free, and the parts dept with very good with fast service and the guys there seem genuinely interested in helping me get this done ie offering overnight service for no extra charge.

So far;

5 hours to remove the tranny and get it onto the bench
2 hours to disassemble the tranny
2 hours to swap the damaged input shaft front bearing and put the tranny back together, measure endplay button it down again
1 hour of wasted time trying to install the rear main seal retainer without dropping the oil pan
1 hour to drop the oil pan
1 hour to rebuild the outer CV joints


So now I just have the following to do;

- Install rear main seal and oil pan/bottom cover (1h?)
- Install flywheel and clutch components (1h?)
- Install tranny (2h?)
- Install new budget F-Pipe (woot!) (1h, when it arrives... )
- Re-install everything else (engine crossmember, axleshafts, starter, clutch yada-yada-yada... (2h)

 

nice...good work sirE!

 

The transmission is back in!

After 6 hours in the workshop yesterday everything is reinstalled except the new budget y-pipe that hasn't arrived yet, and I haven't fired it up yet, but everything else is in.

The transmission shifts like silk through all the gears (just like before, but at least I know I didn't screw anything up... )

Just waiting on the budget y-pipe and then I'll be good to go...


Damn - 18hrs so far, 1 left.