I was wondering if anyone knows if a 6spd will fit in place of the 5spd I have? I only ask because I do moderate hyw driving and with the CAI and exahust, I am pulling ~3300 RPM @ 80 mph. I think a taller 5th gear or the addition of a 6th gear would help my MPGs BIGTIME!

If the 6spd would fit, do the half shafts need to be changed to fit a 5th gen Max? Also, anybody know how to tell when your 5spd "infamous" bearing goes out or is going out?

Cheers!

 

drive slower on the highway gas = 3+ per gal

 

There is work involved to make it work but you can do it. All Motor forum for more information.

 

^^^^ LOL ... but that is no fun mate!

 

put in the 4spd auto and you will be seeing 2800rpms at 80.

 

that would totaly defeat the purpose of having the standard trany tho ... but I do see your point

 

As well as 16s in the quarter mile. Who could resist?

 

I hear ya!! I wanted to alter my 5th gear also...however, cost is too high until tranny needs rebuild. Considered trying to change drive "ratio" from manual to the auto's but that doesn't seem to be a "breeze" swap either!
I didn't really want to go to the expense of finding a really good 6 speed and replacing my 5 speed (working fine) just to get RPMs down on highway...but after running my 95 auto O.D.at 80 and the 5 speed O.D.at 80 there is a good RPM drop and better MPG's (at least 5mpg over 150 miles/interstate only).
Since I drive I 4 between Tampa Bay and Orlando almost weekly, It has become a pretty good measuring basis... It helps mileage to avoid attempting right lanes cruising with people doing anywhere from 50 to 70 (and idiots trying to make speed by dodging in/out passing on right)all along I 4. I try to set the cruise with the left lane flow up to 80 and move over for the rest!!!

 

yes it can be done.

 

Yeah, final drive/diff swaps aren't quite as easy when the diff is integrated in the tranny, are they?

Some people have apparently replaced the 5th gear with a taller 5th gear from an Altima tranny for better cruising engine speeds. Personally I don't mind the short 5th gear too much, the engine is smooth and quiet enough that I don't notice it until I try to pass someone.

 

i just did it.

 

It won't. Go 70 instead.

Dave

 

Might want to change your handle then.

 

the bearings are going out if you hear a loud rouring noise

 

Just like Tatanko and his AT in the other thread ahaha..

 

I wonder if I need to re-build my 5spd, I do hear a little rub when I am in neutrel with the clutch out, when I press it in, it goes away. Not sure if it's the TOB or the infamous "bearing issue!" that the 5spd is plagued with. It's not noticable when I am driving, only at lights and the drive thru.

 

IIRC our tranny plague bearing issue is with the diff bearings, from your description it sounds more like the input shaft bearings than the diff bearings...

 

. . . . . . .Drop a full 3.5L seems to be one remedy to overcome said AT sorrows. Maybe kevlo will prove me wrong BEFORE he swaps

 

It's not a loud spinning noise, but I wonder how long it will remain "quiet"? No telling I guess. I would bet you are correct with it being the input shaft as opposed to the diff. Just wondernig, what are the "normal" signs / symptoms of the diff bearing? I would imagine that it would make noise under load as well as in neutrel while rolling. Dunno .... mine is just as stated above.

Yea ... a 3.5 might solve the AT issue, but if I am swapin anything, it is gonna be a 5th gen 6spd trans! lol

 

Get even better MPG after the swap------->http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=497655

 

5.5gen, 6th gen, sentra spec-v. i assume altima se-r will work also.

i have gotten much much MUCH better gas mileage since the swap. this most recent tank i got 507, about 60-40 highway. 31.7MPG FTMFW

 

have you gone down the 1/4 mile yet since the swap?
i'm guessing main reasons for this swap is better acceleration and better hwy mileage?

i know you're a 3.5L (actually, i remember dropping that engine into your car, i'm friends w/ nismo3112), but what do you think about the 6spd mated w/ the 3.0L?

 

ya i did. 14.08 @102.4 with a 2.325 60". it was about 88* when i was there.

i did it because i am pondering the idea of supercharging it, and i knew several people blow out 3rd in the 5spd.

you would need a pretty modded 3.0, because you will need the extra tq to pull in 6th. with my modded 3.5, 6th acceleration, isnt too bad, but i couldnt imagine it with ~50 less pound-feet.

 

good to know, thanks.

 

I got a 6speed with a 3.0. I Got 50lb less pounds of torque intill boost kicks
in

 

This puppy (the tranny) is getting ditched this fall now that the car is paid off
...and I have made consistent mid 15-second passes, soon to be low 15-second passes thank you very much haha


To the OP, is the high(er) cost of a 6-speed swap really going to be worth the savings in gas? You're going to have to own the car for a good long time to make up for what you spent on the swap. It's just like buying a brand new hybrid car.

 

^^^^^ That is very true, but I plan to keep this car for a while. I have priced some 6spd tranys (with **** cables / shifter mount) to be just under $1000 (around 900-950) .... expensive yes! Not sure if I wanna save my money towards a Z32 or just mod the hell outta the Max!

 

I just put a Fidanza 12lb flywheel and 5th gen clutch in my 97 max and I dropped around 300 rpm cruising from 60-80 mph. I am really pleased with this setup, now if I could get the damn EVAP/ KS code gone and find out what kind off mileage I can get.

 

You're not factoring everything in. It's not as simple as tranny, cables, and mount. There's also a special mount for the transmission itself that's directly on the body. You also need to factor in starter, flywheel, etc.

 

^^^ good point, I guess I didn't factor all of what I will / would need to do the job. I have a sneeky feeling that it would become a wallet eater by the time I was done. I ca'nt really afford to do it right now anyway. I have read thru the write up's for the swap and it does look like it wold be a chore to do. I have all the tools / garage / and time, just not the money! lol Anyone feel like donating to my cause? lol

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to discourage you. I'm just trying to put it into perspective.

 

the 6spd swap isnt cheap, i think i calculated mine out to roughly 2600ish. but i got 750 back from selling my 5spd parts. so 1850ish, its too bad. im sure i could have gone lower, had i gone for a non-hlsd 6spd, and not so many parts from the dealer. but i felt like i did it the right way in most respects.

as for the gas mileage savings, it has been well worth it so far. my lowest miles in a tank was 412 on the first one, which was with some agressive driving and there was prolly more miles to go.

 

A 6 speed tranny WILL fit in a 4th gen. My mechanic did it in his 97 Max. He added an 03 6mt in it. Works perfectly...