2000 Automatic to 2003 6spd conversion <pics>
07-24-2004, 10:23 PM
#1
2000 Automatic to 2003 6spd conversion <pics>
I just performed the surgery and lemme sum up all the pics on my Cardomain.com website here. I worked on this all day, and just got back from Hot Import Nites in Chicago so I'm pretty funked up :> Anyways... I think there is only one 6spd 4th gen, and this will be the 1st VQ30 5th gen. Problem is the shift selector mechanisim on top of the 6spd is diff than the 5spd manual, and the shifter cables hit the ABS modulator unit ! I managed to get some room after removing the bracket that holds the whole ABS modulator up. Then I made up my own bracket to hold it. Another thing is.... 3.5L uses a diff starter so I have to wait to see how it drives. Clutch on a FWD and RWD VQ35DE is the same thing. The guts of the tranny are no bigger than the old school 5spd. They use the same size imput shaft size it looks like... The trans mount bracket is different on the 3.5L and the 3.0L so U have to get those. This is the only things that are keeping me from driving it. After doing this I am positive I can do a engine removal in about 30 min, and doing headers in about a hour. I got all the parts from www.car-part.com - they sold me a whole conversion to manual... enough blabbbn from me... here are the pics-- too many for me to post idividually.
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/574975/6
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/574975/6
07-24-2004, 10:41 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 236
Originally Posted by BlackBIRDVQ
I just performed the surgery and lemme sum up all the pics on my Cardomain.com website here. I worked on this all day, and just got back from Hot Import Nites in Chicago so I'm pretty funked up :> Anyways... I think there is only one 6spd 4th gen, and this will be the 1st VQ30 5th gen. Problem is the shift selector mechanisim on top of the 6spd is diff than the 5spd manual, and the shifter cables hit the ABS modulator unit ! I managed to get some room after removing the bracket that holds the whole ABS modulator up. Then I made up my own bracket to hold it. Another thing is.... 3.5L uses a diff starter so I have to wait to see how it drives. Clutch on a FWD and RWD VQ35DE is the same thing. The guts of the tranny are no bigger than the old school 5spd. They use the same size imput shaft size it looks like... The trans mount bracket is different on the 3.5L and the 3.0L so U have to get those. This is the only things that are keeping me from driving it. After doing this I am positive I can do a engine removal in about 30 min, and doing headers in about a hour. I got all the parts from www.car-part.com - they sold me a whole conversion to manual... enough blabbbn from me... here are the pics-- too many for me to post idividually.
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/574975/6
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/574975/6
07-24-2004, 10:45 PM
#4
at this point n time we where low on funds- my client, so we gonna hold back on any future mods for a while- as U can see I even used a stock clutch with it. I got new brake pedal also. As soon as the starter gets here I'ma see what kinda check engine lights I'm going to see 
Originally we where going to do a 5spd conversion but the 6spd was super cheap and a good deal to pass up with all the parts included.
Originally we where going to do a 5spd conversion but the 6spd was super cheap and a good deal to pass up with all the parts included.
07-24-2004, 10:49 PM
#5
I have drive by wire cars and the new "Age" electornics that mess up trannie swaps or engine swaps like this one. I went through hell with the shifter cables. The cable has to run THROUGH the firewall- which has the small thin automatic tranny shifter cable. Now you need to stuff 2 cables through a small hole and the hole is like right behind the engine and steering rack plus the diff gets in the way. Its a nasty spot ! I ended up somehow dremeling the hole a bit larger and got the shifter cables in the car in no time. I will need to figure out how to fool the computer into letting me start the car too... but I have a plan already All in all its 90% done and I just wanted to share it with ya guys. I'ma do the same with the turbo install next- pics every step of the way.
All in all its 90% done and I just wanted to share it with ya guys. I'ma do the same with the turbo install next- pics every step of the way.
07-24-2004, 11:09 PM
#6
thats awesome, i have a 5speed 5th gen and wanted to do a 6 speed conversion... its not gonna happen because its not worth it, but i just wanted to get shorter gears so that it can somewhat pull like my friends 6speed 3.5.... anyway, good stuff.... im assuming u need to use a lift and stuff eh? would someone who doesnt have a lift and has air tools be able to do such things?
07-25-2004, 02:11 PM
#16
I am waiting on a starter and a tranny mount bracket- one that you can see is missing in the picture
The ABS modulator- one with all the brake lines- its bracket hits the shifter mechanizim which is right below it. After removing the 3 12mm bolts from the bracket I took the bracket off and it gave me enough room for shifting into any gear with no clearance problems. The swap will take approx 8 hours to do when U know what your doing and have all the parts. I recomend doing all this on a car lift like I have cause you going to be doing alot of lowering and lifting of the car. 5spd conversion will take about 7 hours or less to do. Since I belive even the starters and mounts will be the same. I used a 3.5L crossmember in order to get rid of the pointless electronic engine mounts Autos come with. I worked on it since 9 and I stopped at 2- I have about 2 more hours to make it drivable. I charge 700 bux for a conversion. I seriously doubt there is any difference in 5spd vs 6spd speed vise- I know I would loose WHP by going to a 6spd- look at the Altima vs Maxima dynos with same mods. This Maxima is going to need some much needed lowering springs- automatic tranny weights ALOT with fluid in it compared to a 5spd or 6spd. Check out the picture- there is about hmm 100lbs worth of parts in the trunk- fluids and all the parts I swapped out for the 3.5L ones.
The ABS modulator- one with all the brake lines- its bracket hits the shifter mechanizim which is right below it. After removing the 3 12mm bolts from the bracket I took the bracket off and it gave me enough room for shifting into any gear with no clearance problems. The swap will take approx 8 hours to do when U know what your doing and have all the parts. I recomend doing all this on a car lift like I have cause you going to be doing alot of lowering and lifting of the car. 5spd conversion will take about 7 hours or less to do. Since I belive even the starters and mounts will be the same. I used a 3.5L crossmember in order to get rid of the pointless electronic engine mounts Autos come with. I worked on it since 9 and I stopped at 2- I have about 2 more hours to make it drivable. I charge 700 bux for a conversion. I seriously doubt there is any difference in 5spd vs 6spd speed vise- I know I would loose WHP by going to a 6spd- look at the Altima vs Maxima dynos with same mods. This Maxima is going to need some much needed lowering springs- automatic tranny weights ALOT with fluid in it compared to a 5spd or 6spd. Check out the picture- there is about hmm 100lbs worth of parts in the trunk- fluids and all the parts I swapped out for the 3.5L ones.
07-25-2004, 02:18 PM
#17
Only benefit a 6spd will have is MPG on the highway- 5spds tach pretty high at 80MPH- mine is around 3400RPM. I know 4K RPM is like 97MPH in 5th. We got all the parts from www.car-part.com - they sold us the whole conversion for 1500 bux, included everything but the brake pedal, fluid and flywheel bolts. 6spd and 5spd flywheel bolts are the same ones. 2001 uses different flywheel bolts than a 2000 or 2002. 2000 Maxima has a speedo sensor inside the tranny- on the diff, where 2001-up uses ABS sensors for actual speed- which is a very accurate way of telling how fast you are going.
07-26-2004, 05:08 AM
#19
5spd conversion would cost less in parts I belive- 450 for tranny, 300 for fidanza flywheel, 300 for ACT, and then 400 for the pedals, clutch slave and master cylinder plus the line, shifter assembly and shift rod. Axles look like they are exacly the same ones between auto 3.0L and 6spd.
07-26-2004, 07:08 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 207
Originally Posted by BlackBIRDVQ
5spd conversion would cost less in parts I belive- 450 for tranny, 300 for fidanza flywheel, 300 for ACT, and then 400 for the pedals, clutch slave and master cylinder plus the line, shifter assembly and shift rod. Axles look like they are exacly the same ones between auto 3.0L and 6spd.
07-26-2004, 06:09 PM
#21
I just ordered up a starter and tranny mount from Nissan today- list prices are 85 for the mount and 260 for the starter... that is list ofcourse 
As soon as its runing I will update you guys on how much diff the car is vs my 5spd. Problem I'm seeing with the 6spd is the MEGA heavy flywheel/clutch combo... engine might have lots of TQ down low due to that but might feel sluggish. The flywheel with clutch felt like it weight around 40lbs to me. I can't really do a direct comparison with my car as I have alot more bolt ons vs this "6spd 3.0L", but I'm eagger to find out what its like eighter way.
As soon as its runing I will update you guys on how much diff the car is vs my 5spd. Problem I'm seeing with the 6spd is the MEGA heavy flywheel/clutch combo... engine might have lots of TQ down low due to that but might feel sluggish. The flywheel with clutch felt like it weight around 40lbs to me. I can't really do a direct comparison with my car as I have alot more bolt ons vs this "6spd 3.0L", but I'm eagger to find out what its like eighter way.
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