My tranny locked up on the way to work yesterday. Coming away from a stop and accelerating, I got some surging, then heard a clank from inside the tranny. I decellerated, and the car started to decell really quickly (like braking, but just the tranny siezing up). Put the clutch in, and heard a loud clank (like a bearing falling apart or something). Oh crap. Put the tranny into neutral. Let the clutch out, and crap now it's engaging (but in neutral). Finally pulled over on a side road. Neutral doesn't work. The tranny's engaging in neutral. The tranny is dead.

My options...please let me know your opinions:
1) Rebuild my existing tranny.
2) Get a later-model used tranny:
2a) Canadian Maxima or I30 VLSD-equipped 5spd
2b) 2000 5spd (non-VLSD)
2c) 95-99 non-VLSD 5spd (like mine)

I'm leaning towards 2a. Here's my reasoning: My current tranny may be fried really badly. I know my differential side bearing and seal are shot, and obviously something on the input shaft or elsewhere is kaputt. Fixing my existing tranny may cost (just the repair of the tranny, not including removal/reinstall) may cost upwards of $1000. I can upgrade my car to a used VLSD tranny for about that same price (used trannys are ~$1000). The 95-99 VLSD 5spds will fit, I just need to find out if I'll need new halfshafts. That would really jack up the price if I did need new ones. The 2000 5spds were strengthened somewhat I've heard, but I don't know if they're a direct replacement for my tranny. It's an unknown. Obviously a used 95-99 tranny like mine would fit no problem.

So, right now I'm thinking, in order of preference:
2a -> 2b -> 2c -> 1

Another benefit of a used tranny is I think I might be able to do the swap myself. That would slash the cost a lot as well, making it almost surely cheaper than a rebuild of my current tranny.

Any thoughts?

How much does it cost to have a shop remove and install a tranny? I'm guessing ~6 hrs total (3 to remove, 3 to install). Any idea?

 

how hard is it to find a VLSD 5speed? If it's not too diffcult that would be my first choice. Second choice would be to do a 5th gen. I am pretty sure it's going to be a direct swap. Just thinking that the engine block stayed the same, there shouldn't be any changes to the bell housing. let me know if you need a hand on the weekends. I could make a trip up there.

-Shing

 

Yeah, I was thinking about asking if you'd be available to help. Thanks for offering. I have no idea what I'm getting into, though...never undertaken such a big job before.

I'd probably do it in 2-3 weeks. I'm in no big rush. I'm cruising in style at the moment...1990 Geo Metro convertible. Gawd I feel like a flamer driving this thing...but it works so I can't complain. Good thing my girlfriend never got around to selling it!

How long would you guess it would take to do the swap? One long day or a couple days?

How much would the tranny weigh anyway? I'm a good sized guy, but if the thing's 200+ lbs...that's a bit much.

 

Well I am guess probably a couple of hundred pounds. May haev to rent a lift. I've only delt with 4 banger tranny... that can easily be handled by you or me alone. but this tranny may not be that light. I think it would only take us an afternoon if it's just a straigh swap... now if we get into fitment issues... donno.

Weekend of Nov 17th is no good for me... other than that I am pretty much game.

GEO metro. ;-) I won't go there... I can just see you in it though... top down? hehe

-Shing

 

Tranny removal/install looks like a daunting task but luckily, Nissan did something right here. Just so happens that Nissan decided to move all the suspension parts away from the tranny. Other than unbolting everything attached to the tranny and supporting the engine(take the stress from the mounts) the tranny will just drop out. This is 10x easier than let's say a 4cyl Toyota Camry 5-sp(AMHIK). I've done my VE once and my bro's VG 5-sp twice. It's not hard but time consuming. If you have any specific questions, let me know.

I would also look into getting a VE 5-sp, w/ the VLSD. I think it would work. Of course research the hell out of this before plunging into it though. I do have a Nissan FSM if you need any info from it.

 

powerdrain... err I mean powertrain warranty?

 

Cool, thanks for the thoughts.

I thought about the 3rd gen tranny, but the VE is quite a bit different engine, so I don't know if the bellhousing would line up. Plus, I'd rather not step back to an gen Maxima tranny. Obviously, even my 4th gen tranny is weak, so I can only imagine the 3rd gen tranny would be, if anything, weaker. One of the reasons the 5th gen tranny looks interesting to me...stronger, the better.

 

Well, it's an option anyway. But I seem to remember now that the 4th gen starter is in a diff place than the 3-gen starters so that alone probably will put a wrench in that idea.

 

How about the 20th An. 5-speed with the VLSD, or would that be cost prohibitive?

Yea/nay?

 

Way too rich for my blood. There're certainly very few if no wrecked 2001 AE 5spds available, so I'd have to buy a new one. No way. That'd be 3X what I'm looking to spend.

But it would be really cool, I agree.

 

OK, then I think you've got the right order. I30 VLSD with a 5-speed would be my choice as well.



[Edited by Lordrandall on 11-01-2000 at 01:35 PM]

 

try a1-imports.com (something like that) in austin
saw a wrecked 2k, might be manual

 

Yeah, I saw that in Car-Part.com. Only $850. Not bad.

I actually just found a used VLSD 5spd from a '99 on the Woodfins used parts site. I can get it for $1100 shipped to my door, and that includes a 1 year warranty. Damn, I think that's my ticket. I will need new halfshafts (different from non-VLSD ones), and Woodfins has ones for $100 each. Total parts cost is then ~$1300 including the shafts and shipping.

I also need a clutch. Tack on another $400 for that. Looking at $1700 just for parts, not including labor. Ouch.

Thanks for all the comments/help guys.

 

Level 10 Bullet Proof Tranny

 

What about it?? Keven's tranny is a manual.

 

keven...talk to Loren in dallas...he ordered one from canada and it may still be at courtesy...i think loren changed his mind....

find him and ask him...he researched this A LOT!!!

Robert

 

Hey Kev maybe you could try talking the guy down at the used part site? I'm sure you can probably knock about $200 off. Too bad its not in your town because you could probably swap drive axles even.

 

2a) Canadian Maxima or I30 VLSD-equipped 5spd

that's what Alex (ZTYMax) is doing. he blew his tranny after he went happy with the v2...

get the canadian VLSD.. i think that'll be the best choice.. unless you can fit the 2k1 20th anniv one.. but that would be a grip..

i think you can get the parts from a canadian junkyard and have it shipped via truck ground to your body shop.. or have your body shop get it for you.

 

I hate transmissions!!!! damn, I actually thought 5-spd trannies were more durable, my piece of **** automatic died months ago, car had 86k miles on it at the time... now it feels like **** again, I promised myself not to get an auto next time.. That sucks major *** dude, I don't know anything about this stuff, but I would consider a heavy duty transmission. Look for some performance transmissions shop, find out how much it would cost ya for a heavy duty 5spd tranny, they can probably build u some thing that will take abuse and last.


good luck man, i myself had to toss out 1,300$ on a rebuilt, just 2 months after getting the car.

 

Woah, thanks Robert! Didn't know that...I'll call Courtesy tomorrow and ask about it. I think I have Loren's email addy also...thanks again!