I found a place in Ohio that had a 95 VLSD 5spd tranny laying around for some time. This is the viscous limited slip differential tranny found in the canadian SEs and Infiniti I30s. Don has the automagic variety of this tranny. I got a monster deal on it. Only $460 for the tranny, plus $100 shipping and $50 for a 6mo warranty. That's $610 total. Most VLSD 5spds I had found were going for anywhere from $900-$1400 (not including shipping), so I saved a ton. And the best, most unbelievable thing of all...this tranny has only 5000 mile on it! They've had it for years, just were never able to get rid of it. 5000 miles...I think I cried in joy when the guy told me. Very nice.

The guy checked, but could not find any difference in the parts listing between the VLSD and standard-5spd (open diff) halfshafts. So most likely, my existing halfshafts will work on this tranny. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I also have an ACT HD clutch on the way and maybe a Mueller Al flywheel (lightened). With the VLSD tranny, my car should be smokin once again...but better! It all goes in next week.

Soon, it'll be no more Geo Metro for me! Wooohooo!

[Edited by Keven97SE on 11-09-2000 at 04:29 PM]

Keven! Very nice score man! I glad you caught a break and got a good deal. You deserve it!

Sweet! Let us know!

Suh-weet! Congrats man!

Let us know if the stock half-shafts really work. Also let that place know they can always contact us if they get another tranny like that!!

BTW, what's you 1/4 mile right now...if you've run it? More importantly, what's your 60 foot times so we can compare before and after.

Dave

But EVERYTHING in a junkyard only has 5k miles.

Thanks all! One of the luckier breaks in my life so far, that's for sure.

Will let everyone know about the halfshafts and the rest of the install. Dave, I'd just check with http://www.car-part.com. That's where I found this tranny. All the descriptions are crappy (cryptic), but if you just keep calling places, you'll eventually find on, albeit maybe not at the same price I got. http://www.woodfins.com had quite a few VLSD 5spds, esp. 99s. Not the best prices, but reasonable. There was a 99 with under 20K for $900 there. Not bad at all.

I've never ran the car at the track. The only data I have is via G-Tech Pro readings. About 1.5 yrs ago I managed a 6.4 0-60, 14.8 1/4mi time. I was really **** about setting the meter up correctly and driving on a flat road, too, so I'm pretty sure the readings were accurate to within it's limits, anyway. The car had already been acting kinda funny by that time, though...weird power losses/surges, that I now am guessing was due to a dying tranny. I know the car ran quite a bit stronger prior to that and intermittantly ran better thereafter. I won't have good "before and after" data, but I'll certainly do some runs with the new setup and let everyone know how the car does.

That being said, I want to quit focusing on numbers (HP, times, etc), and just enjoy the car for a change. Not worry about what mod goes on next, etc etc. Just enjoy it...I finally got a decent suspension setup (w/ Konis), will finally have the drivetrain running properly again. Just gotta fix the trashed front end paint, and I'm good to go!

[Edited by Keven97SE on 11-09-2000 at 05:25 PM]

Good deal Keven, I'm glad you took my advise on the tranny.....

j/k bro. That's a great deal!

My mom just bought a 1996 SE 5-spd Canadian model this summer (live in Toronto). Is the VLSD an option or is it standard on the Canadian model? If not how do I find out whether I have it or not? What exactly does the VLSD do?

Thanks

VLSD is standard on the Canadian ES and SE models.

A LSD (Vicisous (sp?) or otherwise) allows power to be sent to both drive wheels instead of the wheel with the least traction as with an open diff.

Power to both wheels instead of one is a GOOD thing.

(this is vastly oversimplified...)

I thought that all canadian SEs come standard with the VLSD tranny.

Well, the tranny code on the VLSD 5spd is something like R5F50V, whereas the open diff tranny is R5F50A.

I was *told* that any Maxima (or car) with a "Z" in the VIN# has a VLSD tranny.

Augh! I want one!

Jim

Is the fly wheel you are getting the one listed on the Mueller web site that only weighs FIVE pounds? Thats one light a** fly wheel!
Part number 101718-11?
How much did it $et you back?
Its says 95-97 Maxima, wont it fit a 98 also?

I have a friend in Toronto who deals with car parts. If I ask him to get me a VLSD tranny, what should I ask for? Will any Canadian 5-speed tranny from a SE fit, any year?

You want the transmission with code RSF50V (I think that's it) - that's the VLSD one (V at the end is for VLSD). The code for the standard diff 5spd is RSF50A.

The easiest thing to ask for is for a 5spd transmission with a LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL. The VLSD trannies have that, whereas the standard diff 5spd have an open differential.

I was also told that a Maxima with a VLSD tranny will have a "Z" in the VIN# somewhere. I can't confirm this, but that might be another way to find out.

I have no idea whether all or only some canadian SEs had VLSD trannies. I think I heard that they all did, but cannot confirm.

To be honest, I have no idea which one I have. I got it used from another regular on the BBS here (Blade99se). He said that the shipping weight was only 9 lbs, but the flywheel doesn't have the starting ring (have to use the one from my stock flywheel). I imagine with that, the total weight will be around 12 lbs or so.

Kevin, can you post the part number for the Canadian VLSD?

thanks!