I'm buying a LSD gearbox for my 5 speed conversion, I went out to have a look at it and I couldn't seem to find a model number anywhere on it, the guy gave me this code RS5F50V. I want to confirm the box is actually a RS5F50V

What box are you running? is it a RS5F50V?


The RS5F50V I'm buying is from a 2litre Cefiro but I'm hoping its and indentical box to the Maximas.

 

The RS5F50V is the box that you want but it just has to have the bellhousing to match the VQ. I assume your '95 Cefiro has a VQ30DE and the donor car was a VQ20DE.

 

Yes that rights, VQ20DE

Is there a serial/model number eitched/engraved on the housing of the gearbox so I can verify it is indeed a RS5F50V. The plate under the bonnet that has the Chassis & Trans code is gone now as the gearbox is out of the car.

 

Nissan does not usually provide identifiers other than the VIN plate on transmissions. To know for sure you should put two axles in the thing and see if there is alot of differential restistance between each side.

 

Okay thanks !

I'm pretty sure its LSD just making sure its not out of a crappy Nissan Primera/bluebird or something.

 

The Primera/Bluebirds were last using RS5F70V gearboxes.

 

Doh! I don't even know if thats good or bad, just that from memory the largest engine in the primera was a 2litre, think the bluebirds were 3litres.

 

Everything I can find on the Bluebird tells me the biggest engine in it was 2.0L. The SR20 at that, not a VQ20.

 

My main concern is that the gearbox from the VQ20DE won't be blown apart but the extra power of the VQ30DE

 

I'm guessing it's probably a similar, if not identical tranny to the one we get. They're decently stout. If it is the same one, and ours runs on heavily modded VQ30's, I think you'll be fine

Here's to hoping it's the same tranny though...

 

Just did a search. The RS5F50V is indeed a 5-speed manual transmission, so that guy got the number right it seems. It's listed under 1993 through 1998 Nissan Altima, which would be a Bluebird in NZ. Doesn't say what engine it was paired to though.

EDIT: Take a look at this link:

http://www.nissanforums.com/showthread.php?t=54141

According to them, the RS5F50V is indeed an LSD tranny. The RS5F50A would be the non-LSD version. So you are getting an LSD tranny assuming the guy got the number right

The GTiR guys seem to like to use it for their projects too, so it must be pretty stout.

 

Excellant thanks!! its sounding like this box will do the job !!

 

Any time man. We'll do anything for our NZ Cefiro brethren

 

it should be noted that because its listed as RS5F50V between vehicles doesn't neccesarily mean it will fit. I learned this the hard way when i tried to put a altima 5spd tranny on a maxima only to find that the bell housing portion was different (it didn't have that big hole where the starter goes through on the KA's)

now if your just looking for the gear stuff inside, then i guess it doesn't matter

 

Good Stuff

 

If he's getting it from a 2.0L Cefiro though, it'd be VQ20, which would mean it would still have the same block. So theoretically it should line up ok, shouldn't it?

 

yes sir.

i just wanted to make sure that maybe not all 5spds sharing the same tranny codes in nissans can be shared

 

I'm guessing the one from the Altima/Bluebird I used as an example would be the same internally, just a different bellhousing as you noted. It should still be LSD though.

 

the VE30DEs got the same RS5F50V (i have 3 of them) but the bell housing bolt pattern is different from the VQ

 

yep. I believe they even share the same part numbers for some of the gears and such. Only half the bellhousing part that bolts up to the block is different because maximas have a hole in which the starter sits through

 

This is all why I initially told him he had to have the correct bellhousing. Nissan is still sharing tansmissions today between engines. The RS6F51H has a bellhousing for a VQ35 and the QR25 (Spec-V)

 

But if he's getting it from a 2.0L Cefiro, that's a VQ20, correct? The VQ20 is still the same block as the VQ30, right? (as opposed to like the tall-block VQ40)

So he really shouldn't run into any issues then, should he?

 

GRR!! brings back my original worry... I wonder if the trans that comes with the
VQ20DE has different ratios to the VQ30DE

 

I would assume they couldn't be TOO different. If they use the same gears and what not, and they're the same basic tranny, they can't be that far off.

 

The ratios are probably different. Better for racing.

 

Yes, that was the first question I answered for him.

 

Well given that the VQ20 would have less torque I could see that...but what's with the racing comment?

 

The analagy couldn't have been made simpler.

 

I'm guessing you just meant higher ratios which would mean he would have better acceleration?

 

Can anything be done to fix the rumoured weak 3rd gear in 4th gen gearboxes? can you put a 5th gen 3rd gear in or something...

I don't know how much cyro or shotpeening would be etc.. but if thats more viable than the 5th gear 3rd gear swap...

 

Do you guys even have access to A33 5-speed trannies?

 

Ha Tatanko you know us Kiwi's well !! Yeah A33 5-speed in New Zealand would be I think Impossible!!!

I rung up for a Maxima Clutch and the guy goes "Maximas don't come in manual"


So I can't get a whole A33 box very easily but was hoping could perhaps import from US just like the 3rd gear or something.

 

I don't think there'd be a problem fitting the 5th gen 3rd gear in the 4th gen tranny. It's basically the same ******* thing, only stronger. I may use brand new 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears from a 5th gen tranny when I rebuild my 4th gen trans. The 2-3 shift has double synchros, too.

 

Sweet! any rough prices.. for say just the 3rd gear or something

 

I will check soon, but the guy said the parts themselves are not very expensive. What is expensive on a rebuild is the labor; taking out the tranny, opening it, rebuilding it, putting it back together, and back in the car. The parts must not be very expensive if we do the work ourselves.

 

I was at a track day and a chap told me that I was running seriously slower than I had to because of my gearing / gear ratios... The fact that I had to drop it into 2nd for slow turns, and only spent a couple very brief moments in 4th makes me think that I could get much much better acceleration from more aggressive (racing) gearing... Can anyone say what the options are in this respect?
Ideally I'd like to start in 3rd (from 7K redline in 2nd) and top off 4th around say 55-115 MPH..
Whereas I currently seem to be going into 3rd around 70 and the top of 3rd is like 100 MPH... Meaning that start of 3rd to top of 4th is currently like 70-130 or so... (Not that I have been to 130 )

How much more aggressive is the VQ20 gearbox? Anyone have the numbers? Anyone know of different options? (perhaps the xterra box??? Trucks normally have more this kind of gearing)

Im no expert about this stuff so keep the flames on low please..

 

i would think that the vq30 gearing is already aggressive considering that 3rd, 4th, and 5th are so short (look at your highway rpms, they are excessively high IMO). 5th gear at 75mph is at 3000 rpm, 3rd gear should get you to around 110 mph.

most tracks will not have turns that require less than 30mph speeds, meaning that 2nd should get you out of the hole just fine. More aggressive gearing means less top speeds also. Most ppl i've seen having more aggressive gear ratios (changing the final drive) is at drag strips

maybe you were running seriously slower due to your car setup, modifications, or do i dare say driving skill

 

I have shipped tranny parts to Austrailia. Customs was a b!tch.

 

Well, theres alot of room for improvment. I dont want to hit 150 MPH, but rather get to 115 a heck of a lot faster.

I dont want to have to go into 2nd gear if possible.. I'd want to keep it in 3rd as low as around 50 MPH, meaning that 2nd gear redline would be really low about 50-55 MPH.

That would not be the case.. Ive pretty much reached the limit of what the car can do w/o FI... next step is this and racing tires

 

Well I'm in luck then, the box is already out of the car and I was planning on a rebuild anway. Just brought the LSD gearbox but have no 'true' idea what the internals are like. The inspection cost is $400approx and the rebuild(inc. inspection) is $1000.. so if I can get a new 3rd gear slapped in at the same time I'll be laughing.