Please help!!!!!!!!I've owned a 300zx twin (jap import)for the last year and am just about to fork out for a 3rd second-hand auto box!!!Are the manuals any more stable and if they are is it difficult to convert?

The conversion is straight forward but hard (heavy work).

 

The real question is why keep buying 2nd hand boxes when you could have one rebuilt and get a guarantee etc. (I know it happened to me, although now I have converted to manual)

 

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Z32 technical article index - 300zx.org.uk

What would you recommend converting or refitting an auto? And could you recommend anyone for rebuilding and at what cost? Are the auto's generally prone to breaking down moreso than manuals?

Originally posted by AndyP:

The conversion is straight forward but hard (heavy work).

 

The real question is why keep buying 2nd hand boxes when you could have one rebuilt and get a guarantee etc. (I know it happened to me, although now I have converted to manual)

 

 

 

You need to decide whether you want a manual or an auto. I like my auto but fancied a manual, I wouldn't hesitate to drive either.

 

Rebuilding an auto box will cost around £900-1500 depending upon where you go. AT the same time you can get them uprated which improves the change. What you should REALLY do is get an uprated oil cooler, the standard car does have one but it's pretty ineffective - yours may be blocked which could explain why the boxes keep failing. Not sure where you get it rebuilt, people have mentioned places in South London, Potters Bar, Watford and Silvia Engineering in Chelmsford (which is where mine was done).

 

Many, many autos fail, usually due to overheating and faulty clutches and torque converters. The manuals are not perfect either and are prone to synchromesh failure, plus the standard clutch is a bit on the weak side, especially if the car is tuned.

 

 

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Z32 technical article index - 300zx.org.uk

 

[This message has been edited by AndyP (edited 23-04-2002).]

Cheers for all your advice, it's been really helpfull. I'm seriously considering converting to a manual as i have access to a Honda dealership's facilities (and a couple of their mechanics, just got to persuade them now.)Any tips for uprating the clutch???And what other parts would be recommended??

You'll need all these bits :-

 

Gearbox

Clutch master cylinder

Clutch slave cylinder

All pipework

Pedal box

Flywheel

Pressure plate

Clutch disc

Throw out bearing

Front half of prop

Plate between engine & gearbox

Wiring for neutral & reverse switches

Both vacuum tanks & valve

Trim to hold gear lever boot

Spigot bush

 

Not sure about the clutch, I have the std one for the moment but not sure for how much longer !

 

 

B & L Gearboxes in Quorn, Leicestershire know the Z32 Auto Box well. They are great. I had a supra auto that went wrong a few years ago. As you can imagine I heard the nightmares about the 300ZX TT Auto's so I picked this guy's brains. What he didn't know about the boxes isn't worth mentioning. They do full recons and also can upgrade for you ( oil coolers/torque Converters etc). Dont know whether this is too far out for you but might be worth putting in a call to them. Oh you get a guarentee as well of course and he does talk "cash"!

0116 2376606

Good luck!

Originally posted by offtheplanet:

What would you recommend converting or refitting an auto? And could you recommend anyone for rebuilding and at what cost? Are the auto's generally prone to breaking down moreso than manuals?

 

A couple of questions

1. Do you have a autobox oil cooler?

2. Your profile says Cornwall, would you only be interested in places in the Southwest?

 

Bristol Transmissions rebuilt my auto box after it lost reverse gear probably due to overheating. They added an external oil cooler, seemed to know all about the 300zx, did a prompt and faultless job and even washed the car for me. Not sure if they are expensive as it was under warranty

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by Dylan (edited 24-04-2002).]

The car is completely standard (Jap spec).You wouldn't have this guy's number in Bristol then I can at least get a qoute?

Originally posted by Dylan:

A couple of questions

1. Do you have a autobox oil cooler?

2. Your profile says Cornwall, would you only be interested in places in the Southwest?

 

Bristol Transmissions rebuilt my auto box after it lost reverse gear probably due to overheating. They added an external oil cooler, seemed to know all about the 300zx, did a prompt and faultless job and even washed the car for me. Not sure if they are expensive as it was under warranty

 

[This message has been edited by Dylan (edited 24-04-2002).]

 

 

The reason you are forking out for box after box is probably because your radiator is blocked (on the box cooler side of things).

 

This is a generic fault with these cars, because they have 2 cooler circuits. I.e. if you lose one you wont know until the gearbox melts.

 

My appproach to the problem has been to fit the box cooler from the equivalent supra - this is a single circuit cooler (so if it blocks you wont go) and is a much bigger air/oil cooler. So far so good!

 

I have burned my auto gearbox 2 weeks.I made the same thought to convert to manual so my mechanic contact top fuel in Japan and told them they can send us the whole conversion from the engine management to the pedals. Believe me you there are a lot of things you have change and my mechanic told me he needs 1 week for the conversion.At the end i decided to rebuilt my gear box and it cost me the 1/3 plus they gave me 1 year qurantee.The only thing they told me to do is to put an oil cooler for the gear box and that was the reason that broke down. You see i live in Cyprus and the weather is very hot so hot that between 12 and 5 o'clock i dont drive my z except in highway.

Originally posted by offtheplanet:

The car is completely standard (Jap spec).You wouldn't have this guy's number in Bristol then I can at least get a qoute?

 

Bristol Transmissions (I think that's the name anyway) are on (0117) 9585698

 

 

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