Hey Guys,

 

Was wondering what would be faster in a straight line drag? i see some places were i see autos are faster but most cases people say its the manual!

 

Whats your opinion?

I dont agree with that, mine felt quicker on acceleration as an auto,just point and squirt.........was actually a bit disappointed when I initially converted to a manual box but have got used to it.performance difference isnt noticeable as auto turbos spool up faster.think it helps a lot on the condition of the autobox, mine changed seamlessly and the car pulled as though it had got a turbine under the bonnet it was so smooth with no jerky changes.

 

Something wrong there if you found the Auto quicker and were dissapointed after converting, no matter what the condition of your auto was. I would suggest checking for problems - Vacumn leaks, safety mode. I have worked approx 20-25 Z Manual conversions, and every-time the difference before and after is very noticeable, and the owners were always overjoyed with the performance difference.

How about though with an uprated torque converter like the SZ zed? Try tell them that a manual is quicker it think they know their stuff.

the big debate again :blink:

 

There really is'nt anything to debate. You can prefer one transmission over another, but the fact is the Manual is faster than the auto.

How about though with an uprated torque converter like the SZ zed? Try tell them that a manual is quicker it think they know their stuff.

 

Were talking about stock.

 

What they are using is what is often refered to as a 'Fastroad' rebuild, with Uprated TQ. The box is rebuilt, with stronger bands and runs Increased pressure. (Possibly with different ratios, purely for 1/4 mile dragging).

 

They then preload the box on the start line to build boost with a 4500+rpm launch.

 

Its the same reason dragsters run specially designed 3speed autoboxes, designed purely for 1/4 mile drag racing and nothing else.

Edited July 5, 201213 yr by Yowser

u don't have to convince me ... I've had auto ... and now manual .... and there is a reason for that as you know

Having owned both all I can say is for every day driving the auto is a dream gearbox for lazy driving around towns and high speed long range cruising on main roads. The manual box gets you more involved as you are more incharge of the car and you make it react to your style of driving.

Which is best? Well that depends on what you want I would have one of each:)

Something wrong there if you found the Auto quicker and were dissapointed after converting, no matter what the condition of your auto was. I would suggest checking for problems - Vacumn leaks, safety mode. I have worked approx 20-25 Z Manual conversions, and every-time the difference before and after is very noticeable, and the owners were always overjoyed with the performance difference.

 

Nothing wrong with her mate, no leaks and never seen safety mode.running 14 psi and holds boost a treat...........not going to argue though :)

There is a paddle shift kit available, which overrides the Auto box, so you have gear selection, but its still only 4 speed - But pretty much instant smooth gear changes.

 

Not sure how the paddleshift kit would work with overdrive as it gives you half gears, so almost like 1st, 1st and half, 2nd, 2nd and half, 3rd, 3rd and half, 4th. which is 6 speed?!?! or am I totally of track?

HERE:

 

 

The key features of the SAW system are:

- completely replaces the original AT control unit

- gives full manual control over gear shifting

- custom paddle shifters made to fit the Nissan 300ZX

- automatic shift mode

- 2 shift-maps fully customizable by the user

- all parameters accessible for tuning via a serial computer interface

- monitoring of the transmission oil temperature

- full control over the line pressure and lock-up operation

- digital blue LED 2 1/16" round gauge display

- future software upgrades downloadable by the user

 

http://ess-racing.com/

Ive looked into paddle shift and my understanding was that you need a sequential box which i dont think the zed auto box is. Maybe someone can clarify this a bit better as on a drag/track car maybe this would be the way to go? Or there was the reports of the 6 speed 350z box being fitted to a zed would this not be even better?

Ive looked into paddle shift and my understanding was that you need a sequential box which i dont think the zed auto box is. Maybe someone can clarify this a bit better as on a drag/track car maybe this would be the way to go? Or there was the reports of the 6 speed 350z box being fitted to a zed would this not be even better?

 

The ESS Kit that Ryan posted is made specifically for the 300zx autobox only. All it effectively does is each time you tap the Paddle shift it It sends a signals to the Autobox ECU to tell it to shift gear for you.

 

I didnt know they were still available though. They stopped making them years ago, but perhaps they have restarted again as that Cobalt gauge in the picture is a relatively new design.

 

The 6speed 350z box has has the same top gear ratio as the z32 manual, but with the rest of the gears closer together. It offers no real performance benefit and is known to be weaker than the Z32 box.

Edited July 5, 201213 yr by Yowser

Ah right i get it so how about the 350z autobox on a 300zx engine with paddle shift? would it be something interesting to try?

HERE:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]64885[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]64886[/ATTACH]

 

The key features of the SAW system are:

- completely replaces the original AT control unit

- gives full manual control over gear shifting

- custom paddle shifters made to fit the Nissan 300ZX

- automatic shift mode

- 2 shift-maps fully customizable by the user

- all parameters accessible for tuning via a serial computer interface

- monitoring of the transmission oil temperature

- full control over the line pressure and lock-up operation

- digital blue LED 2 1/16" round gauge display

- future software upgrades downloadable by the user

 

http://ess-racing.com/

 

Is this the FUTURE??????

How much is it?

you've only got boost when your foot is down on the accelerator. in a manual you have to take your foot off to change up a gear (well actually you don't have to but you'll be bouncing off the rev limiter if you don't) and therefore the boost is dumped (either into the standard recirc system whereby it is reintroduced when you put your foot back down) or into the atmosphere if you have atmospheric BOVs and it is therefore lost (but you can get it back again pretty quick). The auto on the other hand shifts up without you having to take your foot off and therefore the boost is kept. Auto turbos have smaller internals to allow them to spool quicker because autos have longer gears (only 4 of them) and therefore won't accelerate as quickly if they shared the same turbos as a manual.

 

On the road I don't think the difference will be noticeable between a manual and an auto of same power and condition so don't worry about it!

 

Stock manual gearboxes also tend to be stronger than stock auto boxes (speaking from experience!)

 

Personally I loved the launch my Z gave when it was an auto, but I much preferred to have control over the gears. Acceleration response between flooring the throttle and proceeding forward is much more direct with a manual because the autobox doesn't have to 'think' and drop down a gear before you get anywhere.

 

Dave has pretty much summed up my own thoughts there. If you're not really fussed about driving an auto, then just best the best 300zx you can find. If that turns out to be an auto, then so be it. You can always have it converted later if you fancy a manual......

 

Would love to have paddle shift tec in 300zx, you can change gears faster than a manual!

 

In principle it sounds a great idea but in practice, I have no idea how well the conversion would work on the 300zx with its 20 year old auto box. On a modern automatic car, which was designed to work with the sequential shift system, it is good; and depending on the car, probably faster than the equivalent manual. I have the 7G-tronic on my slk350, complete with the paddle shift. All I can say is that the auto merc is faster than its manual equivalent; and that the auto box in sport/auto mode can change gears faster and smoother than I can in manual mode with the paddle-shift.....

 

.....maybe I just need more practice!!!

 

Having owned both all I can say is for every day driving the auto is a dream gearbox for lazy driving around towns and high speed long range cruising on main roads. The manual box gets you more involved as you are more incharge of the car and you make it react to your style of driving.

Which is best? Well that depends on what you want I would have one of each:)

 

I can agree with that. Whilst i have not owned a manual 300zx, I did drive several during my search. But as I bought the best available example at the time, I ended up with the auto. And my current ZX is also an auto; sure I have thought about the conversion but in everyday driving, I still find the auto fast enough to satisfy and it just breezes past "lesser" vehicles with ease....

 

......plus when I happen to get stuck in a traffic jam (which let's face it, is inevitable and potentially often) then I am grateful that I stuck with the auto!!

 

I'd happily own either version as long as it's a twin turbo!!

 

Richard:thumbup1:

How much is it?

 

900£ posted and yes is still available and you get 5 gears after installing it

How hard you think it is to install?

How hard you think it is to install?

 

half a day :) check australian forums

900£ posted and yes is still available and you get 5 gears after installing it

 

Do you - how would that be since the actual gearbox only has 3 plus overdrive (not counting reverse, before anyone jumps in......LOL)....?

 

Richard:blink:

Do you - how would that be since the actual gearbox only has 3 plus overdrive (not counting reverse, before anyone jumps in......LOL)....?

 

Richard:blink:

 

Mmmmmmmagic...!

taken from twin turbo net : The SAW gave me the freedom to control gear shifting like a 5-speed manual gear box, eventhough the auto really only have 4 gears. At 4th gear, I can up-shift one more time to lock the differential, so I’ll pretend that I have a 5-speed… without the clutch! After about ten minutes of test drive, everything seemed to work as expected. I drove about three miles in manual mode, and turned around and drove back in auto mode :)