J15 compatable transmissions?

[Fogdart]

I've got a J15 with a 4 speed floor shift in my 320. Transmission works decent but you gotta' shift gentle to avoid synchro grind. There seems to be no syncro in 1st...is that normal?

 

Are parts available to rebuild these or are there other transmissions (dogleg 5 speed) that would mate up to the J15 without much modification? thanks...

[datsunaholic]

You probably have the original 320 trans in there- the one that came off the E1. They didn't have synchros in 1st. It's possible you have a J-series trans, but the input/output splines were different from the 320 trans, and the mounts were significantly different. Plus they had synchros in 1st. If you look under the truck and see a square pan on the bottom of the trans with a bolt in the middle, it's a J-series trans from 66-69.

 

Unfortunately that's your only options unless you want to go the route of making a custom adapter plate and then figure out how to make the later type clutch work on the older flywheel. The only place that had 5-speeds on J-series engines was Australia as far as I know, and they're rare as hens teeth.

[ggzilla]

Since you have the J15 engine, you won't need an adapter to fit the J-series tranmission. Just the correct plate between the engine and tranmission.

 

Like Doug said, the J transmission should not grind even a little shifting to first gear. But the original 320 truck tranmission SHOULD grind unless you have the truck stopped.

 

If you post photos of the transmission in your truck, we can advise on compatible transmissions.

[datzenmike]

F4W63 4 speed for J engine 520 truck

 

 

 

 

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[Fogdart]

Thanks for the info. This is the transmission and engine. Looks to be the original tranny, not the j series....is that correct?

 

 

 

[datzenmike]

Great picture all I have is this one and it was labeled 520 3 speed??

 

 

So it's really a 4 speed non synchro first then???

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[Fogdart]

That's what mine is and they sure look identical. Zero synchro action in 1st. 2,3 and 4 grind a bit if I shift aggressively. Anyone rebuilt one of these or am I better off looking for a J series? Would be nice to have syncros in 1st.

[ggzilla]

Yep that looks like a stock 320 4-speed (for E1 1200cc engine). Non-synchro first.

 

Datsun 3-speeds and 4-speeds generally have the same case, but the 3-speed would be column shift, with linkage on the trans instead of a shifter. The floor shift was an option in 1965.

 

The 520 with J13 uses the same type of transmission. I've been told the engine plate differens J13 to E1, but the transmission bolt patterns are the same.

[wayno]

They made a 3 speed column shift also? Both mine are 4 speed column shift.

[ggzilla]

Every Datsun 3-speed I've ever seen was column shift, both cars and trucks. In US or Japan or other countries. They didn't sell many 3-speeds in US.

[datzenmike]

So this is possibly a 3 speed?

 

 

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[ggzilla]

It's definitely a remote-shift R tranmission (not floor shift, F). But four speeds came in R version too.

 

Both 320 and 520 trans have the little dipstick on the top, like in your photo.

[zenndog]

I have a 4 speed column shift in my 1964 320, mated to a J13. Grinds in first.

 

I think the 4 speed looks similar but one of those shift levers will slide in and out. I was trying to watch how it worked one time so I could figure out how it might need to be adjusted.

[Pedro]

Anyone know if the column shift mechanism of a 3 speed J series manual column shift box works on a J15 column shift box?

 

Hoping to upgrade the 3 speed in my 411 wagon (aus delivered).

[ggzilla]

Yes, the column shift mechanism of a 3 speed J series manual column shift box works on a J15 column shift box.

[Oz620]

so is there a 5 speed conversion available out there? would something from an MGB fit, anyone in the know?

[datzenmike]

Not that I know of... possibly.  J18s were sold in Mexico maybe there was one for them.

 

I thought MGs used Datsun A series 5 speeds.

[wayno]

The MG guys are using a ford 5 speed now, the A series 5 speeds are kinda hard to find, and are very expensive.

There were so many guys making them Datsun 5 speed kits that they are all over the place now waiting for a 5 speed to show up.

[320 Newb]

While we're on the subject of 320s with J15s I've got one with 4 on the column. I took off the shift lever last night and a broken spring and little cupped washer fell out. 

 

How important is that little spring to the function of the lever? I drove the truck around for a few weeks and I'm assuming the little spring was broken. I don't think I broke it taking it out. 

[datzenmike]

I'm guessing it provides a little push into the 3/4 gate so you don't go up into first on the two to three shift? You may have noticed that in the neutral gate there was slight effort to lift the lever towards you to get to the first/second gate?

[320 Newb]

^^^ Makes sense. There was definitely no "little push" when I was learning the shift pattern--you have to know exactly where you want to shift or you'll end up grinding gears. Finding reverse took me about a week. 

 

I'll keep my eyes open for a replacement spring but I'm not sure I understand how the spring and cupped washer go back in.

[wayno]

I'm guessing it provides a little push into the 3/4 gate so you don't go up into first on the two to three shift? You may have noticed that in the neutral gate there was slight effort to lift the lever towards you to get to the first/second gate?

The 4 speed on the column 320 truck has kinda a weird shift pattern, basically away from you and up is 1st, away from you and down is 2nd, towards you and up is 3rd, and towards you and down is 4th, now reverse is away from you in neutral, then pulled the shift lever out towards the passenger side, then way away from you and down, no one is ever going to steal one of these column shift trucks unless they know how to shift it, as they will never find reverse, especially if it has sat for a while, as the shift lever gets gummed up and doesn't move all that easily.

The spring is to keep one from going past the 1st/2nd gear selection when pushing the shift lever away from you by accident, as you have to pull the lever out against the spring tension to get to the reverse area of the neutral gate, without the spring when one pushes away you could also push it sideways/out and go right past 1st/2nd.

The 4 speed on the column transmission is a strange animal to me, they are weird, 2 levers, 5 different gears, I pulled one apart to understand how it worked, but I suppose that is how most column shift transmissions work.

[320 Newb]

Wayno, do you think I'll encounter any major problems driving it without the spring? 

[wayno]

Wayno, do you think I'll encounter any major problems driving it without the spring? 

As long as your driving it like they were meant to be driven, I don't see any issues unless you are trying to down shift into 2nd as you might not hit the stop without the spring, if your going to try and shift it like a race car, get a 521 with a floor shift.

Here are a few photos of an intact shift lever, although it is no good because the lever/arm has been bent, so the spring action part don't work properly anymore.

 

 

 

[320 Newb]

Thanks for the pictures that helps a lot. If I can find a replacement spring it'll be easy to put back. 

 

And I have no intentions of driving it like a race car. I'm running stock drum brakes and driving slow is the only thing that keeps it safe.