Jump to content

Tranny shop in Seattle Area? - dogleg rebuild


mapball

Recommended Posts

I finally have time (and money!) to give my lil hustler the attention that it needs.  Everything was running fine until I decided to "upgrade" the stock 4 speed to a dogleg (FS5W63A).  Love the extra gear, but the bearings were SHOT!  :mad: ​  argh...

 

Now I cant find any shop willing to work on it.  Any recommended shops out there?  I really miss driving this truck as often as I used to, so much that i'd be willing to live with the 4 speed!  Except, that I love getting out of town with this truck and gear 5 makes for a relaxing ride.  Any advice would be appreciated!

 

Mark

Link to comment
  • Replies 59
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

I definitely will consider changing out the rear end, thanks for the suggestion Rick.  Any issues hauling heavier loads with your setup?  I'm running an L20 so i assume i'd have a bit more low end grunt to get by with.  I like to us the truck for hauling things like garbage runs, or concrete/paver runs from home depot.  I want to eventually use it to haul motorcycles.

 

Every shop I have called, it seems the moment i mention 70's datsun they say they cant do it or they send me down a dead end referral.  I might have to see if i can source the parts myself, pull the tranny and drop it off at a shop and say here you fix, me pay. Either that or gather the courage and do it myself! 

 

 

24381010352_8abe635a84_k.jpg

 

 

any suggestion on where to get the parts I would appreciate that as well.

Link to comment

It probably will be harder on you clutch, I never hauled over 100 lbs in the back of mine

 

 

 

That truck looks familiar, where did you get it?

 

 

Put an ad in the classifieds for a transmission, someone must have one, or try facebook, lots of parts there too

Link to comment

I bought my kit American Powertrain: http://www.americanpowertrainwarehouse.com/fs5w71-fs5w71a-fs5w71c-fs5w71e-fs5w71g-fs5w71h/

It didn't have all the bearings, but it had most of them.

On the needle bearing inside 1st gear, the race was screwed by too many clutch dumps, but I was able to find an industrial replacement that was just 2mm too long, and was easily shortened in my lathe with a tool post grinder.

It did have all the seals, & syncros.

 

I can tell you, the 71B is much easier than the Toyota counterpart, the W-series.

The W-series needed a special puller made for each gear, and syncro assembly.

Most of the gears in the 71B just slid off the shafts, just like in the 4-speed that was in my 311.

Only a couple of items needed a puller, and then it didn't take much.

 

If you decide to dive into it yourself, here is the manual on line: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/280z/1978/MT%20Manual%20Transmission.pdf

  • Like 1
Link to comment

L20B and hauling things??? Better get a 71B from a later year 620 or z/zx 810 car. The dogleg won't stand up to that for long. Fix and sell to a 510 owner with a 600 pound lighter car and 1/6 liter engine. The 71B is made to handle a six cylinder 2.4 to 2.8 liter engine.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

The dogleg won't stand up to that for long.

Hey mike my tranny was acting up from water getting inside cause I added tranny fluid that was contaminated.(didn't know til after) It was running for about 2 months good and recently it took a dump.

 

My L-16 revs high and I barely start moving=no acceleration, I need to give it gas slowly and release the clutch super slow. 

 

At first I thought it was my clutch wearing out, but I replaced it and pressure plate, TO bearing etc... and the clutch wasn't the problem.. SO HOW bad is my tranny damaged? Any Ideas,

 

and PS I really dont want to take it out again

Link to comment

water was in my transmission

Yea.. so.

 

In there is a bunch of gears. Some syncros.. bearings. If anything went wrong with any of those parts it would either not shift into gear.. you would be missing gears entirely, it would make droning noises for bad bearings, it would lockup or make horrible crunching noises.

 

Water is not good for a transmission, but it wouldn't cause your symptoms. Long term it would cause severe damage.. leading to what I mentioned above.

 

Move the car somewhere like the middle of a residential road. Make sure there is plenty of space in front of you.. as in nothing anywhere around your car. Apply the brake. Release the clutch and shift into 5th. Rev the engine up and dump the clutch. If the engine doesn't die immediately, your clutch is slipping. If it's difficult to get the clutch to dis-engage by pressing the pedal.. or you have to double clutch to get it in and out of gear, then you have an issue with the master/slave.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

My L-16 revs high and I barely start moving=no acceleration, I need to give it gas slowly and release the clutch super slow. 

 

 

Sounds like engine power related. If it idles but has severe lack of grunt to pull away from a start then primary jet part blocked? timing out? 

Link to comment

changing gears.. (yes, pun intended) I'm taking a look at this tonight http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/5404870704.html and Bill (who I'm sure some of you know) said he would swap the case to allow it to work on my truck.  This is not a 71B no? but should work fine with my setup??

24530693305_d8a7303938_z.jpg

 

 

Oliver seems like a good dude and I will definitely check with him on sourcing a rebuild kit, but he's not had time to take a closer look at my truck.  He's either really busy or real lazy - but it's been since around early DEC that ive been trying to throw money his way and he keeps pushing me out a couple of weeks.

 

Rick, I picked this truck up from datdoug a few years ago.  Remember this blustery day?

23886608043_c0d497b31f_c.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.