5spd Dog leg Trans Prob

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Hi all,

 

Im about to purchase a 510, but it has a trans issue the current owner says... Its a 5spd Dogleg on a L18.

 

The story is that car was running fine and one day the owner decided to lower the stance of the car by adjusting the coil overs so the car would sit lower.. He got his desired stance and went driving around town.. As he was coming up his driveway he hit a small Crack/Bump and felt some thing hit. So he shut the car off and went to look underneath.  He didn't notice anything so he started it up again and when he tried going up the driveway further, would go into Gear but nothing would grab. Everything would go into gear but just not grab.. So he pushed it to its spot to where it has been sitting for a few months..

 

Im guessing it sat so low the trans cross member or something in that area hit/Bottomed out...  Maybe a clutch and or input shaft issue from bottoming out??? Anybody have any thoughts? Once I get it ill put it up on jackstands and start to look underneath, then pull out the trans to inspect further..

 

Just thought i would ask on here just incase any of you had experienced something like this..  Clutch slave cyl looked okay and hose, nothing was leaking and reservoir looked full too...

 

Any Idea what could be wrong? Maybe there is more he is not telling me Idk...

[flatcat19]

Clutch slave spring broke/vanished?

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Clutch slave spring broke/vanished?

Thanks, When I get the car I'll remove the slave and check it out further.

[datzenmike]

 

Any Idea what could be wrong? Maybe there is more he is not telling me Idk...

 

Very possible, but from the description given it could be...

 

 

See that large nut pointing down middle bottom of transmission just ahead of the mount? It has to do with flipping the reverse and first gear positions. Without it the gears would be

 

1...2..4

R..3..5... instead of ...

 

R..2..4

1..3..5.. the real dogleg pattern

 

Bet he didn't try to take off in 2nd, bet that would work. First and reverse are not available but the others probably are.

 

If no leaks the case isn't cracked but the hit may have knocked this out of alignment. Take a picture of the damage to the nut.

 

 

Clutch slave spring broke/vanished?

 

The 63A didn't have the return spring on it's slave, course a PL510 slave might have been used. Still the slave would work normally but the release bearing may not retract and rub the clutch fingers.

[flatcat19]

It will be on the outside.

 

Connected from the slave to the shift fork.

 

 

 

I only made that suggestion because it happened to me.

 

 

Have you actually seen this car move or is this the story the owner is feeding you?

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Very possible, but from the description given it could be...

 

 

See that large nut pointing down middle bottom of transmission just ahead of the mount? It has to do with flipping the reverse and first gear positions. Without it the gears would be

 

1...2..4

R..3..5... instead of ...

 

R..2..4

1..3..5.. the real dogleg pattern

 

Bet he didn't try to take off in 2nd, bet that would work. First and reverse are not available but the others probably are.

 

If no leaks the case isn't cracked but the hit may have knocked this out of alignment. Take a picture of the damage to the nut.

 

 

 

The 63A didn't have the return spring on it's slave, course a PL510 slave might have been used. Still the slave would work normally but the release bearing may not retract and rub the clutch fingers.

Thanks Mike, I'll take a pic tomorrow when I go back to look at the car.

 

flatcat19 He bought it off another member on here in a daily drivable condition almost a year ago and I've talked to the previous owner too. Current owner dove it around for about 3 months then the issue happened after he lowered it some more and hit that crack/bump in his driveway. Thats the story the current owner is telling me...

[datzenmike]

Might turn out to be an easy enough fix...

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Believe he said it would go shift into gear but  just not grab.. But yeah, It's a clean car with some tlc and some time and money I can get it on the road again and start fixing up all the small things. If its the trans ill get another but ill also replace the clutch, throwout bearing,pilot bearing and resurface the flywheel all at the sametime , and rear main seal while I have it all out. Found a DATSUN L SERIES 5spd close ratio trans too. But believe with that ill have to shorten the drive shaft. Ill get the trans number on it to be sure what trans it is.

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Would the same clutch Kit for the Dogleg also work for a 5spd close ratio? Any L series clutch kit correct? Just thought I would ask. and what brand would you recommend? Its an L18

[datzenmike]

Yes the shifter will go into position, but it's not in gear.

 

 

Number's won't help much. Take pictures of both sides of this transmission and post them. People advertise lots of stuff they don't know about but have heard. Pictures can eliminate and narrow down what it is from.

 

The FS5W71B is a far stronger transmission and is used on trucks and 6 cylinder engines so it's much stronger than the 63A dogleg you have. Yes you will have to shorten the driveshaft and modify the transmission mount.

 

The clutch does not care what transmission is behind it and the transmission does not care what clutch is ahead of it. Both are independent of each other. The only place to go wrong is mixing up the release bearing collar. The one you have now must go on the new transmission's clutch arm.

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Thank you Mike. 

 

Ill get pics of that close ratio 5spd for sale. But ill also look into the FS5W71B. Really appreciate your and everyone else's help! Thank you.

[SK8R SURFR 510]

I remember too that I have a 5speed out of my 1986 d21 Hardbody in great shape, took it out when i put in a Ka24et in my truck. Gonna look up what that d21 hardbody trany is..

[Lockleaf]

its a 71B

[That4doorKiD]

I had this exact problem with my dogleg!! Check the fluid inside it may be contaminated and worn out on the inside.

 

Mine would shift into gear but nothing would grab.

 

I had to get it repaired and I have a 4 speed in there now, soon to swap it back. I changed out all this stuff like you and in the end it was the tranny :lol:

[SK8R SURFR 510]

its a 71B

Thanks Lockleaf you are correct, just looked at it. So that one will not work correct? 

[SK8R SURFR 510]

Thanks, That4DoorKid. they say what it was that went bad?

[Lockleaf]

Yes that d21 trans will work. BUT - you need to swap bellhousings from your current trans on to the d21 trans.

 

The d21 that year had a Z24 and while they have the exact same bolt pattern to mount the trans as an L series, it's rotated around maybe 15 or 20 degrees. Bolting that trans to an L series would result in the shifter sticking in to the car on a serious lean.

 

The swap is covered quite well on here, but you will have to search it out.

 

Also, the trans is likely a different length, so driveshaft work will be needed.

[SK8R SURFR 510]

LockLeaf, Thank you yes it had the Z24 Napz with 8plugs. Okay thanks. I recall looking at the swap on here months back. Ill look for it again. 

 

Yeah I remember other members describing the drive shaft shortening and the shortening lengths for each diff trans.

[flatcat19]

Bell housing on current trans will not work.

 

You need the bell from an L-series 71b. Not 63a(dogleg.)

 

 

What length is your D21 trans? They came in either length depending on body they came out of.

[datzenmike]

I remember too that I have a 5speed out of my 1986 d21 Hardbody in great shape, took it out when i put in a Ka24et in my truck. Gonna look up what that d21 hardbody trany is..

 

 

its a 71B

 

Actually it's an FS5W71C. The changeover was 86.5. The 720s ended '86.5 and had 71B transmissions. The D-21 Hardbody was a half year model ('86.5) and had the 71C transmission. The S12 switched from 71B to 71C transmissions in .... '86.5.

 

 

 

 

Thank you Mike.

 

Ill get pics of that close ratio 5spd for sale. But ill also look into the FS5W71B. Really appreciate your and everyone else's help! Thank you.

 

Well from your description it is a close ratio 71B from an '81-'83 280zx non turbo. There were also mid ratio and wide ratio transmissions on other vehicles depending on their use. Can't tell from the outside. A picture can sometimes tell if it isn't.

[SK8R SURFR 510]

FlatCat19, I'll Measure it tomorrow when i get a chance. Numbers on my 86.5 D21 trans: Tail end has the 5W71C number, Bellhousing Says ZL71B #3 NMCA.

[datzenmike]

71B and 71C front cases are interchangable (well some earlier ones need some mods but the bolt pattern to the tail is the same. As far as that goes the '85 and up Z24 71B front case will be the same as the early Z24i case from a 71C. The 71C rear tails are totally different from the 71Bs.

[Lockleaf]

Man I couldn't have gotten that more wrong. Sorry. Glad these guys cleared it up.

[datzenmike]

It's OK. B and C is the shifter style used and the most easily recognized difference.

[SK8R SURFR 510]

71B and 71C front cases are interchangable (well some earlier ones need some mods but the bolt pattern to the tail is the same. As far as that goes the '85 and up Z24 71B front case will be the same as the early Z24i case from a 71C. The 71C rear tails are totally different from the 71Bs.

So will my 71C still work with the dogleg bell housing? I'm a bit confused.