The project car

[nyeark]

Holy crap you guys the boards are BACK, I'm so excited

I crunched my DD F31 vert over a curb about 6yrs ago like a noobtard :(

Bought a crappy protege as a new DD and began the project

I got a deal on S13 TEIN Super Drift coils, put them on plus S13 LCAs, tension rods, tierods...but then found out the crossmember was jacked :( I looked and looked but couldn't find another f31 xmember, and life got in the way of doing much else

After some years, I got my personal stuff settled, got rid of the protege and bought a 6MT G35 that was pre-modded as a DD - I got the itch to M30 again

Fast forward to a few months ago, I decided I couldn't just let it sit in my garage, so I set out again to fix it. The boards were gone by then, so somehow I had this incorrect idea that an S13 crossmember would fit with some relatively minor mods - pretty sure that only works if you're using an SR/RB or whatever. Anyway, after finding out the hard way that an S13 front xmember DOESN'T work with the VG (BTW it's for sale if you're doing a motor swap and need one) I tried again and got lucky and found a pristine f31 xmember in Dallas :D

Driving the car again was great, especially on S13 coils, but it needed more work. The bushings were all shot so the ride was still janky and the automatic was...well, you know. So I put it on jackstands again and tore it apart.

Poly bushings all the way around, complete, and a 5-speed swap is nearing completion. I'll get moar pics soon, just been too busy lol.

[nyeark]

As promised, more pics, one of my roommates just helped me finish up the clutch pedal install and bleed the brakes. Will probably chuck on the flywheel and clutch tonight, after that just need some last parts to mount the trans, then a driveshaft, and it's done!....well, sort of. Needs a new shifter, but that can wait till I got scratch for a proper short-shifter.

Front swaybar bushings, these are Energy Suspension S14 bushings, there's a how-to I made in the tech section on getting these to fit. Also there is S13 front LCA bushings that aren't shown.

Megan S13 tension rods...whatevs. I needed extra length on the tension rods to get a proper alignment and these were the only cheap ones I could find that would work.

Tein Super Drift S13 coils:

More bushings (z31), in the rear this time, for subframe, LCAs and swaybar:

Begone, slushbox!

Its replacement (z32):

Test fitting maxima flywheel to the crank

Test fitting the maxima clutch cover to flywheel, looks OK

Two pedals, z31 brake pedal arm installed:

What the brake pedal looks like under the dash

Three pedals, z31 clutch pedal assy installed:

Master cylinder installed with Z1 single-piece Z32 clutch line; it's not attached to the cylinders yet but it does fit:

[f31roger]

nice!

[strikevalk]

awesome! good job with the bushings maintenance! Loving the detailed pictures as well!

[nyeark]

Thanks guys, it's been a journey so far but I've learned a lot and it's nearly done, getting really excited :D

I actually ran into a small snag the other day when trying to install the pilot bushing, I'll document it here so others can hopefully avoid it. Basically the problem is, nissan engines (maybe other makes too, I don't know) that are mated to autotragics have what's called a 'pilot converter'; it's a big steel donut that goes where the pilot bushing normally would, and fulfills the same function (supports the end of the transmission input shaft), but for automatic transmissions. You can see the size difference between it and the bronze pilot bushing.

While it looks like the pilot bushing presses into this piece, that is not the case, and if you try you'll damage/destroy the pilot bushing since it is made of soft bronze.

You MUST remove the pilot converter to install the pilot bushing, and it's a bitch. I tried prying it out, twisting it via vicegrips, and at one point took a dremel to it, but backed off because I was too nervous about damaging the rear main seal or something. Do yourself a favor and spend $20 at harbor freight for one of these:

Here is what the pilot converter looks like when installed, it's the silver donut in the center of the flywheel. Notice how it protrudes past the surface of the flywheel.

Here is the pilot converter removed and the pilot bushing installed in its place. Note how the new bushing is flush against the surface of the crank hole.

I don't have any pics of the actual removal, but it's pretty straightforward once you have the tool. Hope this helps somebody :)

Having cleared this hurdle, there's not much left; new solid aluminum transmission mount plus some other bits and bobs to refresh the 5-speed should arrive tomorrow, and a friend is coming in from out of town over the weekend to stab the trans in. After that, just need a driveshaft and away we go!

[f31roger]

Yes!

You should move this to the tech man!

[nyeark]

Yeah I'm honestly thinking of just doing a whole new Z32 5-speed writeup; ONEVIA's was a good start but I think I can fill in some gaps. I've got pix and stuff for the brake pedal arm swap too that would make more sense as part of a whole swap writeup as opposed to standing alone.

[f31roger]

Onevia aka Renny I think also has pictures too, just needs to upload them.

I've been trying to reconnect links that don't work. Many of the topics are still there, but the linking is different, so its tracking them down and changing the old links to new.

I started a bit on the auto to 5spd thread.

[nyeark]

That's awesome you were able to fix the links, I'd totally forgotten about the other writeups since the links were dead. Lol wish they'd been working before I started buying stuff, I wasted some money on crap I didn't need or that wouldn't work that the writeups addressed directly :/

[strikevalk]

would you still happen to have the old slush gear shifter and assembly?

[nyeark]

would you still happen to have the old slush gear shifter and assembly?

Sure do, I haven't thrown away anything since starting work on the car. Lol I even still have the bent shocks and control arms from 6 years ago cause I don't have a way to get rid of them. I'm thinking of trying to reuse the bottom metal plate for the shifter hole, but I haven't even looked at it yet, the old auto shifter's still sitting on the shelf.


Last night did a refresh on the 5-speed box, knocked out the last of the 'minor' bits before installing the trans and then getting a driveshaft made and installed. I'm sure something else will come up, but for now it's really close to being back on the road. Also it occurred to me randomly the other day that this is a '92, so the inspection I got a few months ago will be the last time it has to be emission-tested - in TX cars older than 25yrs are exempt from emissions :D

Old striking rod boot, torn to pieces. The striking rod is the piece that connects the shifter to the transmission, since it isn't mounted in it directly like a Z31 trans. To replace the boot, the whole striking rod has to be removed, which involves punching out a roll pin and then tapping a new one in to reinstall the striking rod. If you need to do this, here is a helpful guide: https://z32.wikispaces.com/Transmission+Shifter+Striker

New striking rod boot installed:

Clutch fork to pivot ball clip/spring, old on the left. You can see the old one is jacked and bent; it might have still worked, but it was maybe $3 to replace it, so why not? Also replaced the pivot ball itself, which was probably a good thing because the existing one was only finger-tight :O

Old Z32 transmission mount - same as the M30, or as near as makes no difference. Either way, old rotten saggy rubber goes into the trash. The Z32 mount still had the nissan sticker on it, so I think it had probably been replaced at some point. This is why I chose to go solid; even a brand new OEM mount will be jacked like these in a few years' time. The Z1 mount I picked up is cheaper too, less than both NISMO and OEM.

New, solid aluminum mount, from Z1 motorsports:

[f31clubadmin]

Nice!

I wonder what the differences are with the VG30DE.

I kinda want to that swap down the line, but in another.


Great pix and resources.

[nyeark]

would you still happen to have the old slush gear shifter and assembly?

Did you need the shifter? I have some sheet steel I can use to make a new plate so just let me know.

[nyeark]

The back of the project has been broken, the 5-speed is in! Friend of mine came down on Friday to help stab the trans and bleed the clutch. I need to pick up new trans->engine bolts since some of the m30 bolts are too short, but the trans is mated.

Bolting up the flywheel, clutch & pressure plate

Using the $100 harbor freight transmission jack to lift it into place. We battled it for about 2 hours but it wasn't too bad since the jack means you don't have to bench-press the thing.

How the shifter will sit, sort of - still need to pick up a mazworks bracket and short-shifter

Me bein a goofball lol. Still need to reinstall the driver's seat now that the pedals are done.

Also it turns out that the master cylinder has an adjustment screw on the bottom. Don't tighten this unless you need to! I tightened it up since it was pretty loose out of the box and I assumed it should be snug, this resulted in the master cylinder not moving any fluid at all. Backed the screw off a few turns and was then able to bleed it properly. Good news is the Z1 one-piece clutch line worked perfectly, fits both cylinders and the length is just right.

I also found a front half of a Z32 M/T driveshaft that I'll buy so I can get it and the m30 driveshaft cut, welded and balanced. Barring any catastrophes, should have it on the road in the next month or so.

[f31roger]

Awesome man!!

If you find an M30 in the junkyard, let people on here know. Some people are looking for misc. parts.