Rebuild Or Update

[R34]

With my DR30's new found grunt another issue has come to light.

Durung normal to spirited driving the gearbox is great.

But when trying harder at track daus the gearbox syncros are a bit slow and graunch a little.

Would it be better to rebuild the gearbox with new sybcros or fit a later box like others have done.

If fitting another box what works and what mods are required to make it fit?

[Ghostrider]

Z32 box is best of the best. Just needs to have the FJ front housing fitted, or fing an R33 RB25 front housing and Stewart Wilkins tells me it's just changing the 2 bottom holes. Some just elongate them to suit, but stewart blanks them and re drills.

There was an Z32 box on ebay recently for $299 in Queensland. Cheap as chips, as I paid $700 in Adelaide & the going price in WA is about $1500, very similar to an RB25 GTSt box.

Stewart also says an R32 RB20DET box is ok, not the R31 asa the synchroes are not up to the task.

If you get really stuck, drop me a PM and we will have to do some negotiating on my stock.

Cheers, D

[Factory 5]

I have a Z32 box here you ca have for cheap.... I'll never use it as my clutch foot is knackered

[R34]

Thanks guys

So from your replies do i assume that it's not worth rebuilding the FJ box?

If I get a Z32 it will probably need rebuilding anyway.

The RB 25 gearbox sounds good as long as the gearbox mounting doesn't need too many mods and the gearstick comes up in the same place.

[R34]

Been looking at the Z32 box on the net.

It seems to have a remote gearchange arrangement which differs from the FJ20 setup.

Does it bolt in easily enough?

After all the dramas of my car sitting in bits and being stuffed around by workshops i want something easy to do.

Rebuilding my gearbox would be a preferred option as that's simple

[Ghostrider]

I don't think any conversion is as easy as replacing with original. If it's going to do the job & you want an easy fix, rebuild your box would be the best way in my opinion. At least you know it's going to go straight back in and work.

[Factory 5]

The Z32 box I have hee came out of a R30, and the gearstick came up in the stock location.

The only real mods you may also need is the tailshaft.... length could be different.

[R34]

Just got the word

As a favour a transmission specialist will rebuild my gearbox for $400

So if it's not rebuildable hopefully I'll find out before you sell your z32 box Mags

[Socrates]

Which company you going through?

[DR JOSH]

Just got the word

As a favour a transmission specialist will rebuild my gearbox for $400

So if it's not rebuildable hopefully I'll find out before you sell your z32 box Mags

Have been through a rebuilt FJ box before and I wouldnt bother again myself, the syncros crapped themself pretty quickly afterwards with some spirited driving as the are fairly weak. One miss shift in the heat of the moment and they would be dead again.

As for gearbox options, I'm currently running an RB20DET twin syncro box, not the strongest box out (around the same strength as an FJ box though) but the syncros are smooth as, they are cheap (around $500) and I personally have seen them handle 200-220RWKW FJ20's fairly well with no dramas and they have very similar gear ratios as standard. Other then that there is the RB25 box if you are worried about popping boxes, you will never break a 25 box however these are expensive ($1500+)

Both need the same mods to fit which are fairly simple. Just need 2 top holes of the bell housing elongated, and your gearbox cross member will need to be modified as it sits about 1" further back, I have done 3 of these now for me and friends. Gearstick comes out in the standard position and tail shaft is the same for RB20 only need a new tail shaft for RB25/Z32 as they are longer and have a different output shaft

Then as others have said the Z32 option, I haven't mucked around with these before so dont know much about them except there are about 10 different variaties and gear ratios out there, and your looking about the same strength as an RB25 box.

Edited November 15, 2010 by DR JOSH

[Factory 5]

If my ankle wasnt so monged up I would be keeping the Z32, but I just gotta move it on.

Will look for part number/markings tonight.