ZSpeed solid shifter mount and Z1/350Z upgraded clutch release fork

I put these parts into my car when doing the TT swap and have been driving around for a little while now so thought I would add some comments.

Zspeed solid shifter mount:
http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_11&products_id=4778

The standard shifter support has a rubber support which is known to fail with age and your shifter will drop towards the propshaft. The zspeed mount (left, standard mount on the right) mounts solid to the gearbox and supports the shifter without the plate and rubber support.






I really only bought this so that I don't have to worry about the standard part failing when I'm at a track day or far away from home. The shifter feel is more direct which I like. Downside is since it's solid mounted to the gearbox it moves with the box under acceleration/braking/turning/engine torque so you may notice a bit of gear stick vibration/movement but I've got new engine and trans mounts so it's not bad at all really.
It also comes with a new gear stick rubber boot/insulator which looks pretty good compared to the standard part, even though it's hidden by your gear stick boot. If you had a track car without an interior it would look pretty good.





Z1/350Z upgraded clutch release fork
http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_11&products_id=5119

I read on 3ZC that the standard fork can flex a fair bit (someone mentioned 5mm) when you use a heavy clutch so the solid 350Z release fork is supposed to fix this. I haven't really got anything to compare to since the car was converted from NA to TT with a new clutch so I can't say if it's an improvement over the standard part in my case. It comes with a new pivot ball to suit and thrust bearing carrier.

 

thanks for the review ..

was looking at getting these .

 

Speaking of this, I've run into a headache just today with the CZP Pivot Ball that comes with the Upgraded Fork... be weary when buying from the US.

Apparently our "JDM" Zeds have a different thread to the American Zed Gearboxs. See below.

(...for those curious, the reason the CZP Pivot Ball is smaller is it was specifically designed that way to work in conjunction with the different Fork.)

I know the items mentioned are from Z1, but logic would dictate they may also be the same incorrect thread for us... unless you've bought a US Gearbox of course.

Coz is yet to get back to me on a solution.





MoulaZX

 

Glad you had more luck.

Not saying its going to happen all the time, just shared an experience, hopefully it can avert someone else's annoying occurrence.

By the way, any chance for some pictures of your two Pivot Balls side by side like my pictures? (Yea I know that sounded dirty, get over it )

MoulaZX

 

Also interested in this as I just ordered the updated 350Z fork from coz too.

 

Reason for updated fork

FYI to all, the reason I ordered the fork is I have the Southbend DXD OFE-X clutch which is feramic on both sides and the pressure plate is quite stuff. I have adjusted the booster rod way beyond what should reasonably be required and it still doesn't disengage perfectly. The only thing I can put this down to is fork flex with the force required to actuate the extremely stiff pressure plate. I will be very interested to see what the results are as they have been extremely positive on TT.net so far.

 

You've got a US Gearbox champ... or, you have an Aus-Spec Gearbox which happens to have the same thread as the US Gearboxes. Either way, glad it wasn't a hassle for you.

MoulaZX

 

Good idea and helps for more positive gear change. We made a custom Chrome Molly frame in cabin triangle thing to replace the stock rubber one. I have it here somewhere, you can have it Rob. Also goes with a stiff Urethane gear box mount. Light weight to 354 grams compared with stock 1240 grams.

Even our high tensile pivot balls are wasted down.

THE TOP BALL IS ALSO LINISHED SMOOTH FOR LESS WEAR ON THE CLUTCH FORK

4140 STEEL HEAT TREATED TO 52 ROCK WELL GIVES MAXIMUM OF 50 TONNE TENSILE STRENGTH

FACTORY WEIGHT IS 70.7g . UAS PIVOT BALL IS STONGER AND WEIGHS ONLY 62.5g

 

http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1230042&postcount=100

For those curious. Did a write up in my Build Thread. Many pictures included.

Hope it helps.

MoulaZX

 

Clutch pivot ball was upgraded for last gearbox supersession. New pivot ball is stronger than previous and also has a different thread size as you discovered. This change took place in late 96 as far as I can work out from TSB's.

 

On the money. Can't see Nissan in Japan f^&*ing about on their assembly lines making different threads for JDM USDM and AUSDM ... think about it

 

What I don't understand is if the change was made from '96 and onwards... that would mean the majority would have the larger thread and '96 onwards (the minority / aka me...) would have the smaller thread, but this is exactly the opposite of whats happened. I arrive to this conclusion because I am pretty damn confident theres a lot of sub '96 Gearboxes running around out there and the '96+ are the rare ones. But the last thing Eric told me was that I did indeed have a early model Box probably '89 or '90. Still a little confused about it all, but meh. End of the day, I got mine sorted.

MoulaZX

 

I've never seen the small threaded pivot ball in a manual gearbox. I've seen inside <10 though.

 

Hey with all the thousands of different parts and multitude of vendors out there it's not hard to imagine them sending you the wrong part. Simple solution ... contact them ... tell them about the problem ...

 

I take you didn't read my link then eh? This was my first step.

I also looked around, I couldn't find anyone selling the larger threaded Pivot Ball. They all seemed to be the smaller 'newer' thread.

MoulaZX

 

Yep great writeup indeed. BUT I think the more logical explanation is that some of those pivot balls were just made with the wrong thread. Now where do you think the gear boxes that were fitted to USD Zds came from ... yep the same factory in Japan that all the other gearboxes were made. As far as I am aware Nissan did not duplicate their entire Zed manufacturing capability in the US and then retooled the bellhousing manufacturing line to give the pivot ball a different thread just for the US market.

 

So thats your explanation? The factories one day started spitting out Gearboxes with different threads & corresponding larger thread Pivot Balls to match? Seem mighty unlikely... They were specifically and purposely OEM made. Simple as that. Just can't seem to get definitive proof, when or why or for how long they were like this. Eric is the only one to offer anything close to an 'official source'. Would really like to chase it up more though. What makes this even more interesting is hearing Chrispy has never seen the smaller thread type.

Also, its not like they only made two Gearboxes, Manual & Auto... theres four. An NA & TT version of both. Thats four different versions (only 2 of which are applicable ofcourse), and thats not counting various updates over the years. Suggesting they just accidentally made the wrong thread for a while seems silly.

Happy to be proven wrong. Not intending to start an argument. I'm just not convinced yet.

MoulaZX