PlanoSER

I blew out my third gear (MT) and I was curious if the 6th gen LSD 6spd transmission would be a direct swap on my 5.5gen?

knight_yyz

iTrader: (40)

yes it is. Did the swap on my car. It's a taller gear ratio so you will accelerate a little faster, with a lower top end.

PlanoSER

wow thx! i was looking at the service manual pictures and it looks like the starter is in a different location? is that true? does the motor mount location line up perfectly? Can I use my 02 axles?

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

Everything is exactly the same. The starter is in the same position and you use your axles. The only difference is where one of the shifter cables connects to the transmission. You just use the connector from your old transmission.

This is an excellent swap. The shifting is smoother and the HLSD really improves the handling and exceleration.

You can also sell your old transmission to a rebuild shop. I called a few and got $150 for it.

PlanoSER

After calling around junkyards in the country, I'm able to find a few Altima SE-R 6MT transmissions in decent shape for a decent price, however they are unable to confirm w/ me whether it is a locking diff or not -- I'm trying to figure out did all the Altima SE-R's come w/ the HLSD or was it an option? Thanks for the input guys. About to pull the trigger on one of these today, just trying to make sure I get the best option for the money.

a33i30

iTrader: (4)

this type of tranny wont work with the 5th gen 3.0 right?

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

IIRC, the Alti 6MTs did not come with HLSD. I think even on nissanclub.com they were talking about swapping to Maxima and Sentra 6MTs to get HLSD.

taaron39

On that same note would a 6th Gen auto tranny work well in 5.5 gen and or directly fit in the 5.5 gen?
Ha....... I was just going to post something on this...

DrunkieTheBear

iTrader: (17)

Yes its possible.

You would have to get the axles for it as well

a33i30

iTrader: (4)

k thanks, i want to change the 4 speed in my car, i dont like the ratios, im thinking either this or a 20th anv. 6 speed. which might go in easier, its meant for the 3.0

CaTalyst.X

iTrader: (6)

20th anny did not come with a 6spd my friend But it is a VLSD 5-Spd

-Ryan

a33i30

iTrader: (4)

:/ my bad i got mixed up

Majestic Ken

iTrader: (5)

I'll be doing this swap in january also. plano let me know if you found one and how everything will be going. I'll be using one that was rebuilt and nissan will install+warranty on it too. 600 for tranny and i think he said 400 for labor. i could have someone else do it though

zero2sixtyZ

iTrader: (30)

Plano! Your times keep getting better, and should even more with the better accelerating 6th gen 6-speed. I'm looking into this swap as well, hopefully with a fidanza/HR clutch. I think there was someone on the .org who swapped out the physical 6th gear for better econ. Basically, 1-5th closer ratios, 6th like the 5.5 gen.

PlanoSER

Thanks, yeah I havn't been since I put the new clutch and suspension on, hopefully between that and better weather can drop a tenth or two.

I really have no desire to open up the tranny and swap anything out; I can do a clutch/tranny swap but have never been inside a transmission before and wouldn't know what i'm doing when it comes to that. As a result of the 6th gen trans: I don't mind higher revs b/c my gas milage already sux so I'm used to it

Ken: you know a guy that can rebuild for 600?? Or just a one time deal, let me know if you have some kinda hook-up!

Merlyn

iTrader: (4)

The question has already been answered but...

I have had an 04 HLSD 6-speed in my maxima (direct bolt-up)

Also have now an 06 HLSD 6-speed in my maxima (direct bolt-up)

the 06 has stronger syncros so I decided to with that over the 04 when it died....

it does work

PlanoSER

Thanks Merlyn, I've been trying to verify on the 2006 6MT transmissions if theyre all HLSD or was it just an option? whenever I call the junkyards on an '06 tranny they are telling me they only list non-locking trans's for that year. Just trying to make sure I get a "good" one, and havn't been able to dig anything up after searching around this morning.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

FWIW the '06 FSM doesn't even show the RS6F51H as an option, but it does in '05 and '04.

How much are you looking to spend? For ~$2k you can get a brand new one.

HotshotVQ35

iTrader: (5)

question for you guys getting the 6th gen tranny..are you guys original owners or did you buy your cars used?

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

What difference does it make? It's people either replacing their trans because of wear, or because they want the shorter FD or the HLSD.

PlanoSER

Don't know if this helps give you insight, but my brother is the original owner, and the car had 2 month old RedlineMT in it when 3rd gear [exploded] for lack of a better word.
I think I found an '04 HLSD tranny I'm about to order after numerous searches/calls around to junkyards. Just a headsup, alot of these are listed as locking-diff tranny's but after I make a few calls and check into them further, the yard reps finally realize that the unit they have is in fact NOT a locking (HLSD) trans.

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

If you call Dave B. he can tell you what years had HLSD and how to read the trans code. He was very helpful when I was searching for mine. The salvage yard will be able to give you the code. Also, get the VIN and confirm the mileage from the history report.

While you're speaking to Dave order your self a 350Z clutch to go in at the same time.

You can also visualy inspect the transmission and tell if it's HLSD. If you look through the axle holes on either tranny you can see out the other side. On the HLSD you can see through with nothing in the way. You'll see a perfect circle. On the open diff tranny there is a round bar in the way partially blocking the view through. You'll see a half circle.

Here are a few more threads on the subject. They mostly say the same thing but but they could be helpfull.

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...h-gen-one.html

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...-spd-hlsd.html

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...r-has-lsd.html

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ear-grind.html

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Thanks for digging those up, Derrick.

Here's one to add to the collection, a discussion on finding a taller 5th and 6th gear to try to get the best of both worlds.

http://forums.maxima.org/all-motor/373331-mfa60.html

PlanoSER

Thanks for all the help guys, pulled the trigger on an 04 HLSD trans yesterday for 850+75core+tax, came out to just under 1G and they are freighting it to their store in my area free of charge, as well as including a 6month warranty. The unit has 66K on it, about half of what my car has on it now. Hopefully it will turn out to be a good trans for me; I'm really looking forward to the change in FD and the HLSD. I previously had a Spec-V and really missed the HLSD -- fwd sux but that made it alot more fun

throttlehappy46

Found this:
NON HLSD final drive assembly:


HLSD Final Drive Assembly:


RS6F51H Complete Gearbox assembly here for under $2K.

Had trouble identifying the 2004 onwards HLSD gearbox from THIS listing though, anyone able to identify?

Also, where do you guys go for parts? PlanoSER I am interested to hear where you got your box from for that price

Stereodude

Does that mean you can just buy a new final drive assembly and swap it out?

I think this is the part.

I'm 99.9% sure I toasted my HLSD by doing a lot of "donuts" in reverse in a wet parking lot not too long after I got the car.

throttlehappy46

From what I can gather, yes. Under $600 is a damn good price too

Some of us Australian guys are paying over $1500 for a LSD here

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Yes, you can swap the HLSD unit itself. Part number 38411-8U010.

But FWIW the HLSD is purely mechanical, I don't believe there's a way to 'toast' it as you would a viscous diff.

Stereodude

FWIW, Courtesy says part 38411Z is a Viscous LSD.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Yea, FAST is retarded at times. But given there was no RS6F51V, it's just a typo on their part.

Stereodude

Well, there are gears and mechanical pieces in a HLSD (picture) that cause it to engage. Those could get stripped causing it to no longer function properly.

All I can tell you is my car is a peg-leg wheelspin fiend now, and has been for several years, whereas it wasn't at the beginning. I'm guessing that the reverse donuts were the cause. There is also some noise from the transmission when the steering wheel is cranked all the way to either side at low speeds when the two output shafts from the transmission have the greatest difference between them in RPM.

throttlehappy46

Sounds like you have stripped the helix gears They are the ones that join the two sides of the diff together.

Eaton Truetracs 'can' get the same problem. It is caused by the wheels having more than 3:1 or 5:1 torque difference(I think it is 3:1 on the Nissan HLSD) which reverse donuts could cause if the front end was to 'whip' around quite quickly while spinning and then grab traction.

I know of the original supplier of these diffs and I am currently trying to source spare part numbers for HLSD rebuilds

throttlehappy46

I also need to do some checking but I believe that based on some info I have found that the HLSD can be fitted to the RS5F50 series box

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

I see what you did there

Nissan uses the same part code for every group of things, like oil filters, diffs, etc. The part number, however, depends on model and year.

And FWIW it's RS5F05, not 50, and RS6F51, not RS5F51.

After having held both an RS6F51H diff and an RS5F05A diff, they seem to be completely different sizes. I highly doubt they're swappable. That is to say, overall size seems way off, unlike the HLSD and open diffs for the RS6F51, where they're relatively close (and swappable). More like RS5F05A vs RS5F05V, where the cases are different to accomodate the different diffs.

throttlehappy46

It is the RS5F50 series gearbox, I had one in my GTiR and currently have one in my Pulsar. 1991~1999 Sentra came with RS5F32 series. Can be confirmed HERE

Also:

Clearly shows the RS5F50A has the same open diff as the RS6F51A. As the HLSD centre is smaller than a traditional diff, the gear casing should not matter. They are supported by the same carrier bearings, use the same seals plus even same speedo drive gear and crown wheel.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Ah, my mistake, had them reversed.

The RS6F51A open diff isn't the same as the RS5F50A diff, where are you getting that from?

I'm also showing different size axle seals, so unless you're talking about a different seal, not sure what you mean.

throttlehappy46

I am making 'some' assumptions until I can test it myself. I am placing an order for a HLSD and will attempt to fit it to my current 5 speed box while it is rebuilt for another customer.

The 5 speed box and 6 speed boxes both accept the same inner CV joint.

They both use the 38411Y diff part number.

There may be some machining involved but I think it should be swappable.

Is there any pictures of the 5 speed open diff compared to the 6 speed open diff?

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

38411Y isn't a part number, it's a part code. All of the open diffs are 38411Y, all of the LSD units are 38411Z (IIRC).

For example: VG, VQ, KA, Z, SR...the oil filter for all of them is pard code 15208. The part number depends on model, year, and engine.

I doubt there's any comparison pics like that, only person I imagine taking pics like that is nismology or SR20DEN.

I certainly hope I'm proven wrong about this, but I really see nothing similar between the two.

However, I'm did take some good HLSD pics a while back:



Pics are clickable for full res version. I'll look for some VLSD pics.

Same bolt count for the FD, 10 on the 5 speed (open diff) and on the 6 speed HLSD.

Motorvate's got some rough pics -



Though you can see there that the FD is way different in terms of bolt pattern, but that really shouldn't be a problem anyway.

throttlehappy46

Thanks for the help and pics. Will see what we can come up with.

I have never had to buy Nissan parts before, just source them aftermarket. I might even look to the original manufacturer to see if they have the suitable dimensions, etc

The top pic of the HLSD also has the manufacturers name stamped into it GKN drivelines

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

I would say Dave B would be your cheapest, but don't know about overseas. Hell, he probably still will be. Give him a shout, he can probably give you a good quote for the HLSD (~$400 USD) + shipping to Australia.