AOD or 5 speed conversion

[bcdivad]

Got a 82 Max diesel sedan w/3speed auto.
Want to go with overdrive of some sort.
Auto or 5 speed, really doesn't matter. Although
the auto would be much easier. Only just recently
heard of the AOD in the 83 Max and that was cause
I just joined this group. I even thought of looking into
adapting another manufacturer's aod behind the diesel.
AL4D, 700r4 200r4 or anything that wouldn't be too much
work THAT would work.

Anybody got a GOOD set of doors for a sedan??????
ALL 4 of mine are junk..

[glenlloyd]

Welcome to the group. We have a lot of fun here discussing issues such as the option of converting to AOD (for those of us with 3 sp AT. For me, and maybe others, this is a big topic right now.

We also have a buy/sell (Peddle / Procure) section where you can post what you're looking for. It would also be good to include the color of your car in case someone might have some doors already in your color. Since the color options seem to have been fairly few for these you may find what you need in the correct color.

Steve A

[asavage]

Got a 82 Max diesel sedan w/3speed auto.
Want to go with overdrive of some sort. Auto or 5 speed, really doesn't matter. Although the auto would be much easier. Only just recently heard of the AOD in the 83 Max and that was cause I just joined this group. I even thought of looking into adapting another manufacturer's aod behind the diesel. AL4D, 700r4 200r4 or anything that wouldn't be too much work THAT would work.

Welcome to the site! Here is where all the truly "tall tales" are told.

If you've read this thread, you already know a lot about the OD AT that was supplied in '83-84 Maxima (and 200SX and other models). It's the L4N71B. You'll also know that I don't think it'll fit in an '82, due to the fatter rear end of the trans. And that one person I emailed with claimed it was a bolt-in (which I highly doubt). The crossmember is in a different location too.

The gasser trans will probably bolt up to the LD28 block. Can't speak as to the shift points or TC stall speed though. I'll make you a heck of a deal on an '83 gasser AT OD I've got . . . pictures are on page 1 of that thread.

You will want to update your profile with your location, because that will determine how feasible it is to get doors to you.

The Ford AOD is a huge transmission, so large that even people with old Ford midsize cars think twice about retrofitting them in place of a C3/4/5/6.

The TH200R4 is smaller, but still not nearly as small as the L4N71B. If chopping the tunnel is OK with you, you can install nearly anything.

The A4LD is small enough, and plentiful in non-op condition They're grenades stock -- I know, I own one. However, they can be built tough, and for the adventurous you can get one 1997-on that are 5-spd (automatic). I've considered retrofitting a '97 A4LD to my '89 Aero, but it's more trouble than it's worth due to the interaction of the drivetrain controller.

The FS5W71 (manual 5-spd) is a complete bolt-in, if you can find a donor car -- and it's going to be a car, as AFAIK the 5-spd was never offered in the wagon. You'll need the usual: pedal cluster, clutch hydraulics, console, shifter, driveshaft, flywheel, etc. That same trans' guts are used in many/most other Nissan offerings in that era; to learn more about it, read this post.

Anybody got a GOOD set of doors for a sedan?
ALL 4 of mine are junk..

The gasser doors are available in some areas . . . but it depends where you are. Have you tried car-part.com?

[bcdivad]

I'm in western NY so I really doubt there will be anything around here
for anything sheet metal.
My cars white but it doesn't matter what color I get.
The cars in pretty good shape really. Some rust but not bad,
mainly in the doors. The bottom of all of them are rotted away.
There's no fixing these. It's mainly on the inner structure.

OH!!!!! It's only got 88k on it too.....
82k when I bought it in OCT.

[glenlloyd]

The FS5W71 (manual 5-spd) is a complete bolt-in, if you can find a donor car -- and it's going to be a car, as AFAIK the 5-spd was never offered in the wagon. You'll need the usual: pedal cluster, clutch hydraulics, console, shifter, driveshaft, flywheel, etc. That same trans' guts are used in many/most other Nissan offerings in that era

Well if the AOD won't fit then I'm going 5 speed manual in this thing, even if it wasn't available that way.

SA

[asavage]

Well if the AOD won't fit then I'm going 5 speed manual in this thing, even if it wasn't available that way.

Cornfusing: the AOD is a Ford designation. It's a large transmission, and if you've ever driven one, it's got somewhat odd ratio steps (kinda like early Escort/Lynx ATs). In race trim, it's sturdy. I was well into putting one behind a 302 in a '65 190D once, years ago, that's how I know.

The Nissan FS5W71B is a reasonably good transmission with two weak bearings. No matter where you get yours, it's a good idea (if it's pre-87) to replace the two front bearings. So many people have had problems with those that you'll save time in the long run to just replace them up front. Prices and part numbers are in this post. I know, it doesn't read very well.

It's also essential to change this trans' oil regularly. You will get a lot of metal junk on the magnetic drain plug the first time, guaranteed. Every one I've seen has been that way.

[bcdivad]

If anybody's fairly close to Western NY that has a good L4N71B for a diesel
a road trip could be a possibility. I'd really like to go overdrive.

[asavage]

The LD28 version of the L4N71B is a fairly rare bird (1983 only), if the figures in this post can be believed. I think that the gasser version will bolt up, but I don't know how well it will work. Certainly the shift points will be different, but the LD28 is a "high speed" diesel and other than downshifts, it might be OK.

car-part.com lists one in Georgia (no price listed), one in Wisconsin for $175, and one in Texas for $300. Cheapest is $120 in Arizona. Shipping is likely about $140-180 (I got a quote once, was going to have one shipped in from Kansas to PNW).

Gasser ones are much more plentiful (as cheap as $100 in Massachusetts, and you have two years to choose from ('83-84).