Tranny Swap....

[Cowboy Dave]

Alright so I found out the tough way that wheeling with a manual transmission SUCKS!!!! So I've been thinking about converting to an Auto. What is involved besides finding a donor Pathy? And can I only swap with another 4x4 tranny?

[penski61]

David i think you just need a set of crawler gears to help you out , and fix the exhaust leak haha

[soccerbrace]

Well, first I would try wheeling an auto while it is on a steep incline, and then come back and see how you feel about an auto.

[penski61]

ive got that fixed on my auto ;)
oh and david swap in a lockrite or LSD from a junkyard pathy , that would have definatly have helped you this weekend

[Cowboy Dave]

David i think you just need a set of crawler gears to help you out , and fix the exhaust leak haha

Oh yes that exhaust leak has bothered me since I got her, it's just not in one area. Where can I find some info on the crawler gears? And also Aaron you still in the bumper building business?

[JBDevega]

sometimes i feel that way too but usually i end up being glad i have a manual. i find theres alot less problems with the manual tranny compared to the issues the auto has, not to mention the loss of power with the auto.

I also find that exhaust leak thing a bit humerous. I have 4 exhaust leaks in system, starting from the exhaust manifolds and going back to the muffler. i really should get a quote on fixing those...

[OdiN]

Well, first I would try wheeling an auto while it is on a steep incline, and then come back and see how you feel about an auto.

I can't imagine trying to use a manual in that instance. My auto has always done fine on steep inclines....it doesn't get much steeper than in Moab and I didn't notice any problems.

What are you alluding to?

[Cowboy Dave]

Don't get me wrong I love having a manual, it's just that it was extremely frustrating rolling back every time I'd thought I'd pushed through a tough spot

[Cowboy Dave]

Are these http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com (http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/calmini-rock-crawler-gears-nissan-pathfinder-1987-95-v6-p-3688.html) my only option?

[JBDevega]

Calmini and AC both have gears, they are slightly different if i remember correctly....i believe someone is also working on dual transfer case for us as well.

I know what you mean, all that means is you need to play with the clutch-gas ratio a little more. with the weak vg30 i find i usually need to give it quite some gas to keep it from rolling back.

UPDATE:

Calmini makes 3.92:1 tansfer gears
http://www.purenissan.com/t-case_gears.htm

AC makes 3.7:1 gears
https://www.4x4parts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=165_494&products_id=4076

and these guys making dual T-case 2.02:1(stock) - 4.04:1 (dual gear) capability
http://nissantrailriders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=443

[penski61]

from what ive been told there really isnt a noticeable difference with the ac gears or calmini but the calmini gears were preferred because of the install
and im not really making bumpers anymore but i could probably do one more since i kind of messed up your stock one lol
are you good with a pre-runner style bumper?

[Cowboy Dave]

A pre-runner style would be perfect. Haha eh a few dents don't bother me, plus what else is a bumper for. What's a ballpark price?

I looked at the AC and Calmini gears and I'm leaning more towards the AC just because of price...

[cuong nguyen]

the only difference in the install with the AC gears and the Calmini gears is that Calmini provides a new bearing to use with their gears while AC reuses both bearings and requires the use of a gasket for a spacer to prevent shaft/bearing binding on the housing. You'll have to cut the gasket to size.

From what I've heard crawler gears make a world of difference with a manual. I kind of wished I had swapped to a manual transmission when I did my 4x4 conversion.

[Cowboy Dave]

Well I guess as long as the stock bearings are in good shape then the AC gears wouldn't be so bad, plus $295 is a decent price gap

[Packman5280]

there is also the option of a d300 behind the tx10. i love my manual. i've wheeled both, and i think if you can heel/toe or inside/outside your gas and brake, a manual is much better. just my opinion. with gears, i don't think i'll ever think about an auto again.

odin, i think the steep incline is a problem on some of the w/d22 trannies, where it will drain all the fluid out of the torque converter, causing slippage.

[Cowboy Dave]

Um. dumb question. what is a d300 and tx10?

[penski61]

dual transfer cases , David in your case i think youd be better off with just crawler gears for now

[Cowboy Dave]

dual transfer cases , David in your case i think youd be better off with just crawler gears for now

Ah ok. Well now you got me looking around an doin research of my options and sorts. So I'll put crawler gears and some headers on my short list of upgrades.

[JBDevega]

Ah ok. Well now you got me looking around an doin research of my options and sorts. So I'll put crawler gears and some headers on my short list of upgrades.

be careful, i heard horror story's of our exhaust manifold studs breaking while doing headers.

[Cowboy Dave]

be careful, i heard horror story's of our exhaust manifold studs breaking while doing headers.

How much of an issue would that end up being?

[Packman5280]

not too bad, as long as you are able to extract broken studs from the head. not the easiest thing in the world, but doable. there is a fix involving bigger studs, i believe from a 300z. also i believe nissan has revised those studs, and you can get bigger ones now.

i only the mentioned the d300 doubler because someone posted all the low gear options (AC, Calmini, dual tx10) except that one.

[Cowboy Dave]

Well I won't worry to much about it, I'll just be very delicate.