ZF S5D 310Z trans & M20 engine

[germancarsonly]

I am going to stick a ZF S5D 310Z behind my M20 engine. Can anyone offer any tips or advise? Has anyone done this?

[dpgrand]

I know people have put it behind m50/m52/s50/s52 engines. It's virtually plug and play

[germancarsonly]

Sure, I know many of those guys myself. This isn't the same deal and it's not PnP.

[germancarsonly]

I posted this same question at BayE30 and got this reply this morning:
You'll need a modified transmission bracket (probably the hardest part). Jason will also give you the good advice of matching your starter to your flywheel... Probably also some custom shifter hardware. Never measured the length of the two, but it might also upset the driveshaft length.

May I ask why? The e30 Getrags have been known to take tons of power.

My reply:
I am thinking that I am going to have to modify the rear trans bracket and do the opposite of what the guys running the Getrag 260 behind the M50 engines are doing. That part is simple as I can do my own fab work and have a nice welder. I want to run the early Euro M20 flywheel and I will just use the original starter. The starter only cares about which flywheel it needs to play with and it doesn't interact with the trans anyway. The shift console length might be OK using the E30 parts, but I need to measure the distance between the ZF and the old Getrag and I haven't done that yet. I know I need to bring the shift lever back to the center of the hole in the tunnel and that should be very easy to do. Again, I'm thinking I just need to do everything backward from what the M50 + Getrag 260 folks have done. That should be the simple stuff.

My drive line has the small Guibo and the trans has the big one. I think the guys running this tran behind the M50 engines just use the 1986 shaft that had the larger one and then use the correct center bearing for their year car. This sucks a little as I have a rebuilt drive shaft with replacable U-Joints, but I will have to find another shaft now.

I plan on sticking an M20 short block with trans attached on a bench this week and mocking up anything I need to do. I'll look at it first with the Getrag and then hang the ZF on it. I think my biggest concern is the throw out bearing movement. The M50 flywheel that this trans was mated to is pretty thick. I wish I had measured the distance from the back of the M50 block to the rear of the presure plate when I removed the trans, but I didn't do it. I may be able to measure one this week and that will tell me more. At least by doing it up on a bench it will be easier than trying to figure it out under the car.

I know the Getrag is a pretty bullet-proof transmission and probably stronger than the ZF, but the gear ratios are wrong. I've been in a couple of E30 cars now with the ZF and the closer ratos in the trans are just plain nicer. I also have an 1993 E34 with a manual trans that I drive most everyday and I like it. You know most of the earlier Euro M20 powered cars had the close ratio Getrag. Then they built a bizillion 2.7 eta powered cars and the overdrive trans seemed to be a good match for that purpose. But, when the 2.5i cars came out they continued to use the overdrive trans???

I'm sure I am missing something. What?

[dpgrand]

Sure, I know many of those guys myself. This isn't the same deal and it's not PnP.

ok - so a modified tranny bracket and some driveshaft/quibo stuff. What is different from a m50? Your transmission angle will be different, but the tranny will bolt straight up to the engine.

[germancarsonly]

The flywheel / clutch is very different on the M50 and that is what I need to know about. I am going to try and get all those measurements today and compare them to the M20 parts.

[SpecM]

The flywheel / clutch is very different on the M50 and that is what I need to know about. I am going to try and get all those measurements today and compare them to the M20 parts.

havn't I heard of people useing an m20 fly/clutch on zf310/320s? I thought so...

maybe, maybe not, but its worth looking in to

[416stroker]

the splines on the input shaft are the same.I don't see a problem with that all you'll have do deal with is getting the mounting right.