So I'm thinking ahead now that the weather is starting to change and my Z will likely be spending much of the next seveal months in the garage.

It's a 78Z, 4 speed manual (original stock set up).

This summer I bought a 5 speed (and the 3.90 diffy) from an 83ZX and plan on installing it in the next few months. And I thought that this would be an excellent time to go ahead and replace the clutch.

I've read alot of stories on this and other forums about the importance of matching up the t/o bearing, fork, pressure plate and disc from either the original set up or from the donor car. Here's my questions:

1. When buying the new clutch, should I buy one for an 83ZX (since that's the tranny I'll have in the car) or one for a 78Z? Also, with the new clutch should I use the fork and t/o bearing from the 83ZX or the 78Z?

2. What would be your recommendations on a clutch purchase? Brand? Cost really isn't an issue. The car is usually driven by a 50 year old man for scenic drives through the Cascade mountains, ie, highway driving and light driving around town. No real hard driving.

Thanks in advance!

I know this is about 240's but for question one and even part two go http://datsunzgarage.com/engine/ and scroll down to the transmission section and read that till you reach the section about the rear ends. Found that site really informative when I first started on my Z.

Hope it help

Jan

Thanks Jan. I'd actually already read that webpage - excellent info by the way.

He makes it sound like the clutches would all be the same (at least in terms of size - 225 mm) for all 70-83 non turbo coup Zs and ZXs. Thats fine except when you go to buy one, say from Blackdragon, Motorsport Auto, or even an aftermarket one from an autoparts store they all seem to have different part numbers depending on what year Z you have. So in my example, I'd need to know whether I should tell them 78 or 83. The webpage you cited didn't answer that question I don't believe.

Anyone else?