Ok, hard to explain the “feeling” but it’s not the same as it was……… The car is a series one 240z with an L28 and a 280z five speed transmission, I have had the car since 1979, did the swap back in the 80’s,,,,,,, I even did the famous bend the shifter to fit the tunnel without cutting the floor. So, in 2026 the shifter does not feel right. It goes into all the gears ok, but not in a straight pattern……kinda off to the side. Getting ready to pull the center console out and check things out, but thought I would get some advice on what to look for? Any advice is appreciated……

Sounds like your shifter bushings are worn. Post a pic before and after disassembly.

Be prepared to lose the circlip that holds the clevis that has the two bushings on it. Be very careful. It will be slippery and fly far. And don't just eyeball the shifter bushings from the top. The bushing on the bottom can fail also. You'll want to pull it all the way out and have a look.

Many, maybe all, of the parts are still available from Nissan. You might just stop by your local Nissan dealer and get a full set of bushings, clevis pin, and clip to be prepared. That's what I'd do.

https://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/Z-1969-1978/power-train/transmission-control/5-speed

Datsun Z Transmission Control Lever & Fork (5 Speed-FS5W7...

He might have the large thin sandwiched bushings off of a ZX. That’s why I was looking for the pics.

The 280ZX shifter has a rectangular hole, those bushings won't fit a Z shifter. Not clear why he'd get one of those if he got a 280Z transmission. The ZX shifter looks a bit stout for bending also. Who knows!? 🤔

I found this old posting from Blue.

https://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/shifterbushing/index.html

I had to bend mine - but, ya, it's stout. Good thing I still had my TurboTorch at the time. (and I thought he DID have a ZX transmission...)

16 hours ago, 70z4fun said:

The car is a series one 240z with an L28 and a 280z five speed transmission, I have had the car since 1979, did the swap back in the 80’s,

Maybe the reference to 1979 and 80's got the thinking off-track? I see 280z. Blue had a ZX transmission though, in his writeup. Maybe even bent the shifter, it looks bluish at the base.

Anyway, he's got plenty to think about now.

Well, That was pretty easy to take apart. First thing I noticed is both boots are ripped, so those are done. I don't see any evidence of a plastic bushing on the side of the pins. The plastic bushing at the end of the shifter is still there, and seems hard to take off?

I guess I need to order some parts, I did see a set of parts at Z Car Depot. I think I will just get the OEM plastic ones vs the brass........

I also noticed that the pin was "keyed" with a flat side of the head,,,,, Not sure why....

I could not believe how much play there was after I removed the boots.....

Edited July 21Jul 21 by 70z4fun

Bushings appeared to have left the room….Check out the ears on your transmission and try to take a variety of pics. You might have some damage on the ears. Is that grease or aluminum shavings in the pic?

Great question, that is grease on the ears, need to get some q tips to dig deep to see what that stuff is..... could be left overs from the plastic bushings that have been smashed to dust after all these years....... Car has been driven a bunch since I swapped the transmission. It was over 40 years ago, so I don't remember putting new ones in or what I did....... I totally forgot that those bushing were in there until a "google search" on this forum.......

I will also go look in the boot, maybe they migrated.......

Now I see why there is a flat side on the shifter pin....... No sign of the "old" bushings....... Now I have to wait for the new ones.........