Datsun 720.... what gearbox does it have? (Read 200 times)

[web2stu]

Hi All

You may have seen my other post on me looking for a datsun210 b310 gearbox, well during some calls to america I did find a Datsun 720 pick up which has a Z engine. I have been searching and searching but cant find anything online about what gearbox it has apart from it may be 2wd or 4x4; im hoping its 4x4 so its shorter in length but how can i find out some more specifics, model number or ideally its length, bellhousing diameter, distance from bellhousing to gear shifter and any photos??


It may be that a 240z box is the right size for what i have in mind so if anyone has one of those; please get in touch. I need a box which is quite slim, 5 speed but not too long... any sugestions?

Any help would be gratefully received!

Many thanks.

[bananahamuck]

The 4x4 gear box will most likely be the shorter ( approx 27 inch total length)and have the speedo gear in transfer case so there is no hole in trans to bolt it in, so you would lose that. The Standard cab 2WD had both the long and short trans depending on year of truck. The King cab 2WD trucks all had the longer trans (approx 31+ inch total length)

I'm not up on the whole tranny number designations thing , but the Z motor has the same bolt pattern but the engine stands straighter up than the L so the shifter will be way over into the right side of truck ( our passenger side / your driver side assuming your in UK). The bell housing can be easily swapped between the 2 trannys how ever. I have asked a guy that wrote an tranny info article for the Dime Quarterly if he can provide me with a link to it. and that may help you more than my ramblings ever could.. He's not a personal friend so it might take a couple days for him to get back to me however.

[web2stu]

Thanks Bananahamuk, thats great info, it all helps me build a picture.
My intention is to find a 5 speed datsun box that will convert to fitting a british A-Series engine from an Mg Midget. Back in the day they used to use a B310 - Datsun Sunny box 79 - 82 so im trying to see if there is anything else similar that i can use as finding a Sunny is like finding a needle in a haystack!

Fingers crossed that guy replies as i cant find any 720 info on the transmission, i could only find out that it is 2wd or 4wd and pickup and kingcab and has the z engine.

I'll keep hunting...

[bananahamuck]

Oh i was confused as to what you were doing,, i thought you were trying to find replacement, but now i see your trying to retro fit a more "accessable" trans to your car. I will go out tomorrow and stand a few trannys up next to each other and click a few pics to give better example of size differences also. The MG ( European cars in general really) guys over here have decidedly higher budgets over here so a good A engine 5speed are easily in the $600. USD range

Here is the article i was talking about,, it doesn't give info about what trans is in any particular vehicle but tells what vehicle each may be likely to be found in,, dimensions and such.
Dime quarterly Vol. 11 issue 4

link. docs.google.com/folderview?id=0ByCvxnHNk90SYzc4N2E1MWEtMzg0MC00YTE4LTkxZGQtM2RjODA5ODA1YjU1

[web2stu]

Hi again,

That is a fantastic link, thank you!  Very nice of you to share that!

Yes, i thought it best to be honest after thinking about it, I thought if people knew I wanted to put a nissan box in an mg midget they wouldn't be so willing to help and maybe offended about such a project.
In the UK there are literally no Datsuns left in scrapyards or parts dealers, you can find complete cars if you have a spare few thousand but that's about it. I heard in the USA Datsuns were more common and so have started ringing around scrapyards to see whet i can find and so far did find one 5 speed from the 720 which sounds like it is a short stumpy version as it is an 82 pickup; so im really hoping it is similar to the sunny in size?
I had a quick look at the link but not read it fully yet; funny thing is, the more i look into 70's/80's Datsuns the more id rather restore one of those than my midget lol.

Big thank you for your help, those pics sound a great help. The bellhousing size is ok, the tricky bit is seeing if the height of the geabox tunnel in the midget is too short, there is 200mm for the height between a chassis crossmember and the top of the tunnel.
I have taken some measurements of the mg box, taken a photo and will add the measurements to the picture in photoshop and message again shortly.

All the best.

[web2stu]

i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/web2stuweb2stu/MG%20Midget/midgetgearboxmeasurements_zps777a07aa.jpg


It is the 8 inches height, at 19 inches away from the bellhousing which I need to overcome. if you measure 19inches from the bellhousing and the datsun box is narrower than 8 inches, it should be able to be made to fit without cutting the original chassis.

Wel, i say 19 inches in, but being a bit more accurate, 19inches was to the ctr of where the gearbox mount goes, so i guess 18 / 18.5 inches in needs to be 8 inches or shorter.

I look forward to any input you can offer.