Installing an FS5R30A ('87-on Z31T) transmission in an S12SE?

I would like to know if anyone has installed an FS5R30A transmission in a V6 S12 and how difficult the swap was.  The car I'm buying needs a transmission and my plans exceed the HP capacity of the FS5W71C. The car was a factory automatic, I do not know if the tunnels are the same shape/size between manuals and automatics? The trans crossmember mounting points are in different places as I had to build a custom crossmember for the 71C trans conversion. I read somewhere that the 30A trans won't fit in a stock S12 tunnel but it was not a reliable source and I think the guy had an early non-turbo car. I have no problem massaging the tunnel to make it fit and as most of you know I can design and build just about anything. I'm also curious where the shifter comes out as I'd like to keep the stock console if possible. I have several 30A transmissions from Z32s and WD21 4x4s but I do not currently have one from a Z31T. I know that at least the forward part of the driveshaft will have to be custom. I may just build a one-piece shaft for the car. Any help from someone that's done this swap would be greatly appreciated! If nobody has done it I guess I'll be the first and will take lots of pics and do a write up.  :thumbsup:

This is a good question also, I had a hard time sourcing one of these as well. From the research, they do fit if they are coming from the z31's coming from the az z31 guy's transmission guide, unsure about the modifications needed to fit them. Unsure if you can fit the R30A z31 bell on the z32 back end of the R30's but you will need to get a custom drive shaft made because I believe these are 1 piece from z31 / z32's as well.

http://www.az-zbum.com/information.transmission.shtml

Just thought I throwing that out there, hope it helps any.  Love to know more about it when it gets more together.

Something seems fishy around here.......... Newly acquired 5speed swapped SE with a transmission going out in WA?

IIRC the tunnel dimensions are the same between S13 and S12. So it should fit no problem, but I would go with a Z32 trans before a Z31 unit just because of the shifter location.

Bellhousings swap between all Z32, R33 Non-Neo RB25 and Z31T FS5R30A transmissions.

Word on the street, is that if you use a Z31 71c, you need to cut the shifter hole as its a little farther back.  So I imagine a 30a would require the same modification, but I THINK the interior pieces will still fit without modification.

There's nothing fishy, I helped build the NW car with the broken 71C trans. Now I'm going to own it and continue it's development.  B)

So it sounds like the big gearbox will physically fit, I hope that is the case as I'd rather not spend hours with an air hammer making the tunnel ugly!

The Z32 transmissions use an external linkage that puts the shifter about 4" behind the front U-joint. This because the engine/trans are much further forward of the driver in a Z32 than a Z31. One option I have is to run one of these transmissions with the bellhousing swapped and make a shifter linkage that goes forward above the tailhousing to put the shifter wherever I want it. I could also build in what ever throw I want to end up with. That said, I'd much rather use one from a Z31T if the shifter comes out in the right place. I really don't like the feel of the Z32's shifter, though if I build one it won't have any rubber and that ought to help some.

I believe no one has done the swap, I am looking into doing it in the near future as im acquiring a 30A for super cheap, and my trans has the infamous countershaft bearing noise. A write up would be awesome!

Colonel Gustard on 08:12:58 PM / 07-Jan-13 A write up would be awesome!

maybe my 5 FS5W71-C speed swap thread will help you a little theres a lot of info like

Z31T, Z32, and RB25 trans are all the same (FS5R30A). only differences are the gear ratios and bellhousings.
so in theory you should be able to run any of these with just a turbo Z31 bellhousing.

ive read that you also cant run a VG30DETT flywheel(250mm) cause it will hit the 30ET bellhousing, so you might have to run a VG30DE flywheel(240mm); but dont quote me on that.

chek the link http://club-s12.org/retro4/index.php?topic=34210.0