Friday, October 2, 2015

NISMO GETRAG Conversion Kit for R32/R33 GT-Rs

This post was a long time in the making.  Back in August, I posted this hint - I was being vague on purpose as to what my car was at Nissan Prince for:
Two boxes full of goodness!
A close up would have revealed:

Here is a REAL close-up! 
For those who guessed correctly, yes this close-up of the boxes that the transfer and the transmission came in would have revealed what was going on! Yes folks, it's the NISMO GETRAG Conversion Kit for the R32/R33 GT-Rs!

Turns out, these Conversion Kits are "made to order" - so I had actually placed my order back in June but it wasn't until August that the parts were all ready to go. So really, this whole process started back when I did this post about NISMO's engine oil. You didn't really think I went to Nissan Prince for just an oil change, did you?

(The reason I installed a new gearbox was, as longtime reader stj88 guessed in the comment below, my OEM gearbox was on its last legs. I was having trouble shifting from 3 to 4, or 4 down to 3, so I would sometimes skip 4 altogether and just shift into 5th directly from 3.  This had been going on for the past 2-3 years but had been getting progressively worse. Plus, it felt to me that the transfer was slipping too...)

Then, although the installation of the Kit itself only took a week, not only did a custom part for the Getrag take longer than expected (the Robson item below),  I got lucky with the N1 bonnet, which required having the car in the paint shop for awhile, plus I was away for a couple of weeks, so from start to finish the car was at Nissan Prince for about a month.

For those who want a refresher or just more information about the GETRAG kit, check out this link on NISMO's English website.

In any case, here is what the Kit looks like:
From: http://www.nismo.co.jp/en/products/competition/mission/getrag.html
In addition to the transfer case and the transmission itself, the kit comes with a BNR34 front driveshaft, a "NISMO" r32/r33 rear drive shaft (somehow I doubt anything special was done to it), and BNR34 transmission mount and cross member. There are other bits and pieces too as explained in the NISMO link above.

I actually had the dealership take photos of the work during the install. Unfortunately, they appear to have wiped the computer clean, as the jpegs could not be found. But, they HAD printed out some small photos which I scanned back in - hence the low quality, but I think you get the idea:
About to start work- still with old hood/bonnet (I can tell)
Lower the old transmission
Close up of old transmission
Side view
Old clutch removed
Here is a better photo of my old transmission, removed, that I took:
Waiting to go to a good home...
New clutch installed
Those magic words
Very pretty!

When I arrived to pick up the car, the first thing I saw when I looked inside the car was this:
Note the shift knob boot - custom made by Robson. Too bad they didn't ask me about what color stitching I wanted...
A closer inspection of the shift knob shows:
Call me weird but I don't like that GT-R logo there... wrong font for the BCNR33!
Lastly - before I could get in the car and drive home, they had me sign an application Nissan is going to submit to the department of motor vehicles on my behalf- changing out the transmission is considered a major change to the car, so technically my car is no longer a "BCNR33" - it's now a "BCNR33改" (the character is read "kai" from 改造 (kaizo) meaning modified so it's a BCNR33-kai). The paperwork they submit demonstrates to the authorities that the gear ratio has changed but is still within x% of normal, only weighs y more kgs, doesn't change the overall dimensions of the car, etc.

Ok so enough of the install - the all important question - HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

Well, it's like being in 1/2 lower gear in the 5 speed, all the time. Acceleration of the car is instantaneous. Expected when the rear ratio is still 4.11:1.

The engine is turning at above 2000 rpm at most speeds, meaning that that it picks up quickly, acceleration comes on much more quickly, but yes probably worse gas mileage and noisier on the expressway.   Does it bother me? Honestly, yes a little. But I'm not about to spend another 450,000 yen for NISMO's 3.916 gear set, which if you look at the graph, really only changes things by about 500rpm or so.

I guess to make it perfect, I would really only want to change 6th gear to be an overdrive to allow for relatively quiet and low rpm cruising on the expressway - right now it is a literal "point and shoot" weapon even in 6th, given how quickly the car accelerates. The other gearing is fine as is.

In any case, I was told that I have to break this new transmission in - and that this would take about 1000kms.  Given how little I drive my car, not sure how long that will take, but it DOES give me an excuse to take the car out more often.

There are other small details that bother me too (in addition to the stitch color I mentioned above).  The gear shift itself is tall - remember for the OEM gearbox I had installed NISMO's solid shift gear shifter which is 7.5mm shorter in length and gives a more solid feel when shifting.  Not sure who makes a short/solid shifter for the Getrag box but will have to see if I can find one.

Anyway, the fun continues as I break in the gearbox and make the necessary improvements!

In my next post I'll go more into detail about that N1 bonnet...

15 comments:

Johnny said...

Just WOW! I have thought about that Getrag, would be so awesome to just try the difference. Looking forward to your next posts about N1 hood and a review.

Always looking forward for updates on your blog.
There is always things to do on a car like these.
Thanks for some good reading!

stj88 said...

Congrats Aki this is one expensive mod! Just wondering why you did it? Was your old transmission on its last legs? This is about the only mod missing from my BCNR33, but given its costs around €10000 to do in Europe, i could never justify the cost of it. If my trans ever brakes, which is a possibility with 650hp. Then i will have to take the cheap route and upgrade to a OS-Giken 1-3 Crossmission kit.

Aki said...

Oh yes I'd forgotten to explain why I got a new gearbox, thank you for that, I've edited the post!! Yes there are other choices available and all have good and bad points. This option is cost but as I had converted some yen to US dollars at the peak, converting it back to do this mod saved me about 20%...

I am still getting used to the gearing, hopefully the 6th gear issue won't be an issue once I get used to it. Thanks again!

Aki said...

Thanks Johnny! The N1 bonnet post won't be as exciting though lol..

Ibo nibo said...

Ohhh ohhhh ohhhh ohhhhh (excited)

That is sooooo nice Aki.

I actually thaught about that being in the box, but then as it is such an expensive mod, I thaught nahh :)

It's actually a mod I consider too. My gearbox is still good I would say, though it shows it's age. But not having problem with getting gears in (Yet). But I do match rev to be sure it smoother when changing.

It's actually a hard choice as it changes the originality of the BCNR, but on the other hand having a different ratio...

Taking the kit from Nismo or finding a partout BNR34.... doing it while I can still sell my Series3 Gearbox or wait till it dies...

First world problems :D


I am eager to see how you will settle on your opinion when you get used to it, broken in... maybe after a trackday

Keep us updated on this subject as I am sure it interest a lot of us

I would leave the final ratio as it is (if performance oriented)

Such an awesome post. My chin literally dropped upon loading your blog :bigthumbup:

Unknown said...

I had the biggest smile on my face while reading this. SO awesome that you put the Getrag in your R33, Aki, and I hope some awesome track days are ahead after you break it in. I wouldn't mind seeing some track videos as well ;)

マット said...

Congrats Aki!
I recently drove a BNR34 and experienced the Getrag gearbox for the first time and loved it!

Aki said...

LOL Ibo - love how you got so excited. Well I say keep your Series 3 gearbox as long as you can... Mine, every time we changed the fluid we'd see these small metal bits come out. Not to say I'm a bad driver, but watching some old videos right after I got the car it was already shifting a bit weird so I will take this chance to fully blame the original owner!

It will be interesting to see how the gearbox loosens up. When I drove that 20,000km BNR34 (see my earlier post for April 11, 2015) the transmission did not feel like the one in my car.

To Zach and マット, yeah, will be interesting to see how the car performs on the track. I suspect my time at Fuji probably won't change because my top speed will be lower, which diminishes the improved speed and response in slow corners. Tsukuba though might be interesting...

Unknown said...

Excited,and we're going to install Nismo Getrag conversion kits as next week. I have not decide whether to chang the front and rear transfer is 3.5 (from R34 GTR).I hope that maybe you will have suggestion.Thank you.

Unknown said...

Well done Aki and believe me having had mine for the past 1 year it really makes the car feel much more drivable and the gearing is much better for both street and track. On the 5 speed box the rev drop between 1st and 2nd is a little too much and 3rd gear which takes you up to 200kph is a little crazy for everyday driving.

Did you use the Nismo 75/140 oil in the diff? Lots of discussion about what oils to use with these as they are sensitive to what you use. Most seem to go for Toyota type IV including myself on advice from Getrag Germany. Avoid redline at all costs too many Getrags have suffered bushing failure due to additives causing swelling.

Aki said...

Prince, Frans - so sorry I just saw these comments! Many thanks for taking the time to leave them.

Prince, I am sorry but I have no opinion - but if you DO use the front and rear transfer from the BNR34, then you will in effect simply have the same transmission as the BNR34. Very easy to use but not as sporting because the engine will not be in the sweet spot as it is now. However it will be near OEM in driving I think.

Frans, thanks for your thoughts. I have no idea which oil they used but suspect NISMO as you say. That would be for the transmission and the transfer. As for my rear diff, I have an aftermarket diff from OS Giken and use their oil, which is 80W-250 grade.

Aki

Unknown said...

Holy moley, Nismo is rather proud of that conversion judging by the list price, LOL. Is there anything in that kit that you couldn't get from a wrecked or part-out R34? Or are you paying the premium for factory-new gearbox and t-case? For comparison I think Subaru lists the STi 6-speed at something like $6k for a new one but you can usually find them from a part-out for half that.

Aki said...

Hi Jonathan,

Yep, certainly not a cheap upgrade. But if you've read through my blog, you would notice that most of my upgrades are carefully thought out, without much consideration of price - I simply like having the best. I think this is what will in the end separate my car from other modified 33s.

Having experienced what gets sold second hand (I've been burned on wheels and other items), I wasn't about to take any chances with something that was gong to be expensive even if used or parted out. The way I look at it, it's cheaper in the long run to go with brand new in this case. Just like when I rebuilt my engine, I didn't use any used parts either - a false economy I think.

Believe me I DID think long and hard about going new though for this...

Aki

Robbie J said...

Just purchased 6speed Getrag and propshafts, having problems finding the transfer box. Did you keep the ratios now you have had it a while? Its going into my R32 -Robbie J

Robbie J said...

nearly 2 years later I'm getting getrag fitted, wish I had a Nissan Prince dealer I could go to