post your opinions, facts, whatever....about how much loss the automatic setup really loses as compared to the manual.....also, in fcs, which year/model comes with the best manual, and how much power can each year/model sustain?

 

a significant bit actually. Just take this as an example from Motor Trend:
(manual) 02 Altima 0-60 in 5.9 1/4 in 14.5@98mph
(auto) 02 Altima 0-60 in 6.6 1/4 in 15.0@93mph
So about .5 seconds on the 0-60, .5 seconds in the quarter. Even the trap speed (which directly reflects power to the wheels) is lower by 5 mph.
It's arguable which FC came with the best manual, but the best is probably the GTUs tranny/rear end. N/A trannies can't take a whole lot, but if you're easy on them they could support a turbo.

 

so if i were looking for a 5speed swap....i should just swap the whole rearend and tranny? im talkin a 200hp n/a engine.

 

In my experience, the NA 2nd gen manual runs 16s in the quarter. The auto runs 18s. Pretty big difference. If you are swapping in the 5 speed, you need to get the proper flywheel, clutch, front counterweight (or lightweight flywheel), pedal assembly, master/slave cylinders, driveshaft, rear end (different ratios), tranny mount and starter. I believe this process has been covered several times before.

 

yeah, the driveshaft won't fit if you use an N/A tranny with the auto rear end.

 

I think the main weakness with the Auto are the 3.90 open differential gears, shoot if you threw 4.88s in the rear it would prolly be pretty quick, I wonder how much power they can handle

 

oh i wont be doing the swap myself, ill pay someone to......im just worried about whats gonna be the best/toughest tranny for a 200rwhp n/a

 

200 *rw* hp na?? I'm dying to see this. What kind of port? a lot of people seem to overestimate what their NA setup is capable of. Most NA's dyno 110-120 at teh wheels in near stock form, and 150-160 modified. ONly the hardcore guys can approach 200...I have yet to see a dyno sheet of someone running stock fuel injection break 200 NA.

Also, you can put a whole t2 drivetrain behind an NA engine for the best powerhandling ability, but you also add a bit more weight, 50lb or so. All the 86+ NA trannies are pretty much the same...you can tear them up, but they dont fall to pieces with the first hard run you give them or anything...I have yet to break one personally, even running a turbo in front of them. The clutch seems to be the weakest point, and is definitely the first thing to upgrade.

BTW< the entire swap procedure is listed on my webpage.

 

never? damn I broke my 89 N/A tranny, down shifting to 1st goin 15 mph and then Bam! sounded like a gun shot, and my car wouldn't move, just bind up freaked me out...

 

yea kevin.....200 rwhp....and you're gonna have a part in building it =]