S13 Driveshaft

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 8:21 pm · #1

I plan on using my C trans from my DET in my swap.....and to do this you need the front half of the driveshaft which I have...now the s13's driveshaft halves connect with 14mm nuts (not sure on the actual thread/bolt size but they are bigger) and the s12's connects with 12mm nuts (again not sure on thread size but its smaller)....

question is....I take it people use the 12mm nuts/bolts from the s12 driveshaft when connecting the two...but the holes on the front half of the s13 driveshaft are larger....isnt there a chance this will unbalance it all since the front half can shift a tiny bit when bolting the two together?

just wondering what ppl have done

JayJun 18, 2009, 8:25 pm · #2

Kustamogen @ Jun 18 2009, 03:21 PM
I plan on using my C trans from my DET in my swap.....and to do this you need the front half of the driveshaft which I have...now the s13's driveshaft halves connect with 14mm nuts (not sure on the actual thread/bolt size but they are bigger) and the s12's connects with 12mm nuts (again not sure on thread size but its smaller)....

question is....I take it people use the 12mm nuts/bolts from the s12 driveshaft when connecting the two...but the holes on the front half of the s13 driveshaft are larger....isnt there a chance this will unbalance it all since the front half can shift a tiny bit when bolting the two together?

just wondering what ppl have done

My holes were the same size...

The peice your using goes from the tranny, all the way back past the carrier bearing, and attaches behind that. Are you sure those were 14mm? Because mine were definately 12's on both sides. I Used the S13 bolts...

JayJun 18, 2009, 8:25 pm · #3

KustamogenI plan on using my C trans from my DET in my swap.....and to do this you need the front half of the driveshaft which I have...now the s13's driveshaft halves connect with 14mm nuts (not sure on the actual thread/bolt size but they are bigger) and the s12's connects with 12mm nuts (again not sure on thread size but its smaller)....

question is....I take it people use the 12mm nuts/bolts from the s12 driveshaft when connecting the two...but the holes on the front half of the s13 driveshaft are larger....isnt there a chance this will unbalance it all since the front half can shift a tiny bit when bolting the two together?

just wondering what ppl have done

My holes were the same size...

The peice your using goes from the tranny, all the way back past the carrier bearing, and attaches behind that. Are you sure those were 14mm? Because mine were definately 12's on both sides. I Used the S13 bolts...

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 8:37 pm · #4

yah thats the piece Im talking about.....definitely 14mm and the holes are definitely bigger....

the engine/tranny/driveshaft are out of a Silvia ('89 I believe)

nismologistJun 18, 2009, 8:50 pm · #5

when i did my trans swap on the old se.....i had to have a driveline shop swap the bolt mounts to make it work right.

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 9:10 pm · #6

hmmm well this is an unexpected conundrum

silvia loveJun 18, 2009, 9:43 pm · #7

like jay said, mine aswell were all 12mm.
i pulled mine from a 240sx. i used the s13 bolts too.

silvias had slightly different driveshafts as far as the yoke thingy near the trans on the front half goes. the 240sx had a rubber thing whereas the silvias dont. maybe the bolts are different between usdm and jdm models.

JayJun 18, 2009, 10:05 pm · #8

silvia love @ Jun 18 2009, 04:43 PM
like jay said, mine aswell were all 12mm.
i pulled mine from a 240sx. i used the s13 bolts too.

silvias had slightly different driveshafts as far as the yoke thingy near the trans on the front half goes. the 240sx had a rubber thing whereas the silvias dont. maybe the bolts are different between usdm and jdm models.

I'll hafta second this statement.

But! If it's only a hair bigger, Drill out the s12's. your taking an equal amount of metal out around all four so it will stay in balance. and not have any risk of getting sloppy.

JayJun 18, 2009, 10:05 pm · #9

silvia lovelike jay said, mine aswell were all 12mm.
i pulled mine from a 240sx. i used the s13 bolts too.

silvias had slightly different driveshafts as far as the yoke thingy near the trans on the front half goes. the 240sx had a rubber thing whereas the silvias dont. maybe the bolts are different between usdm and jdm models.

I'll hafta second this statement.

But! If it's only a hair bigger, Drill out the s12's. your taking an equal amount of metal out around all four so it will stay in balance. and not have any risk of getting sloppy.

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 10:36 pm · #10

well I put an ad up on a local car site.....sooooo many 240's on that site.... see if anyone has one for like 10 bucks haha.......if not I was thinking that drilling idea too....I think theres plenty of material around the holes not to have to worry about weakening anything.....BUT Ill see how big Id have to make them tomorrow if I have to go that route

I love taking one step forward and two steps back for this project haha

I was hoping to be driving the car over a month ago .......and my engine isnt even in yet

silvia loveJun 18, 2009, 10:47 pm · #11

i forgot to ask earlier, but why not re-use your old trans. you would then just use your stock driveshaft, no s13.

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 10:52 pm · #12

silvia love @ Jun 18 2009, 10:47 PM
i forgot to ask earlier, but why not re-use your old trans. you would then just use your stock driveshaft, no s13.

whoever had the car before me tried removing the trans at some point (probably to do the clutch since it was slipping like crazy).....and I dunno wtf they did but 3 of the main bolts are stripped to shit....as well those tabs that are used to hold that brace from the block to the trans on both sides are broken off the bell housing!....I dunno wtf they tried to do but its f00ked.....figured I may as well just use my DET trans and save some hassle lol....obviously thats not the case haha

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 10:52 pm · #13

silvia lovei forgot to ask earlier, but why not re-use your old trans. you would then just use your stock driveshaft, no s13.

whoever had the car before me tried removing the trans at some point (probably to do the clutch since it was slipping like crazy).....and I dunno wtf they did but 3 of the main bolts are stripped to shit....as well those tabs that are used to hold that brace from the block to the trans on both sides are broken off the bell housing!....I dunno wtf they tried to do but its f00ked.....figured I may as well just use my DET trans and save some hassle lol....obviously thats not the case haha

silvia loveJun 18, 2009, 11:15 pm · #14

you can easily just swap the bellhousings and retain your driveshaft. that would spare some headache. it took me like 20 min to get the bellhousing off for the first time. its really easy.

KustamogenJun 18, 2009, 11:32 pm · #15

yah I may go that way if I cant find a 240 trans/drilling holes is too risky.. another reason was the clutch/pressure plate/TOB etc etc was all just replaced 5-8000km ago...so I figured Id just leave it all in the DET trans.....cutting the tranny tunnel a bit and undoing 4 bolts on the driveshaft seemed like less of a pain.....PLUS the s12 tranny has 310,000kms on it....whereas the DET has 40-50,000 on it.....so figured it would be a decent idea to use a tranny with 1/8th less wear on it (even though I wouldnt be too concerned about using the s12's tranny)

so we will see...if I can find a 240 driveshaft Ill probably go the DET trans route....if not ...yah I guess Ill just pull the tranny off the bellhousing and go from there since it doesnt seem like a biggy like you said

lol so someone should add that into that CA18DET swap guide....that silvia driveshafts should not be used! haha

silvia loveJun 18, 2009, 11:44 pm · #16

good point with the milage.
the driveshaft is still usable, dont rule it out yet. check your local hardware store for different nuts and bolts. im sure they'd have something that'll work for ya. either that or drill it out.

KustamogenJun 19, 2009, 12:05 am · #17

lol yah Ill figure something out.....I want my engine in this sunday!!!

XtekJun 19, 2009, 4:14 am · #18

ya hurry up in Get It In bud, Gonna Be Doing Mine Hear Right away Too.
Then we Could Go Cruisin

KustamogenJun 19, 2009, 4:17 am · #19

lol Im goin Im goin

EternalSwapJun 20, 2009, 6:52 am · #20

hmm

arent the driveshaft halves, for lack of a better term, hub centric?

KustamogenJun 20, 2009, 7:04 am · #21

Im not sure.......if it is then I wouldnt be as scared drilling it out lol

nismologistJun 20, 2009, 7:42 am · #22

i did do the swap on an SE, which means i got to keep my stock trans mount too.

JayJun 20, 2009, 8:01 am · #23

EternalSwap @ Jun 20 2009, 01:52 AM
hmm

arent the driveshaft halves, for lack of a better term, hub centric?

I would agree with this statement. They aren't round inside. The brunt of the torque is applied to the flat sides of the driveshaft connection, which is in turn applied to the shaft itself. The bolts aren't big, and obviously not meant to withstand even 100 ft lbs.

JayJun 20, 2009, 8:01 am · #24

EternalSwaphmm

arent the driveshaft halves, for lack of a better term, hub centric?

I would agree with this statement. They aren't round inside. The brunt of the torque is applied to the flat sides of the driveshaft connection, which is in turn applied to the shaft itself. The bolts aren't big, and obviously not meant to withstand even 100 ft lbs.

lmedeirosJun 22, 2009, 6:38 pm · #25

Kustamogen @ Jun 20 2009, 12:04 AM
Im not sure.......if it is then I wouldnt be as scared drilling it out lol

There is a big BRASS in color nut in the center of the drive shaft right where the U joints are. There is a part of that nut that is banged in with like a pucnh from the actory. Bang that part out with a chisel, Punch, or Strong flat head. Then get an impact gun and unscrew that nut. Swap those 2 ends and your all set. Thats what I did.
IPB Image

lmedeirosJun 22, 2009, 6:38 pm · #26

KustamogenIm not sure.......if it is then I wouldnt be as scared drilling it out lol

There is a big BRASS in color nut in the center of the drive shaft right where the U joints are. There is a part of that nut that is banged in with like a pucnh from the actory. Bang that part out with a chisel, Punch, or Strong flat head. Then get an impact gun and unscrew that nut. Swap those 2 ends and your all set. Thats what I did.
posted image

nismologistJun 22, 2009, 7:05 pm · #27

exactly right. i just didnt have the power tools so i paid 15 bucks for them to do that and balance it too

KustamogenJun 22, 2009, 7:25 pm · #28

well Ive found a usdm 240 shaft for 20 bucks.......if I had an impact gun or something I would try that.....thanks....good to know though...didnt know you could even do that lol

David BJun 22, 2009, 8:09 pm · #29

those driveshaft bearings. can u change them?

posted image

i need one lol

KustamogenJun 22, 2009, 8:15 pm · #30

yah its just one lil bolt holding it on.....pry it open a bit and off/on it goes

David BJun 22, 2009, 8:17 pm · #31

hmm. nissan told me its 1 piece

KustamogenJun 22, 2009, 8:25 pm · #32

oh sorry the pics didnt load before.....lol thought you meant the part you attach to the drive shaft....that inner part I dunno (sorry dont know the names of all that crap)

Bryan PetersFeb 20, 2010, 3:06 am · #33

can the s13 have a one piece drive shaft?

nismo_200sxJun 8, 2010, 5:38 am · #34

^ if its aftermarket......again one noob question can a ca20e driveshaft work on a 18det or do you have to lengthen/shorten it?