Z31 Driveshaft Information
The 1984 to 1989 300zx cars came with six different driveshaft configurations depending on body, transmission, and engine. The reason for the differences is each Transmission has their own unique slip-yoke on the driveshaft, and length of the drive shaft will vary per the body configuration.
Z31 Driveshaft Types
Below is a list of the different driveshaft configurations used in the Z31 chassis:
| Driveshaft Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Automatic 2-Seater | Used in all 2-seater automatic models |
| Early NA Manual 2-Seater (71C) | For early production naturally aspirated manuals |
| Late NA Manual 2-Seater (71C) | For later production naturally aspirated manuals |
| Early Turbo Manual (T5) | Used with early Borg-Warner T5-equipped Turbo models |
| Late 87+ Turbo Manual (90A) | For late Turbo models using the FS5R90A transmission |
| Automatic 2+2 | Used in all 2+2 automatic models |
| NA Manual 2+2 | For naturally aspirated 2+2 manual cars |
Manual Driveshaft Information
The universal joints are not the same size on the N/A vs Turbo driveshafts. The Turbo U-joints are larger, so you cannot simply swap yokes or differential flanges on the driveshaft.
Differential Companion Flanges
| Style | Description | Part Number |
|---|---|---|
| Early Style | Rectangle Bolt Pattern | 38210-Y0800 (No Longer Available) |
| Late Style (87+) | Round/Square Bolt Pattern | 38210-10V00 (No Longer Available) |
You can swap the differential companion flange on the differential relatively easily with a steering wheel puller. Be sure to re-torque the pinion nut to 137–144 ft-lbs after swapping the flange.
Slip Yoke Measurements
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Length of Slip Yokes | 4.125" |
| FS5R30A Diameter | 1.625" |
| FS5R90A Diameter | 1.5" |
| FS6W71C Diameter | 1.375" |
Automatic Driveshaft Information
There were 4 different driveshafts used in automatic transmission models. They varied based on body style and model year. Below is the breakdown:
| Model | Year | Drive Shaft Length (Center-to-Center) | Differential Companion Flange |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Seat | 1984–1986 | Coming Soon | Rectangle |
| 4 Seat (2+2) | 1984–1986 | 34.75 in (882.65 mm) | Rectangle |
| 2 Seat | 1987–1989 | Coming Soon | Square |
| 4 Seat (2+2) | 1987–1989 | 34.75 in (882.65 mm) | Square |
Sources Used
- 1984-1988 Nissan 300ZX Factory Service Manual
- Nissan Fast software
- FS5R30A Image and FS5W71C 2+2 Image by GE
- FS5R90A Image and FS5W71C Image By Jason Butts of z31performance
- Z31 Wiki
- Paul Hillman (Aka :AZ-ZBUM)