Gearbox Numbering.
As I understand it , the F refers to rear wheel drive boxes and R to Front wheel drive boxes. This can be followed by an S for double synchro boxes. The next number is the number of forward speeds. This may be followed by C or W, referring to wide or close ratios. The next number such as 56, 60, 63, 71 or 30 (short for 130) is the distance between input shaft and countershaft centres.

A, B, or C is the evolutionary series for the box as they get older. Some boxes have an L suffix for long extension housing versions. Direct drive boxes have a "direct drive" suffix after the box numbers.

56 series boxes come in 4 speed, 5 speed overdrive (rarely), and direct drive option boxes. These are the stock A series boxes from (1000's ???) 1200's 120Y and sunny's and the nismo sports option boxes.

A F4W56L is a rear drive 4 speed wide ratio 56 series box with a long extension housing.
A F5C56A from a 120Y and 310, is a rear drive 5 speed close ratios 56 series box version A .

On F5 60A boxes they can come with a # symbol after the 60A. This is to identify different shift patterns and gear size changes. Eg - dogleg shift early 60A boxes and conventional 5th over reverse late boxes.

63A series boxes were fitted to the 180B SSS, 200B SSS, Stanza SSS. They were also behind some A series in the US and Japan. These are the "super A" boxes. They can take 200 hp without stress if not subjected to high shock loads. Ideal for turbo A15's etc

71 series boxes first started behind Prince engines and had detachable bell housings on the front of the casing before the sandwich plate.. They were used on roadsters, early Z's and 240C in 4 & 5 speed models. All had Porsche style steel synchro rings. They were known as 71A boxes. In about 1971 these boxes lost their detachable bell housings, got bigger bearings, better gear profiles and became 71B boxes. These were used in all 6 cylinder applications through to 1984.

In 1984 the FJ20T engines in Skyline and S12 got a modded 71B box with larger bearings in the 71B housings. This became the 71C box when a new shifter mechanism was added to the larger bearings.

The first 71C boxes appeared behind Z24's in Navara utes, also in 300C wagons in the UK and 300ZX's both behind VG30's. A bit later they were used for a very small run behind the updated S12 behind CA18DET's.

The 71C

Good overview, thanks.

I'm not sure, but I thought it was this:

F = Floor shift
R = linkage shifter

DD That explanation of the F and R prefix would make sense.

I can think of one anomaly though and that is the 71B "three cable" remote shift in the Z20 powered C120 vannette is still called a F5W71B on the body plate I think?
I will check next time I see one.

More secrets revealed.

There is so much info that is encoded in, on, or around vehicles that they can tell us much about thenselves, but unless we know how to decipher the codes, we remain in the dark.

Thanks to Feral, & Ddgonzal, for shining another light on the subject.

If "F" does actually stand for "floor" then perhaps the "R" stands for "remote"

EDIT [18 months later]
The word 'remote' is used in the 1000 workshop manual in the description of the three speeds column shift mechanism.
Quote
"3 stage for forward, 1 stage for reverse.
Remote control
Full-synchromesh on forward gears"

Sounds plausible to me.

Interestingly, the body code (not transmission code) has F = Five-Speed, and T = 4-speed , e.g. B110GFK was GX Five-Speed. And B110GTK was GX Four-speed. The T holds true for export models as well. The full body codes aren't on the underhood plate, but you'll see some of the extended codes on the cover of the owners manual.

Quote:
With the recent interest in gearboxes, particularly the five speeds, being shown on this site, I thought it a good time to bump this one up again.
Newbies are advised to start reading from the first post.

There is mention of an OD 56 series 5 speed box but I don't know if such a thing existed.
The 56 series gearboxes were made, as far as I can tell, as a.....

3 speed column shift [R3W56]*
4 speed standard floorshift [F4W56 & F4W56A]
4 speed 'option 1' competition gearbox.[F4C56] [This is a presumed model code]
4 speed 'option 2' serious competition gearbox. [F4?56] [as for Option 1 gearbox]
5 speed GX option gearbox. [F5W56A]
5 speed 'option 1' competition gearbox.[F5C56A]

The close ratio 'option' boxes were normally available only as a separate purchase from the Datsun Competition department [through various outlets], so it did not come as a 'factory' option in B110 & B210 models, however I believe that some dealers in Japan were either fitting 'option 1' five speeds, or buying the conversion parts & upgrading the F5W56A gearboxes in new GX5's during pre-delivery for 'special' customers. This might have happened with the four speed option 1&2 gearboxes also, but the option 2's first gear ratio is the same as second gear in the stock four speed model & it would have been an absolute pig in traffic.
I have not mentioned the B310 here as I have no reference material whatsoever on the competition parts & I do not know if the 56 series five speed was available at all in this model.

I found no reference to a 56 series box with an 'L' suffix & I suspect that this code was used when there was also a short version of the same box.
All 56 series gearboxes are the same length overall as the propellor shafts are the same part numbers for both 3 & 4 speeds in a given model & the 5 speed went straight into my 1000 sedan & used the stock B10 shaft.

*My factory 1000 manual does not use a model code for the two gearboxes, while the 1200 manual calls them R3W56 & F4W56 & both of these are shown in the manuals & parts books with a ball bearing to support the front of the cluster.
The factory B210 [120Y] & B310 [Sunny] manuals call it a F4W56A & these are shown with the Torrington race to support the front of the cluster.

The option 1 & 2 four speeds appear in the B110 competition manual only, so it would appear at this time that they were not available for the B210.

I have not come across any mention of an OD 56 series boxes yet, so perhaps if someone has one, or knows of one, they could let us know.
In fact, any additional knowledge about these little boxes will be greatly appreciated.

So hit the books boys [& girls?] & let the knowledge flow about the 60 series & also the 63 series that were used behind the A series engines so that we can all learn more.

EDIT
Can someone come up with a part number for the cluster for the B210 or B310 F4W56A gearbox. I want to know if they are interchangeable with the 1200's cluster
The 1200's cluster is...
Gear- counter. 29t, 25t, 19t, 13t. ..... 32210- 24900.
It was never superceded in 1200 production & is the same number for the B10 gearbox too.

as far as weight, 60's weigh about 80bs in a wood crate so 65-70 lbs just the tranny, and i have a 63a un-mounted so i could weigh it, just don't have a scale accurate enough to say anything other than it weighs about the same as a 60

the 60 series use different size shafts than the 63, i don't have the specs here, but i was told the 63a uses the AT output shaft, and the clutch is different, since the input shaft is bigger, but it uses the same flywheel as a 60.

in the same talk i asked about what length the drive shaft is for the 63a and was told that it is the AT shaft.

what gear sets came in the 63a? are they similar to the 60A overdrive 5 speed federal ratios? Since there was never a 63a Direct box.

Thanks for all the effort gathering the tranny info!

I thought I would summarize the info from the limited books I have on hand.

From the Nissan 1971 Datsun 1200 service manual:

B110 (S) U
B110 (S) RU
B110 (S) U

Fitted with R3W56 Steering column shift transmission

Ratios:

1st 3.380
2nd 1.734
3rd 1.000


B110 (S) TU
LB110 (S) T
B110 (S) TRU
LB110 (S) TR
LB110 TRU
LB110 TRN
VB110 (S) TU
VLB110 (S) T
KB110 U
KLB110
KLB110 U
KLB110 N

Fitted with F4W56 Floor shift transmission

Ratios:
1st 3.757
2nd 2.169
3rd 1.404
4th 1.000

The only other book that has any interesting info is the Haynes manual covering the 1978 through 1981 510s. There were some different trannys and different gear ratio combos available.

F4W60 Ratios:
1st 3.513
2nd 2.170
3rd 1.378
4th 1.000

F4W63L Ratios:

DX Saloon:
1st 3.382
2nd 2.013
3rd 1.321
4th 1.000

Other Saloons and all Estate Cars
1st 3.657
2nd 2.177
3rd 1.429
4th 1.000

FS5W63A Ratios:

Coupe (standard):
1st 3.382
2nd 2.013
3rd 1.312
4th 1.000
5th .854

Coupe (alternative):
1st 3.657
2nd 2.177
3rd 1.419
4th 1.000
5th .852


Was there any numbers on the trannys that designated what the bell housing fits?

Anyone in the upper left corner of the US have a 60 or 63 5 speed for sale?

Gary

There was a very interesting 56 series gearbox for sale on ebay in the US recently. From the ratios that were listed, it is a four speed close ratio 'Option 2' gearbox & it came with a butchered bellhousing to fit an MG. No matter as a standard 1200 four speed 56 series case would save it, but not necessarily the 56A case from a B210 or B310. Note that it uses a ball bearing on the front of the cluster.



EDIT, the eBay link & pictures are now dead.

One of our US members bravely bid for it, but was beaten out by someone else with more cash to throw at it. I just hope the buyer realises what he has & doesn't try to use it behind a full house A15 as it could be reduced to scrap in short order.

First gear ratio in these is the same as second gear in a standard four speed, so they are not really suitable for street use unless you have a really low diff ratio & are prepared to sit on a zillion revs at highway speed.

Bad luck Bob, you could have really done some good with it.