CD00A 6-Speed Manual Transmission | 2003-2006 Nissan 350Z / Infiniti G35 | VQ35DE | OEM RWD 6MT | External Slave

This is the genuine Nissan CD00A 6-speed manual transmission used in every RWD 2003-2006 Nissan 350Z Z33 and 2003-2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe/Sedan V35, and it’s the original Aisin-sourced 6MT that came behind the VQ35DE before Nissan revised it to the CD009 in late 2005, so this is the correct period-correct gearbox for early DE cars and the direct OEM replacement if your CD00A is grinding, popping out of gear, or has failed bearings, and the CD00A uses a split-case aluminum design with an integrated bellhousing for the VQ35DE bolt pattern, so it bolts straight to any 2003-2006 DE engine with the stock clutch, flywheel, and driveshaft, and the gear ratios are 3.794 1st, 2.324 2nd, 1.624 3rd, 1.271 4th, 1.000 5th, and 0.794 6th, giving the same aggressive 1-4 acceleration and highway 6th as the later CD009, and the input shaft is 24-spline with a 350mm shifter location from the bellhousing face that puts the knob perfect in the Z33/V35 chassis with OEM linkage, and the output is 24-spline to match the stock driveshaft or any 1-piece made for 350Z/G35, and internally the CD00A shares the same mainshaft, countershaft, and gear strength as the CD009, which is why guys push these to 550-600whp with a good clutch, solid trans mount, and clean fluid, but the key difference is the CD00A uses early-style single-cone synchros on 1st-3rd and has weaker 3rd/4th shift forks vs the CD009’s triple-cone synchros and reinforced forks, so the CD00A is known for developing 3rd gear grind and shift fork wear at high mileage or with aggressive driving, and Nissan addressed that in the CD009 revision, and the slave cylinder is external on the CD00A with a fork and throwout bearing, which many owners prefer over the later internal CSC for ease of service, and the speed sensor is in the tail housing and plugs into the Z33/V35 harness with no wiring changes, and because this is the OEM DE transmission it has the correct spline engagement, bearing preloads, and case tolerances that junkyard boxes with unknown history often lack, and if you’re restoring a 2003-2004 350Z or G35 to factory spec, doing a 6MT swap into an automatic DE car, or you need a budget replacement and don’t want to convert to CD009, the CD00A is the bolt-in solution that keeps OEM clutch hydraulics, shifter, and driveshaft, and it’s also the core most builders use when doing CD009 conversions because the case and gears are the same, and with a synchro rebuild and updated shift forks it holds the same power as a CD009, and for street cars under 450whp that aren’t clutch kicked every weekend, a good CD00A with fresh Nissan MTF or Redline MT-85 will shift smooth and last, and this gives you factory 350Z/G35 shift feel without adapter plates, custom driveshafts, or messing with HR bellhousing swaps.