Manual is the only way to go, Blue. :)

This is what I was thinking too, hehe

If you have the time, the resources are available, and you want a 5-speed, then go for it. Just bear in mind everything that goes with a manual swap (I'm assuming it's automatic) aside from the transmission.

On this car, its actually pretty simple. Clutch pedal, transmission, driveshaft, brake pedal, and that's about all there is hehe

Good deal. Goes without saying but I'd spend the extra coin on a new clutch, seal, pilot bearing, etc before putting the trans on.

It's an auto? Oh jesus god yes please put a 5spd in it. There's no sense in owning a Z car if it's an auto, that's the whole point of owning a Z. They're supposed to be a driver's car, not a cruiser. I figured you knew that ;P
They're amazing machines, you can drive the living shit out of them and they beg for more. You can't do that with a slush box.

Yeah, unfortunately it came with an auto. I don't know who in their right mind would purchase a sports car with one, but I do have the option of picking up a parts car with a stick and good hood for reasonable cheap

DOOO IIIITTTTTTTT!

lol

All I need to do is find someone to buy the engine and it'll make it worth it hehe. 600 is the asking price but most of the body panels are rusted away, but the drivetrain looks and sounds to be in good nick.

depending on the car/Model of Z that you have I could recommend which kind of transmission that would be the most durable

BTW Manual is the way to go all day every day

I'm going off of what I have easily available, not necessarily what's "the best" hehe. This is a budget build, not limitless

Is it the Turbo 300ZX I saw posted not too long ago? there is 3 different transmissions those cars came with. all 5 speed but one is ass (could be a waste of time to swap it in) and a alright one and a fairly strong one that you could fit in it if you have the VG33ET/VG33DET
The swap won't be cheep in general from my experience swapping a car from auto to manual will range from 500$ to 2 grand

The 86 has the VG30E/T, not the 33. The T-5 is what was originally mated to the turbo cars, but people have put in the FS5W71C with no repercussions, at least from what I've read. The parts car I'm looking at I believe is equipped with this 71C, and it has everything I'd need to do the swap. I would just need to find someone to sell the engine to and I could justify the purchase.

I should add that my car currently has the auto trans, not the T-5.