Tips on smoother shifts, Need a little Advice Options

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

As most of you know, I've got a 94 GT. I've got my second transmision in it right now. I thought my first one was going bad, so I put a new on in, and the new one was never that much better. I've got synro mess fuild in there. I just bought and installed a 7th gen short shifter too. Which I'm very unhappy with, and it will most likely be up for sale soon. But I've drive a lot of manuals in my life. Not a ton, but quite a few. And this car just shifts ruff. How to I solve it? I hate to talk about getting rid of it again, but it's really driving me crazy. I can't image trying to fight with this thing racing or with much more hp. Ideas?

[juggalo]

what rpm are you shifting at??

[purplegt4]

7 gen shifter?

interesting

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

what rpm are you shifting at??

What ever rpm I feel like. But it's a lot smoother at higher rpms. The higher the rpm, the smoother the shift.

[lagos]

adjust your clutch pedal freeplay. it makes a world of difference.

grease up the shifter (under the boot)

[juggalo]

i usually **** at about 3 to 4 try that and see if it make it better

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

adjust your clutch pedal freeplay. it makes a world of difference.

grease up the shifter (under the boot)

I greased it up. I adjusted it before. How much free play do I want? I've got about 1.5 inches now. I want to make sure the clutch is disengaged when in, and full engaged when out. I don't feel like putting another clutch in this thing.

[lilsteeg]

plz it is not as hard as my 82 firebird 4 on the floor, it would not go into first the only time it got into 1st was when i hit it with a mallet when i was releaving some stress, and reverse i had to go up into 3rd bring it back down HIT it over and up in one move, thats why i bought a celica

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

plz it is not as hard as my 82 firebird 4 on the floor, it would not go into first the only time it got into 1st was when i hit it with a mallet when i was releaving some stress, and reverse i had to go up into 3rd bring it back down HIT it over and up in one move, thats why i bought a celica

Yeah, I know how those old cars are. Is that a RockCrusher in that thing? I didn't think they came with them in 82. That's awsome if it is. I can't remember what the 4 speed none rockcrusher is called. Probably just 4 speed. I just think a little 4 banger car should shift a little smoother than an old v8. Or a truck. lol, my dad said it shifts just fine. He drives a big truck that has a 1 1/2 long shifter rod. Not so smooth on it either.

[Valo666]

Nate, how long have u had ur short throw in for?? Im telling you from first hand experience, the first month or so, untill the shifter is used to moving in the base is gonna feel clunky and is gonna b hard 2 get from gear 2 gear. Ive had my TWM 7th gen in my car for..5 months now and i have no problem with it what so ever. I used to have a big problem with trying to get into 3rd, but now my car shifts really smooth. Just give it some time to break in and get used to the shift patern. Its really nice when u get used to it.

[lilsteeg]

plz it is not as hard as my 82 firebird 4 on the floor, it would not go into first the only time it got into 1st was when i hit it with a mallet when i was releaving some stress, and reverse i had to go up into 3rd bring it back down HIT it over and up in one move, thats why i bought a celica

Yeah, I know how those old cars are. Is that a RockCrusher in that thing? I didn't think they came with them in 82. That's awsome if it is. I can't remember what the 4 speed none rockcrusher is called. Probably just 4 speed. I just think a little 4 banger car should shift a little smoother than an old v8. Or a truck. lol, my dad said it shifts just fine. He drives a big truck that has a 1 1/2 long shifter rod. Not so smooth on it either.

it was actually a stock saginaw 4 on the floor, the last year that they used a 4 speed in the camaro or firebird

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

Nate, how long have u had ur short throw in for?? Im telling you from first hand experience, the first month or so, untill the shifter is used to moving in the base is gonna feel clunky and is gonna b hard 2 get from gear 2 gear. Ive had my TWM 7th gen in my car for..5 months now and i have no problem with it what so ever. I used to have a big problem with trying to get into 3rd, but now my car shifts really smooth. Just give it some time to break in and get used to the shift patern. Its really nice when u get used to it.

It's slowly getting better. I'm giving it a break in period. That's what my mom was telling me too. She said I just have to get use to it. Still makes me laugh sometimes thinking about my mom hotrodding around in her Cuda. She use to have some real nice hotrods. Now she drives a CRV, and says she's never been happier with a car. I put a CAI on it for her, and she loved that. I told her to let me put a header on it and some exhaust, but she doesn't want to spend the money. That was way off topic. Bottem line, I'm going to give it time. I'll bring this back in a week to let everyone know how its going. Then priodicly after if I'm not completely satisfied.

[blu94gt]

I'd say if you're having any more problems it's definitely the shifter. my Celicas have been the smoothest shifting cars I've ever driven.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

I think it may be my clutch. Cause if I park it, and put it in neurtal, it will fly through the gears. I'll do this at stop lights some times. Just leave the clutch in, and it will go through them like butter. But once I move, it's a little ruff again. Trying to give all the info I can. Who is the transmission expert around here?

[blu94gt]

I think it may be my clutch. Cause if I park it, and put it in neurtal, it will fly through the gears. I'll do this at stop lights some times. Just leave the clutch in, and it will go through them like butter. But once I move, it's a little ruff again. Trying to give all the info I can. Who is the transmission expert around here?

park it and put it in neutral? what do you mean?

the clutch could be the culprit, for example when you have the clutch all the way in and it's hard to shift your clutch isn't disengaging all the way. but it would be hard to shift at all times in that situation.

my mustang's clutch did that, you could have the clutch all the way in and the car would still creep forward lol.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

I think it may be my clutch. Cause if I park it, and put it in neurtal, it will fly through the gears. I'll do this at stop lights some times. Just leave the clutch in, and it will go through them like butter. But once I move, it's a little ruff again. Trying to give all the info I can. Who is the transmission expert around here?

park it and put it in neutral? what do you mean?

the clutch could be the culprit, for example when you have the clutch all the way in and it's hard to shift your clutch isn't disengaging all the way. but it would be hard to shift at all times in that situation.

my mustang's clutch did that, you could have the clutch all the way in and the car would still creep forward lol.

When I say parked, I mean I stop with the car still running. I think its fully dissengadged because I've never noticed it creep forward at all.

EDIT: I've had the problem with cars before were they would creep forward. Makes them feel like their shifting the same way. It's wierd. They do it all the time though.

This post has been edited by Bigmeanbulldog55: Feb 14, 2006 - 3:29 AM

[presure2]

that 7th gen shifter will make any issues you had larger.
its more notchy than the stocker.
have you checked the fluid level?
also, if your mounts are bad, and you have alot of engine movment between shifts it can contribute to the notchyness.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

that 7th gen shifter will make any issues you had larger.
its more notchy than the stocker.
have you checked the fluid level?
also, if your mounts are bad, and you have alot of engine movment between shifts it can contribute to the notchyness.

I'll chech my fuild levels. I haven't check since I put the new clutch in. I've taken off two mounts and filled them with urithane, so I don't think thats the problem. I know 3 of them are okay. That one next to the power steering resivor, I have no clue how to tell if it's bad. The others you can eye ball to tell. I've checked for engine movement, and there doesn't seem to be much. So I'm checking fuild levels and clutch.

[jgreening]

if your mounts are bad, and you have alot of engine movment between shifts it can contribute to the notchyness.

This was the cause of my shifting problem. Urethane mounts corrected it 100%.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

if your mounts are bad, and you have alot of engine movment between shifts it can contribute to the notchyness.

This was the cause of my shifting problem. Urethane mounts corrected it 100%.

I'm not sure if it helped mine or not when I did it. I like my new mounts though. Make the car shake a little bit more at idiol, but still one of the best things I've done. And you can really tell a difference, even with my piddally little 5sfe.

[Willy2o9]

if your mounts are bad, and you have alot of engine movment between shifts it can contribute to the notchyness.

This was the cause of my shifting problem. Urethane mounts corrected it 100%.

I'm not sure if it helped mine or not when I did it. I like my new mounts though. Make the car shake a little bit more at idiol, but still one of the best things I've done. And you can really tell a difference, even with my piddally little 5sfe.

i just got mine done sunday... so im waiting another day to put em back in =D

[Celicav]

I still say that the 6th Gen TWM is the best shortshifter to buy...no spacers needed...you just take the old long shifter out and pop the new one in. I had no issues whatsoever. This may not be your problem, but I just wanted to add to this.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

I still say that the 6th Gen TWM is the best shortshifter to buy...no spacers needed...you just take the old long shifter out and pop the new one in. I had no issues whatsoever. This may not be your problem, but I just wanted to add to this.

How much was the TWM? Was this $30? Because that's what I paid for the 7th gen. Sometimes it pays to pay more, I know. But I just don't know much about short shifters. There's more I don't know about cars than I do. At least it feels that way now. I hate feeling in the dark about something.

[Celicav]

I still say that the 6th Gen TWM is the best shortshifter to buy...no spacers needed...you just take the old long shifter out and pop the new one in. I had no issues whatsoever. This may not be your problem, but I just wanted to add to this.

How much was the TWM? Was this $30? Because that's what I paid for the 7th gen. Sometimes it pays to pay more, I know. But I just don't know much about short shifters. There's more I don't know about cars than I do. At least it feels that way now. I hate feeling in the dark about something.

The TWM costs about $165 with shipping off their website. It is just a perfect fit. And you probably know more about cars than I do I'm sure...that's why I paid more b/c I wanted to do an easy install. I'm getting there though...installing my Teins starting tomorrow

[Princess_Sparco]

I think it may be my clutch. Cause if I park it, and put it in neurtal, it will fly through the gears. I'll do this at stop lights some times. Just leave the clutch in, and it will go through them like butter. But once I move, it's a little ruff again. Trying to give all the info I can. Who is the transmission expert around here?

i have the same exact problem as you! on some days the tranny will shift super smooth. on other days it feel like @ss! sometimes sitting there w/ the clutch in, the shifter will shift smoothly. when the light turns green. 1st to 2nd is kindda sticky and hard to get in. i think it's the clutch. on some days when i drive it hard, when i first shift the rpms will move up super fast after i drop the clutch and then catch on and go down to a lower rpm. definitely a clutch slip. too lazy and poor to change the clutch though so i'll just deal with it for now and try to shift slow and rev match through all the gears.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

What about the hydrolic pump that pushes the clutch open? Is it the same one as the brakes? What are the chances of this going bad and causing this problem? I'm going to explore this a little.

[Princess_Sparco]

What about the hydrolic pump that pushes the clutch open? Is it the same one as the brakes? What are the chances of this going bad and causing this problem? I'm going to explore this a little.

the part youre talking about is the clutch master cylinder. it separate and smaller than the brake master cylinder. if youre going to give that a try, remember to also check the slave cylinder.

[ZacMan1987]

A lot of it has to do with matching your revs and landing at the proper RPMs too. Don't know if that's contributing, but really focus on where you're dissengaging and how far you are/should be letting your revs drop before you clutch out.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

A lot of it has to do with matching your revs and landing at the proper RPMs too. Don't know if that's contributing, but really focus on where you're dissengaging and how far you are/should be letting your revs drop before you clutch out.

This shouldn't matter. It shold go into gear easily at all rpm.