bl**dy gear changes

[87Sprint]

It seems my gearbox has got some worn selector components (the rubber bushes i assume) which makes changing gears rather annoying. the gearbox has never been very precise but it seems like its getting worse. often when going from 2nd to third the gear stick sort of sticks and doesnt want to shift. Also going from 3rd to fourth often results in 4th not being selected (as if the internals are running half a second behind the lever).. all very frustrating when driving in traffic. My question is how difficult (and $) is it to have this fixed. the workshop manual sayz replacing the bushings is an easy job but they dont mention whether the gearbox needs to allready be out of the car (!). anybody had any experience with this? could it be something else even?

thanks - lucas

[lenus]

I'm just a nooby, but it sounds like the selector bushes to me... Parts are fairly cheap, but i'm pretty sure the box has to come out. so if you have to pay somebody to do it, expect $$$ there.

[budweiser_sud]

Cheap if your doing it yourself, but indeed do expect to pay $ for someone else's time.

I replaced the lower pivot bushing thats made from rubber with a metal one my mechanic friend made on his lathe in 5 minutes. Certainly helps with the slop, but the inherent design of the selectors is around 60% of the cause of this. I've heard of people welding more metal on the selector rods, then grinding it back to make things tighter. Gearbox must be stripped (obviously) to do this, and a lot of patience.

Replacing the rear gearbox mount/selector from a late model 1.7 33 or 16V also may help as it is designed a bit differently to the original 'sud/sprint models. Most wreckers will not seperate the mount from the gearbox though, so beware!

Ideally, replacing the rubber middle bush with a rose-joint would be best, afterall you don't want anything to slow down your gear changes really.. I've also heard of 33/sud/sprint racing drivers changing gears *without* using the clutch. Apparently with the right revs you can just shove it straight from 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th etc and the gearbox copes with it nicely. Don't count me on this, I haven't tried, especially after spending $300 on parts and 20 hours+ rebuilding my 'sud box about 12 months ago.

Also, despite the Haynes manual, tackling a boxer engine gearbox rebuild is no problem if you take your time, lay all the components out on a big work bench in the order they come out, and have access to various images of the gearbox layout. I'd imagine if you can cope with rebuilding a couple of boxer gearboxes, tackling a Ferrari 'box wouldn't be that scary (except for the cost of parts!).

~Benjamin

[87Sprint]

thanks for the info guys - seems that gearbox out is necessary... meaning i may just have to live with it for a while.. i wonder if someone out there has made something similair to the shankle sure shift kit but for a boxer engine?

cheers - lucas

[kaBOOM]

ooooo Sorry I never saw this thread before:

Its not too hard a job, the whole trans doesn't need to come out. Just pull the gearshifter extension out. While this is quite tricky (and normally if this is causeing a problem we do the whole trans) to pull out it can be done its easier than a Alfa Sud Handbrake cable.....lol

Once the whole shooting match is out on the bench, you need to do the main bush that goes through extension (which is the main cause of sloppyness) I "found" some poly bushes in the back of the workshop (Lord knows where they came from....I've used them all now) to put in there.

Next have a look at the top rubber bush. This shouldn't be too worn, I haven't yet seen one totally die....if it has died, then a trip to U-Pull-It is required :-/

Make sure the roll pin thats on the selector shaft that sticks out the end of the gearbox is not loose, Replace it if required.

As for shift kit, I tried to make one, useing a Nissan top shifter off a FS5 transmission (R32 GTS-T Skyline) and a pair of Alfa Sud steering universals.......it, uh, reversed the gears not good

Oh and you can move the rear extensions from one gearbox to another, a Alfa Sud 1200 series 1 will go onto a 1994 Serries 3 Alfa 33 :P

As for shifting without gears, I do some work for a Rally driver who has a old Datsun Stanza, the gearbox (a genuine works item) runs Porshe (Alfa) style syncros, he loved these things, because they worked wonderfully well at high RPM without the clutch Try that with a trans with the "normal" warner type syncros lol

[87Sprint]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaBOOM ooooo Sorry I never saw this thread before: Its not too hard a job, the whole trans doesn't need to come out. Just pull the gearshifter extension out. While this is quite tricky (and normally if this is causeing a problem we do the whole trans) to pull out it can be done its easier than a Alfa Sud Handbrake cable.....lol Once the whole shooting match is out on the bench, you need to do the main bush that goes through extension (which is the main cause of sloppyness) I "found" some poly bushes in the back of the workshop (Lord knows where they came from....I've used them all now) to put in there. Next have a look at the top rubber bush. This shouldn't be too worn, I haven't yet seen one totally die....if it has died, then a trip to U-Pull-It is required :-/ Make sure the roll pin thats on the selector shaft that sticks out the end of the gearbox is not loose, Replace it if required. As for shift kit, I tried to make one, useing a Nissan top shifter off a FS5 transmission (R32 GTS-T Skyline) and a pair of Alfa Sud steering universals.......it, uh, reversed the gears not good Oh and you can move the rear extensions from one gearbox to another, a Alfa Sud 1200 series 1 will go onto a 1994 Serries 3 Alfa 33 :P As for shifting without gears, I do some work for a Rally driver who has a old Datsun Stanza, the gearbox (a genuine works item) runs Porshe (Alfa) style syncros, he loved these things, because they worked wonderfully well at high RPM without the clutch Try that with a trans with the "normal" warner type syncros lol

[kaBOOM]

The only diffrent selectors are the 4WD versions, The 33 Quattro Wagon has a alloy extension shaft with the 4wd selector leaver for the dog clutch and a cut out to allow the tailshaft to pass through.

As for the P4, well sadly (very sadly) I've never pulled one apart.......