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Old May 17, 2010 | 08:10 PM
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Default 1981 Corvette

I have a '81 corvette midnight blue and have this problem when trying to go in reverse it tends to make grinding noises. i wonder if its my transmission or clutch?
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Old May 17, 2010 | 08:29 PM
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All manual transmissions do that. There are no synchro's for reverse. Next time you go to put it in reverse push the clutch in and wait 15 seconds before you go to reverse with the clutch held in. You should have no grinding, this time gives the gears in the trans time to stop.
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Old May 17, 2010 | 09:35 PM
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I had this issue till I replaced my clutch. Now I can shift into reverse with no issue and no noise.

See if you can adjust the clutch linkage. If your at the end of your adjustment, time for a new clutch.
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Old May 17, 2010 | 10:59 PM
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this mostly tends to be when doing a 3 point turn into an uphill driveway.
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Old May 17, 2010 | 11:07 PM
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Before shifting into reverse, when you're stopped, push the shifter into first gear and then shift into reverse.

I do this out of habit on every stick shift I drive, might not matter on new cars but I do it anyway. Has something to do with the reverse gear not having synchros or something magical like that. If that's your only problem with your Vette you're lucky
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Old May 17, 2010 | 11:12 PM
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How much will a new clutch cost ? and were can i get a legit clutch?
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Old May 17, 2010 | 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by RC-Cola
Before shifting into reverse, when you're stopped, push the shifter into first gear and then shift into reverse.

I do this out of habit on every stick shift I drive, might not matter on new cars but I do it anyway. Has something to do with the reverse gear not having synchros or something magical like that. If that's your only problem with your Vette you're lucky
So it doesnt have to do with synchros? by the way what is synchros? ive heard of it. what kind of Corvette do you have?
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Old May 17, 2010 | 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Rooben
So it doesnt have to do with synchros? by the way what is synchros? ive heard of it. what kind of Corvette do you have?
I was saying it has "something" to do with synchros but I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell you exactly what. I guess it's something that helps mesh the input shaft speed with the output shaft and lots of transmissions don't have them on the reverse gear. First gear is a close enough ratio to reverse, so when you shift into first it'll synch up in reverse, in total layman's terms, maybe someone else can explain it better.

Mine's a 73 but I had the problem on an 81 Trans Am til someone told me to shift into first, and I've done it on every stick shift ever since out of habit.
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Old May 18, 2010 | 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted by RC-Cola
I was saying it has "something" to do with synchros but I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell you exactly what. I guess it's something that helps mesh the input shaft speed with the output shaft and lots of transmissions don't have them on the reverse gear. First gear is a close enough ratio to reverse, so when you shift into first it'll synch up in reverse, in total layman's terms, maybe someone else can explain it better.

Mine's a 73 but I had the problem on an 81 Trans Am til someone told me to shift into first, and I've done it on every stick shift ever since out of habit.
Thats cool dude ohhh ok i was just wondering because this my first car so i dont know much about it... but thanks for the tips.
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