6-Speed Problems
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2008
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6-Speed Problems
I have a '92 with the 6-speed manual. About 2 years ago, I was getting sent out of the country for work, and had my dad fly in to drive the car back to his place in Indiana for storage.
Along the way, he was in traffic and lost 1st and 2nd gears. He was able to limp to a shop using 3rd, but after it was parked, it seemed to be stuck in 2 gears at once. He rented a uhaul and towed her the rest of the way, and when she rolled off the trailer, the transmission broke loose, and he was again able to maneuver using 3rd gear. He pulled it into the garage, stabilized the fuel, and that's where she's sat ever since.
I'm finally free to get up there and try to sort things out. Any suggestions on where to start/what to look for?
Thanks!
Along the way, he was in traffic and lost 1st and 2nd gears. He was able to limp to a shop using 3rd, but after it was parked, it seemed to be stuck in 2 gears at once. He rented a uhaul and towed her the rest of the way, and when she rolled off the trailer, the transmission broke loose, and he was again able to maneuver using 3rd gear. He pulled it into the garage, stabilized the fuel, and that's where she's sat ever since.
I'm finally free to get up there and try to sort things out. Any suggestions on where to start/what to look for?
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
The 1992 has the 6 Speed ZF Tranny. It's a good box, and the shifter is integral to the trans (not external like the old Musclecar transmissions like the Muncies and Richmonds use) - meaning that there is no linkage to "adjust" to fix a problem.....
There aren't a whole lot of user servicable parts in that trans.
If you do a search on ZF Doctor, that's probably the most knowlegable guy around on those gearboxes. Give him a call and maybe he'll have an idea. If it is really engaging two gears at once, I have the feeling you're going to be pulling the trans out.
GOOD LUCK
There aren't a whole lot of user servicable parts in that trans.
If you do a search on ZF Doctor, that's probably the most knowlegable guy around on those gearboxes. Give him a call and maybe he'll have an idea. If it is really engaging two gears at once, I have the feeling you're going to be pulling the trans out.
GOOD LUCK
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
pehaps the above poster is correct, but I have a ZF in a modified 85 running quite a bit of rwhp/tq....that tranny is one stout piece....my initial thoughts are more along the lines of the clutch hydraulics...unfortunately they are much more prone to failure than the tranny itself!! I'd have someone look in the master cylinder on the firewall to make sure it is full of fluid first.......those ZF's just don't fail every day.......keep us informed.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2008
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Okay... I finally got a few moments to look things over. I'm hopeful, because there is definitely a problem with the shifter. There is a lot of play in the vertical plane... It feels like its not properly connected at the bottom or something.
I have a funeral to attend today, so hopefully I can get it up in the air tonight and get a good look at things.
I have a funeral to attend today, so hopefully I can get it up in the air tonight and get a good look at things.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,846
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
It's either the shifter forks (internal) of the shifter (external)
The shifter comes apart pretty easily.
I'd check it out and see if you can see anything.
The shifter comes apart pretty easily.
I'd check it out and see if you can see anything.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2008
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I will... I have a Hurst short throw shifter I'd planned to install before all this happened... Maybe I'll just go ahead and install that. Anything specific I should be on the lookout for while I have it apart?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,846
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
I'd make sure the shims are all in place.
Check the parts for any abnormal wear.
See if anything is out of place.
You may want to change the fluid and see if any bits come out.
BTW make sure you get the fill plug out BEFORE you remove the drain plug
Check the parts for any abnormal wear.
See if anything is out of place.
You may want to change the fluid and see if any bits come out.
BTW make sure you get the fill plug out BEFORE you remove the drain plug
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
yeah; the hurst shifter is just that, a rod with a fork at the end; there are a multitude of bushings and little parts in the shifter ASSEMBLY; take the whole thing off (it's easy) and send it to ZFdoc for a complete rebuild. You won't be disappointed
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 27
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I started in on shifter removal, and someone has definitely been in there and not put things back correctly. There were no zip ties on the top rubber boot, the bottom boot is missing altogether, and there are no shims at all.
I've emailed Bill at ZFdoc, and am waiting for his advice. I'll definitely change the tranny fluid while she's up in the air. Any other suggestions?