6spd problem PLEASE HELP
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: portsmouth va
6spd problem PLEASE HELP
Hello, i have a 97 6spd vette. Has 58k on it, pretty stock. The problem i have is it grinds going into second gear, and only second. If i push in the cluch and wait for the rpm's to drop to almost idle, it goes in fine, but if you try and shift from 1st to 2nd it grinds, at any speed, driving normal. My local aamco said it was the clutch, but i was told by someone else that if it were the clutch it would do it in all gears. I was also told by a local performance shop that it is the synchro's. I dont know what to do, any ides would help. Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
Originally Posted by dpd
2nd gear synchro and or shift fork.more than likely it's the synchro
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: portsmouth va
I thought that if the synchro is bad it will also pop out of gear. It wont pop out, let out and then get back in it and it will not pop out of gear. Can you replace a shift fork from the top, or do you have to pull the trans? Im going to contact RPM trans. tommorow and see if it rings a bell with them. I cant live with it, there is no geting on the car unless you wind it up in 1st, push in the clutch, wait for the rpm's to drop, and then shift into second. Thats no fun. I dont power shift my street car, but i do like to speed shift every now and then. Thanks for the replys, ill keep you posted on the issue.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
THe very first thing you should do is change the transmission fluid. THese transmissions are really sensitive to the fluid quality. It may not help but it certainly won't hurt. Then see what you've got.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Nassau NY
shift problem
you can try double-clutching the shift from first to second. Push clutch in...shift to neutral...let clutch out(without increasing engine RPM's)...push clutch back in quickly and shift to second. If there is no grind then it is the second gear syncro. By double-clutching you are manually syncronizing the gears. Hope this helps your diagnosis.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Originally Posted by dpd
2nd gear synchro and or shift fork.more than likely it's the synchro
I've got this problem now, already changed Trans fluid,, but mine only does it if I shift above 4k RPM....which is quite often
So after winter I'll be gettin a Rodney trans...just biding my time now
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
I've heard people going to thicker fluid (right before getting a rebuilt or replacement) and it solved their problems. Royal Purple seems to be the magic solution for many people. Also make sure you're not depressing the clutch all the way, just enough to disengage it...there are threads about this causing issues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville Georgia
I'M NOT SAYING IT WAS YOU, BUT USUALLY WHEN ANY GEAR GRINDS IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE WAS/HAS BEEN SHIFTING TO HARD. IT'S A PRETTY COMMON THING ESPECIALLY RACING AT A TRACK. I MADE SURE THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO MY Z06 LIKE MY OTHER CARS IN THE PAST. I GOT A HURST SHIFTER & I CAN SHIFT AS HARD AND AS FAST AS I CAN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, CHECK/CHANGE THE FLUID ECT.... & HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT JUST TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HARD SHIFTING IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE GEARS TO GRIND, THATS JUST ONE OF THEM. I HOPE YOU GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED.
BEST OF LUCK~ CHRiS
BEST OF LUCK~ CHRiS
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: East Lansing, Mi
Originally Posted by FrankTank
I've got this problem now, already changed Trans fluid,, but mine only does it if I shift above 4k RPM....which is quite often So after winter I'll be gettin a Rodney trans...just biding my time now
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
Originally Posted by cwls1
I dont power shift my street car, but i do like to speed shift every now and then.
My dad's race mechanic (he races Vettes in World Challenge, where they use stock gearbox) caught me doing it and warned me to knock it off, saying I would wear out the synchros. FWIW, and G/L with the fix.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,032
Likes: 9,789
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Speed shifting will damage the synchros over time. It also doesn't matter which shifter you have. The act of forcing them faster than they want to go is what does the damage and changing the brand of the stick sticking out of the floor doesn't change the force being applied inside the transmission.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: portsmouth va
Yes i understand that, but ive never forced a gear in when it didnt want to go. POWER SHIFTING is never lifting the gas and lightly taping the clutch, so you kinda force a gear into place. SPEED SHIFTING is shifting them fast, but allways lifting on the gas and leting the clutch engaged before the shift. That is how ive allways read/understood it anyways. Every one i know speed shift's from time to time. I talked to RPM today and they said it was the blocker rings or synchro. I think im going to just get another trans, its looking like i can do that for about the same as having the problem fixed. Thanks for all the replys, they were a great help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
Gotcha. My definition of speed shifting is not using the clutch at all, but shifting by matching revs, either by letting them fall the right amount for upshifts or blipping the throttle for downshifts. I NEVER powershift my car, cuz a few hundreths is just not worth it to me.
You didn't mention if you're the original owner; if not, most of the damage could have been done by others. I was just trying to help you identify a possible practice that you could change to avoid future issues. In any event, G/L with the new gearbox!
You didn't mention if you're the original owner; if not, most of the damage could have been done by others. I was just trying to help you identify a possible practice that you could change to avoid future issues. In any event, G/L with the new gearbox!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by cwls1
I think it may be. Looks like it could have been abused before i got it. I think a new one will be best in the long run. Thanks
