1G Transmission Issues very hard to shift

[LarryJoe]

So recently I installed a fidanza lightweight flywheel, along with a fidanza 3.2 Kevlar clutch. The issue I'm having is its very hard to shift. It's like it hits a wall for a second, then lets me into gear.

I have a full ss line from master to slave. I've bled it a ton, adjusted the master cylinder according to Jacks video, replaced a lot of bushings in the assembly and switched to solid bushings at the transmission and under the shifter base. I put fresh Pennzoil synchromesh in the transmission. The shift fork sits in the middle of the boot on the tranny. The slave makes full travel when the pedal is pushed.

If I try to push it into gear while its in neutral with no clutch the Motor bogs down and doesn't let me go. No grinding or anything.

So I don't really know what else to check for here. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[twicks69]

Your clutch is not disengaging. You either need to do a master cylinder rod adjustment and re-bleed; or you need to inspect your bellhousing bolts including the rear one and make sure the transmission is not separating from the engine block. Otherwise if all this is confirmed perfect, then you need to drop your transmission and deal with the reason it is not disengaging. Pressure plate bolts should have been torqued to 22-24 ft/lbs, flywheel to 100 ft/lbs w/ Loctite red. Your pivot ball may need a 1mm or 2mm thick spacer due to whatever TOB you are using or you have a clutch hydraulic issue.

 

[LarryJoe]

Ive adjusted the master cylinder already. And I checked and all 4 bellhousing bolts are in and tight.

Edit: if it helps any, when the cars in neutral and running it goes in all the gears easy with the clutch in. It's only hard to get in gear while moving.

 

[JackM]

Ive adjusted the master cylinder already. And I checked and all 4 bellhousing bolts are in and tight.

Edit: if it helps any, when the cars in neutral and running it goes in all the gears easy with the clutch in. It's only hard to get in gear while moving.

I've had this problem before in a few vehicles and it can be very difficult to diagnose.

In your first post, it sounds to me like you had a dragging clutch at low RPM causing your issue, but when you said it shifts fine into all gears while at a stop and running in your 2nd post, that threw everything off.

Try this as it will check for low RPM drag:

• 
  Start the car and let it idle
  Push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor
  Put the car into 1st gear (you should feel a slight resistance when engaging the gear which is the synchro blocker working to stop clutch disk rotation)
  Pull the shifter out of 1st gear and then go back in (you should feel 0 resistance at this point as if nothing is there)
  Pull the shifter out of 1st again
  Wait 10 seconds
  Put it back into 1st again

Note that you are keeping the clutch pedal pushed this whole time and are not letting up.

The ONLY time you should feel resistance is the very first time you put it into 1st gear. The rest of the time it should slip in as if the engine is OFF. After the 10 second wait, it should still slip right in with no resistance.

If you feel some resistance after waiting the 10 seconds, then the clutch disk is dragging due to something wrong with the clutch. You could have a bend in the disk due to improper install and someone allowing the trans to hang on it, or the clearance between the flywheel and pressure plate is wrong. The clearance issue wouldn't surprise me as Fidanza can never seen to get that right.

If it passes this test at idle, then try it again at 2K RPM. Same as listed above, but hold the engine at 2k instead. See if you feel resistance. Then try 3k, then 4k. If you get to a point that you feel resistance anytime you pull the shifter out of 1st and back in without moving the pedal, then you found the point where the clutch is dragging.

Good luck,

Jack

 

[LarryJoe]

I tried this. It doesn't really slide into gear while sitting still but there is no wall like when I try to shift while driving. Wen I did that test it didnt show much more resistance each time. About te same really. Wasn't smooth like it should be but nothing stopped me from entering first each time.

 

[JackM]

I tried this. It doesn't really slide into gear while sitting still but there is no wall like when I try to shift while driving. Wen I did that test it didnt show much more resistance each time. About te same really. Wasn't smooth like it should be but nothing stopped me from entering first each time.

Well that pretty much sums it up then. Your clutch is dragging badly and you need to pull the trans again to check:

Engine-to-trans alignment dowel pins.
Pressure plate finger location when assembled.
Disk for installation damage (bent).
Proper torque to pressure plate bolts.

It sucks but if you keep driving the car like it is you will soon have a clutch AND trans which is damaged.

Jack