TRE spec trans installed.. is this normal?

[eclipsed76]

Hey guys I just finished installing my TRE trans last night and theres a few things im concerned about. Its the TRE spec FWD trans wich is basiclly a beefed up AWD trans made to work on FWD........ Im hoping somone can tell me if these things are normal.....

First off the starter isnt lining up, it'll start but it sounds terrable. I know the starter is in a slightly differant location on the awd trans, which is why you need an AWD flyweel for this swap, which I have. I had to do some cutting of the plate that goes between the engine and the trans to get the holes to line up. It bolts right up.... but when I start it, it grinds. I called mitsu and the awd and fwd starters are exactly the same on 2nd gens. If any one else has done the same trans mod I have please let me know any tricks to make this line up right before i destroy my new fly wheel.


When Shift into second/third it feels like the shifter can still move more, sorta like it dosnt stop or anything if i put any pressure on it (such as resting my hand on it) i can feel the gears turning???? I know with my stock trans, once it was in thats as far as it would move. I looked on the forums to see if I could possably adjust the shifter linkage but as far as i can tell only the 1st gens can be adjusted.... I also looked every where on the cables and theres nothing to adjust.

Also the shifter moves back and fourth a lil when give it gas. I checked all the trans mounts and they seem to be tight as can be.

Other than that it shifts like butter

Im gonna call TRE when they open on tues, but im worried that somthing might be wrong with this trans and i dont want to mess it up. hopfully somone on here has done this same swap.

Thanx
Chris

98 Eclipse GST 5speed

 

[NA All The Way]

OK, First off the movement of the shifter is normal. When you are in gear and are taking off the shifter is removing the free play. Second off, When you say that you can feel the gears moving when you rest your hand on the shifter,(which you shouldn't do anyway) of course you can feel the gears moving, What you are feeling is just the vibration being carried through the cables and then the shifter. Again this is normal. And lastly about the shifter feeling that it has more room to move after it is in gear, the shifter might have more room to move but the shift forks don't, The new tranny might have a shorter throw (thats a good thing) So don't force the shifter once it's in gear, unless you want to be replacing those really cool new shift forks. Well that should cover it, Good luck.

ps, I also have this tranny and have yet to install it so we might be talking more soon.

 

[eclipsed76]

Hey thanks for replying, After driving the car for a week or so im getting used to the new feel. I was mainly concerned that somthing might be wrong. It was my first trans install ever and with the money it cost, I wanted to make sure every thing was right. My stock trans never moved the shifter at all, but I can live with it no prob. This trans shifts great, I cant wait till the new clutch is broken in so I can give it a full test. As far as the starter prob, Im pretty sure I put the wrong bolts in the starter. I read somwhere that they have a small step on the theads. Ill be picking up new ones in a day or two and im sure that will fix the prob.

Good luck with the trans install let me know if it goes smooth.

Chris

 

[1fast97gsx]

I disagree with the other guy ... no your shifter should not move. Think about it, what would cause the cables to move which in turn causes the shifter to move? The gear selector/linkage on the trans moving could only cause that and the only reason that can move is if the shift rails are moving up and down. The fork will be on the gear you are in and the only way that can move is if the gear moves up and down ( or the rail of course but now we'd be working backwards ). The reason a gear will move is if any of the main shafts are moving. The only way these can move is if the trans is not properly shimmed or the bearings are worn. This is not normal and should be taken care of. Thats why these trans need to have the right preloads and endplay. 5th gear can have some play if the big 36mm end nut is not tightened down properly as states in vfaq, but should also not move.

Another note ... why would a tranny have shorter throw???? The trans has strengthened oem gears, syncros, forks, rails ( I know they use evo parts for the fork / rail but thats besides the point ), hubs, and sleeves .. but not all this stuff is a different size than stock is and it won't have a shorter throw. Shiming the trans and setting preloads can have SLIGHT affect on shifter throw but nothing noticeable. There is definitly something wrong with your trans. Did they maybe reuse your old bearings? Something is not right and a moving shifter is definitly not normal. Trust me my car doesn't have a moving shifter and neither do any of my friends cars. I always keep my hand on the shifter and there is no reason to not keep your hand on it as long as you aren't forcing it out of gear while you are just driving along. Send it back before your warranty period expires and have it checked out.

 

[gixxer]

rathter than cut the dust shield inbetween the tranny and engine, you should have just gotten an AWD one to make a perfect fit, that could still be your problem

 

[wishihadatalon]

let me know how the stepped bolts work. b/c mine does the same thing on my torque converter. i think the teeth are fooked but i could be wrong

 

[my97mitsGSX]

is the dust shield all that important.. i forgot to put mine on after i dropped in the motor.. I was thinking of getting a thing peice of sheetmetal and cover the bottom of the trans and try to angle it upwards on each side to prevent water from splashing up.. or do you guys think i should pull it apart and do it right?

good luck with the trans btw!

 

[eclipsed76]

"Send it back before your warranty period expires and have it checked out."

Ok now ya got me worried, I dont have the time to do all that work again of pulling out the trans and sending it back...... could it be somthing eles???? (praying) Im gonna go over the whole trans, maybe somthings loose , I doubt it but ya never know. It feels like the shifter moves as soon as thers a load on the trans, its fine till i give it gas then it moves a lil forward and back, probly like an 1/8th inch. Maybe a trans mout is loose.


Im gonna call them and see what TRE has to say about it, I was just starting to feel better about it.

As far as the shield between the trans, if i woulda known I would have bought a new one but cutin it seemed to work fine ..sorta.. im sure those bolts will fix the starters issues.

 

[NA All The Way]

Ok,
Aparently there are people that decide to voice there opinion of others on this site, Thats fine, all I ask is do your research before you decide to belittle someone else. We are all here to help and unfortunitly some are here to be cruel to others. We can never escape it but we can forgive them. So with that said, You are forgiven.

 

[4g63swap]

I am having the same grinding noise as you are saying do we know what it is yet? and how did you get the bolts to line up on the starter?(have and awd that I am doing a swap on and the starter is giving me a head ache)

thanks

 

[1fast97gsx]

Ok,
Aparently there are people that decide to voice there opinion of others on this site, Thats fine, all I ask is do your research before you decide to belittle someone else. We are all here to help and unfortunitly some are here to be cruel to others. We can never escape it but we can forgive them. So with that said, You are forgiven.

Are YOU telling me to do MY research??? Aren't you the one saying a rebuilt trans reduces shifter throw and the shifter is supposed to feel like the gears are turning? Oh and you aren't supposed to leave your hand on it while you are driving ..

A bad trans mount is a SLIGHT possibilty but I HIGHLY doubt it. If you were completely missing a mount I could maybe see it but even then not really. Say you are driving in 3rd and you step in the gas ... the shifter will come towards you ( kinda like beginning to go down towards 4th ) ... and if you let off the gas it'll go back to the way it was. I would bet money it's an internal transmission issue ... but give tre a call and see what they say. Post up what they tell you for us all to read as well please.

 

[DSMraver]

Oh and you aren't supposed to leave your hand on it while you are driving ..

Disclaimer: I'm not looking to start an argument, and actually won't respond to any posts back about this, in order to keep this on-topic.

This isn't a well-documented "problem" with our cars, but I know for a FACT that other cars wear-out parts from driving like this. The Nissan Sentra SE-R community has done a very thorough survey of drivers with a common problem "5th gear pop-out", and 90%+ that have this problem drove on the freeway while resting the weight of their hand on the shifter.

It puts stress on the shift fork(s) depending on what gear you're in, depending on how much force you're putting on it. The SE-R guys actually have their trans pop out of gear due to driving like this, take that as you will.

But saying that you actually *are* supposed to leave your hand on the shifter while driving, is just false.