Transmission Inspection?

[ROOK1]

Is there a way to visually inspect a transmission to see if it's in working order? Here's the deal. I have a recently removed transmission from my '71 with a known bad first gear (pops out on load). I have a second transmission from a '75 parts car that the status is unknown. With as much work as it was to get these out of the cars I really don't want to install the trans from the '75 to find out it is bad too.

Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated.

Chris

[htchevyii]

I'm in the same situation, but unless there is something really bad wrong, ( pan is full of teeth or metal), I don't know if you can tell much without tearing it down or installing and trying it.

[So Cal Mark]

if you pull the lower cover, you can see if the synchro springs are broken, and you could check for excess play in the fork/slider relationship

[pope]

Usually there is wear on internal parts that are suppose to wear to save the gears. Forks, syncro rings and sliders. To replace all those, about $200.-$225. and you do it. If you were to rebuild the trans, do all of the above parts so everything is the same, dont just replace the problem part. Usually when you drain the trans oil, you will see golden bronze filings in it.

PS. dont leave your hand on the shifter when you are not shifting. Causes premature fork wear. Also will be a good time to put in new clutch and bearing. You could put the 75 in and then casually rebuild the 71. By that time, you will be a pro at swapping out the trans.

[ROOK1]

Still working on this. I am installing a '75 into a '71. After inspecting the '75 I see there is a "switch" on top of the '75 trans. What is it? Will I need it when it's in the '71?

[ROOK1]

Trans is in and all 5 gears work. Yay! Now I have a different question. The shifter lever on the '75 and the lever from the ' 71 are a bit different. There is a thread about fixing the shifter lever that has the "cup" style which is what was in the '75. The shifter in the '71 was a totally different style. It has a poly ball at the end of the shifter with a plastic socket and spring. The shifter from the '75 was all apart and I couldn't remember how it went back together so I installed the one from the '71. My issues is when I throw it into reverse the whole shaft wants to spin making it difficult to get into reverse. Is there an over all difference in this shaft or the internal area making this style wrong for the '75 trans?

[ga.spyder]

Rook,I dont know the answer as far as the difference between the models.The shifter spinning,etc... is a problem with a lot of late models.Easy fix is to buy one of Mike Bouse's Michigan Shorter Shifter kits.Very inexpensive,and a lot of us have purchased them and love 'em.Stops the spinning and sloppiness,and has a much better feel.Congrats on the tranny swap!
Craig

[ROOK1]

Rook,I dont know the answer as far as the difference between the models.The shifter spinning,etc... is a problem with a lot of late models.Easy fix is to buy one of Mike Bouse's Michigan Shorter Shifter kits.Very inexpensive,and a lot of us have purchased them and love 'em.Stops the spinning and sloppiness,and has a much better feel.Congrats on the tranny swap!
Craig

No worries, I just swapped in the other style shaft and all is fine now. The spinning wasn't the chrome cover spinning it was the whole shaft would want to come out of the notch and rotate when putting it in reverse. My cover doesn't spin but I still plan on getting a short shifter. How much Mike?

[So Cal Mark]

the two shifters aren't interchangable. You have to change the whole shift tower in order to change shifters

[04Heritage]

Recently purchased 1980 Fiat Spider and have the "spinning" of shifter when in reverse. Was not sure if this was a normal condition or a problem with the transmission. Where would I purchase the short shifter kit? Thanks, Dave from Easton, PA

[ga.spyder]

You have to contact Mike Bouse''King of the Shorter Shifter''It really is a great product !!
mbouse@chartermi.net