Shape of shifter hole opening???

[lespaul]

Yikes, I would have expected this opening to be round. Either designed this way or PO bent hell out of it taking out the transmission. I hope it was supposed to be designed this way.

[arrivederci]

Here's a reasonably recent shot of the opening on my '72. Round...

[JohnJL]

They are supposed to be round, at least on all the cars I've seen or owned. Looks like a PO had the engine and transmission out, and when trying to re-install dropped the car down on or lifted the car up my the transmission shifter rod. How is your transmission? Any leaks?

[Flojo]

Wtf ??!!

[nineball]

maybe the po installed a 6th and 7th gear and needed the room?

[lespaul]

I have not run the car but for about 10 miles after purchase and then finding broken head studs, but it seemed to shift fine. Transmission was leaking from shifter rod seal - which I was planning to replace anyway.

Is there a test I can run on the transmission while it is out of the car to confirm nothing is bent? A runnout test on the shifter rod using dial gauge?

[HawgRyder]

With that much pressure applied to the shifter rod...I would check the housing very carefully for cracks.
Bob

[lespaul]

The structural steel is bent. I don't know that I could bend that if I put my mind to it. The force must have been huge.

Planning to go over the transmission case very carefully tonight.

[cabmandone]

It's funny, I'd swear my 85 looks the exact same as yours. I'll have to see if I can get some time and take a pic but when putting my coupler boot on the other day I'd swear the hole had a high point at the top.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That's what happens when you transport a car with only the transmission mounted by the axles.

[lespaul]

Shaun,

I want to understand. Are you saying that someone likely pulled the engine from the car, but left the transmission in the car supported only by the axles and the transmission support and then transported the car? And then, when the car was subsequently transported (on a trailer), the rear of the transmission bounced up and down as the rear suspension flexed pivoting on the support bar causing the shifter rod to smash against the formerly round hole thereby beating it into a triangular shape?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Brad, that's exactly what happened. The constant bashing of the shift rod ovalled out the opening. I've never seen one that bad, but have seen before and after on 2 cars and that was the case.

[lespaul]

Thanks Shaun,

So -- in your experience, what was the actual damage to the transmission, if any?

I have no idea when this disaster occurred over the past 36 years, but I know the car was transported from California to NY by the PO in 1998.

The car has a brand new clutch in it because the clutch has 0 wear. It is still the same spec thickness called for by the manual. And, the shifter rod and boot and transmission case show no wear from the rod banging against the frame. Thus, I suspect that if there was damage previously, it was identified and taken care of when the clutch was replaced. At least I am hoping so.

Unless there is some test I can do beyond a visual inspection from the outside of the transmission case, I think I am going to finish my top end rebuild, put the engine and transmission back in the car and hope that whatever damage was done in the past has long been taken care of. Given the circumstances, I cannot contact the PO for information.

Any other ideas from anyone for checking out the soundness of the tranny while it is still out of the car would be very much appreciated.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

if the shift lever goes in an out normally, the only test is to drive it that I know of. I would put in a new shift seal if the transmission is out of the car now. Good insurance, easy job.

Believe it or not, there was no damage to the transmissions. But the holes weren't as ovalled too. You may be lucky that there were 2 transmissions, this one being good. HOpe so!

[Lyle O]

Probably a dumb question, but why would the hole be bent in the TOP position? Wouldn't it at least see forces at the bottom, too, if it was bouncing around (or maybe more so)?

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by Lyle O

Probably a dumb question, but why would the hole be bent in the TOP position? Wouldn't it at least see forces at the bottom, too, if it was bouncing around (or maybe more so)?

No. With the engine out, the trans "hangs" from its axles at the inboard CV joints. With the back of the trans down, it's nose will be up. Any time that an engine is removed from an early car the rear (bell housing end) of the trans should always be tied up, in driving position, to the shock towers using coat hangars or similar. This should be done for both transporting or storage.

[Lyle O]

Now I get it (duh)...thanks for the lesson!

[JohnJL]

Funny, I just checked a 78 SC in the garage and it has similar damage. At least I bought it as a roller, no transmission...

[lespaul]

So, this weekend I took a harder look at the shifter rod to see whether it is bent. In my mind there is no question about it. Look at the pics. And there is oil in my shifter tunnel from the leaking seal. Of course, with the transmission out, I am replacing the shift rod seal. But, is there anything I can/should do to deal with the bent rod while the tranny is out? Is this an easy fix I can do myself or do I need to take it to a tranny specialist? If it shifts fine, is leaking oil my only problem or will using it like this damage something. My experience with transmissions is limited.

Thanks for any help.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

ouch!

Shift rod seal is an easy job Brad. A couple of threads here to look at.