Engine Mount/1st Gear

[Pstallo]

On my 86 Cab, It is difficult to force the shifter into 1st or 2nd gear when the car is on a flat road. I've noticed that if I'm coming to a stop sign on a steep hill, though, I can shift into 1st or 2nd like it was butter.

So, my thought is that something is impinged when the car is flat and isn't impinged when the engine falls back a bit on a hill.

If that's the case, is it possible to just loosen up the engine mounts or something and pull it back a millimeter? Is it possible to do that without the engine falling out of the car?

[sugarwood]

Do some searching about adjusting your shift coupler and replacing bushings.

[wayne robson]

Hi Pstallo,it will probably be your shift rod coupling .The 2 bushes inside coupling
will be worn out fore and aft and sideways when they are really worn out ,example by
quarter inch play this alloys the rod to move up and down so much it stops the selection
in both 1st and 2nd gear really bad. Go to our host sight ,the kit is cheap to purchase
and they have excellent instructions on how to repair,its easy.You can lift carpet in front of your rear seat on tunnel remove 4 screws, put metal cover a side,grab hold of the shift rod and push - pull,should not rattle or move,you will see if it worn out .good luck.

[wolds]

When you are in gear and just cruising along do you notice any movement in the shift (front to back) when you let off and then punch the throttle again?

[frosty2]

Hi wolds what does this movement indicate

[wayne robson]

Also check that the clamp and bolt has not came loose on the shift rod at the coupler
alloying it to move forward and back, so it will not alloy you to change gears.

[Pstallo]

I actually replaced the bushings last year and had the shifter coupling adjusted by a Porsche mechanic. I also replaced the entire shifter itself with a JWest shifter. Before that, shifting was pretty much random, so it's tremendously better than it was.

It's just takes a pretty solid amount of force to get it in gear when the road is flat or headed downhill and shifts easy if I'm going up a steep hill. I thought it might indicate a simple fix like shifting the engine back a millimeter or something.

[RedCoupe]

How old are the engine mounts? If they've gotten soft from age or started to sag, the uphill/downhill difference in shifting could just be from the drivetrain moving more than its supposed to.

[wolds]

Originally Posted by frosty2

Hi wolds what does this movement indicate

It indicates that there is wear in the mount. Some play is normal.

[Pstallo]

The engine mounts are original 1986. I figured they would be pretty worn.

Can the engine mounts be changed easily or is that an 'engine-dropper' type of job? The shop handbook only references removing the engine mounts as part of removing the engine to work on it.

[timmy2]

With a floor jack you can change the mounts out one at a time. Like in a partial engine drop.
When doing the rear ones make sure to loosen the trans plate bolts to allow for movement before tightening everything back up.
I did mine that way.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by timmy2

With a floor jack you can change the mounts out one at a time. Like in a partial engine drop.
When doing the rear ones make sure to loosen the trans plate bolts to allow for movement before tightening everything back up.
I did mine that way.

I thought you don't want anything to move when swapping out the engine mounts....

[wolds]

you're doing them one at a time so that nothing moves.

[timmy2]

Loosening the tranny mounting plate may allow some movement of a few millimeters, but it is necessary so you can get the bolts back in without messing up the threads.
(Ask me how I know!)
The new mounts may cause slight position shifting as well.
Make coupler adjustments after if needed.