Stuck in Gear, Tale of Woe Part 2

[HMeeder]

My '72 is still stuck in reverse. I have opened up the two ports and "messed with things" and tried to get the linkages and shift rods to get something going on. Near as I can tell I believe that there is a problem with the 1st/reverse shift fork or rod. Something is definitely jammed and short of banging on it with a very large, blunt instrument I don't think that I can do much more while the tranny is in the car. Since it seemed that the synchros were having problems too (whether that was the first sign of impending doom or the 2 problems are unrelated-still up for debate) I believe that I will be transplanting the side shifter out of my 2.0L.

Thanks to all who gave me feedback. I fully realize that it would make more sense to put the 2.0L motor in there at the same time but I have decided against it for a couple of reasons

1. I have the 1.7L running great. I have spent a lot of sweat and time on it and absolutely love the way it drives. I believe that it is almost as fast as a 2.0L and I know that it doesn't quite have as much 'grunt' (if you could call what our motors produce as 'grunt'!)

2. I bought my car with the intention of autocrossing it. I feel that I can be competitive in AS/s with my car set up the way it is but if I put a 2.0L then I get popped for 8 points and that would push the car to AP, a class in which I don't think I can make as good a showing. Sure that would leave me with a good number of points to play with, but I use the car as my daily driver (well, not right now I don't) and I don't want to sink that much money and effort into it. The car would be less road friendly and would spend even more time up on blocks.

3. By selling the 2.0L motor and parting the rest of the car out I can pay for the other things I am bound to break on the 1.7L and maybe some decent Yokos (I can't stand the look on my wife's face whenever I mention having to fix or upgrade the car. We are also in the middle of some home re-modeling and I think you know where her priorities lay!)

Thanks again all!

------------------
Herb
'72 1.7 Tangerine 'Teen
'74 2.0 Red Rustmobile

[John Rogers]

Well Herb I agree with you for selling the 2l engine for the $$$. But I think you would move to C stock since we have what is known as an "across the model" rule and 2l engines were available in the 914/4 and as long as it is stock you are okay. But with the 2l you would be in the same class as I am and that would be some good competition I think. You could give Steve, our chief of tech a call to be sure. Hope you get the tranny swapped by Sat???

[HMeeder]

John:

You bring up an interesting point and I'll give Steve a call for clarification. But I do know that the competition in "C" class is very stiff. I wouldn't mind running against you though! Maybe I'd learn something (Of course, as long as you are still driving your daughter's car that is.) As it is, I won't get the car up for Saturday (Since I'm going to have the whole linkage apart, I may as well replace the bushings. To retro a side-shifter into a tail-shifter body the firewall bushing has to be replaced with one made for that application. PP sells it and I bought some other stuff-CV joint tool, clutch alignment tool, some gaskets etc.) I'll be there on the 25th though!

------------------
Herb
'72 1.7 Tangerine 'Teen
'74 2.0 Red Rustmobile