to rebuild or not, that is the question

[Neal Colingham]

I have a 76 2.0 the car has been in the family since new. It has 148K on the car. My question is if the tranny grinds into first gear while rolling and into reverse while sitting should I at least follow the pelican tech article to rebuild 1'st and reverse. The car seems to shift ok but I had a MAICO (motorcycle) which seemed to shift ok until I sampled a Honda.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Try adjusting the clutch first. It's a heck of a lot cheaper and easier.

The "grinds into first or reverse" is very often a sign of a clutch that needs adjustment. If that doesn't work, perhaps changing the tranny fluid might? Not likely, but again a lot cheaper and easier than replacing the 1st gear synchro.

Try the cheap and easy things first. If they work, you come out far ahead, and if they don't work, you're only a little more behind.

--DD