'80 SC Fix Trans before selling?

[NY65912]

I have a older buddy that has a very clean '80 SC that is getting ready to sell. He's going to ask top $ as the car has 75K and runs like a dream. No issues except 1.

However, shifting 1-2 and back is balky and he has to time shifting to make a smooth shift.

The argument is over whether he should put the $ into fixing the tranny or not.

I say yes, absolutely fix the trans in order to get top $ and he says let the next owner do it. He wants to put it on BAT but I think they would hesitate to list a car with a known deficiency .

What say you guys.

[RarlyL8]

First make certain this is not a bushing or adjustment issue.
If it is a synchro and the tranny is refreshed that should add to the value unless he already is asking top dollar. If it were mine, and I wanted top dollar, I would make absolutely sure everything is in top dollar condition. If not you need to knock a few thousand off for a tranny refresh and find a buyer willing to deal with that.

[NY65912]

Agreed. He thinks it's not worth the trouble but I think it is selling something of more value and desirable. It's not like he can't afford to do the repair.

[Matt Monson]

Is this a trick question?

Always fix the car first.

[NY65912]

Not a trick question. I'm trying to make a point. My friend is thick headed and impulsive. Trying to give the best advice and figured that showing him the opinions here will make him see the light.

Cheers

[QueWhy]

He's crazy. Whatever it cost to fix he'll get 2-3x less than than if he sells it broken. People are always going to assume the worst and someone looking to pay top dollar for a car in top condition will probably pass at any price.

[NY65912]

I happen to be in a similar situation. My trans is not shifting right, I'm going to open it up this fall, but I'm not selling.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by RarlyL8

First make certain this is not a bushing or adjustment issue.

I like this suggestion. unless he was hard on the thing, or had a trusted wrench look over the thing and declare it is syncros it seems 75K is kinda low mileage. bushings & a top notch gear lube could bring it back enough to to put into a sellable condition.

[Ralph3.]

If I was buying I would expect a discount on a car with known issues that I would be addressing.

[NY65912]

Thanks for the responses. I will present this to my friend. He is a P car guy but not very mechanical at all. I am sure this will change his mind and do the sensible thing.

[Matt Monson]

I would do exactly what I did with my 86 Carrera a couple years ago, before I sold it. Mine had 125k mi.

I dropped the engine. I did a valve adjustment, plugs, wires, and oil. Rear main seal and upper triangle were all resealed. New clutch and pressure plate, and shifter bushings. And fluids. It cost me $10k. I sold the car without a proper ad, for exactly what I wanted to get for it. Oh, and that $10k did include,pdr, a detail with color correction, and ceramic seal, and tires.

[NY65912]

Thing is everything is up to snuff with the car. I think he tries to shift like when he drove a truck. I will see him over the weekend and advise that the car deserves a good going over. Thanks

[Matt Monson]

A lot of people granny shift the 1-2 up shift when they shouldn’t. 4000-4500, minimum.

[matt930s]

Where’s that shifting vid?

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by matt930s

Where’s that shifting vid?

Suga relocated it after we posted it too many times.

[Rick Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

A lot of people granny shift the 1-2 up shift when they shouldn’t. 4000-4500, minimum.

And no "pregnant pause"?

[matt930s]

https://youtu.be/AmOwHoJlK14

[Matt Monson]

Not rev matching double clutch granny shifting like we know you would.

[NYNick]

Can't get top dollar when something is wrong. Fix it or adjust your expectation of price.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[cabmandone]

By balky do you mean it takes patience to get into 2? As for 2-1, a lot of guys say "don't do it unless at a full stop!".. I say "Meh". Mine used to bark at me going from 2-1 but that's because the rings, bands, slider and dog teeth were pretty much shot. In my old transmission I could go 1 to 2 pretty smoothly regardless of RPM range unless I was really trying to hurry a shift. It was surprising to me how bad the dog teeth were on 2 when the new owner sent pics. The new owner of the transmission was surprised as well because of how it shifted in the videos I posted.

I think I'd check shift coupler bushings as well as the shift rod bushing. Maybe make a SMALL adjustment on the coupler and consider doing a full clutch adjustment. Then see how it shifts.