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Trouble shifting, need help. 66GT350

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by Edward66GT350, Apr 30, 2006.

  1. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    Took thee car for a spirited drive, shifting at 4500 rpms. Shifter became resistant to moving. Could not go from 3rd to 4th. Everything felt "tighter" as if something was binding. Can easily go in 1st, but everything else is tight. Even when egine is off. Heard a rattling sound from trans area when revs got to around 3500-4000rpms.
    Any thoughts?????
    -shifter problem? i put car on lift and sprayed linkage w/ wd40. no improvement.
    -trans bearing or synchro?
    -pilot bearing?
    Thanks,
    Ed
     
  2. cobra427

    cobra427 Well-Known Member

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    I would unhook the linkage and try to move the shifting levers. They should move forward, then back to center then to the back and then back to the center point. Ford shifters lock up often, but this sounds like a trans problem to me.
     
  3. skidado

    skidado Well-Known Member

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    Did you fill your transmission with motor oil as you suggested in your last post...?

    Skid.
     
  4. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    If problem is w/ linkage, what is the fix?
    BTW, have not changed the fluid yet. Will this weekend.
    Ed
     
  5. 66-68Shelby

    66-68Shelby Active Member

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    The advice to remove the levers and then try shifting will pinpoint the problem. As you move the transmission through the gears turn the driveshaft as it makes the gears easier to engage. If the shifter is the problem the check the levers on the transmission for worn holes or bad bushing same on the shifter end of rods. Ford shifter units are available rebuilt and use your shift rods and shift handle. I don't know what to do if its a Hurst other than replace the whole unit. Shifters usually don't make a noise. You may find a internal problem with the transmission like bad needle bearings in the imput shaft, bad input shaft bearing, output shaft nose or bearing, or a broken gear jamming the works. I hope this helps some.
     
  6. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    Well, today I drained the trans fluid. It was green, probably synthetic?
    The drain plug was magnetic so small flakes of metal was adhering to it. Is this normal wear? The fluid also had small amounts of metal that could be seen under bright light. Almost a fine grain metal flake appearance.
    No large pieces of metal found.
    Have not disconnected the shifter yet.
    Appreciate any and all advice.
    Ed
     
  7. 67200F5A02206

    67200F5A02206 Well-Known Member

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    Check for a bad motor or tranny mount. The torque can cause the motor/tranny to move around and cause a binding condition. Also could be a loose pilot shaft bushing (in the back of the crank). Or bad shifter linkage.
     
  8. gjz30075

    gjz30075 Well-Known Member

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    Probably a very dark green. Not like anti freeze green, is it? A small amount of metallica (lack of a better term) is ok to find on the magnet.

    Be sure to refill with 80/90W hypoid lube, NOT motor oil.
     
  9. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    Going to look at the shifter this weekend. Are there any bushings, grommets, etc that I should preorder? Part #'s would be appreciated. Is the shifter a standard Ford shifter?
    TIA
    Ed
     
  10. eljimb0

    eljimb0 Well-Known Member

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    Is this a toploader or a borg warner?
    jimbo
     
  11. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    I'm assumming it is the standard 1966 gt350 tranny, which I thought was the BW. Correct?
     
  12. eljimb0

    eljimb0 Well-Known Member

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    Sometimes things get changed for good reasons. If it is the BW tranny... good advise would be to take it out and put it in a plastic bag (keep it with the car stuff).. save all the nuts and bolts.. put in a T5 ... it is the best upgrade you can do for these cars. 55 mph 2000 rpm.. in 5th gear. To do the mod you don't have to cut anything or remove anything .. you could conceveably change it back if you wanted to.

    On the other hand if it is a toploader it is already the wrong tranny so take it out and put in a T5

    you see where this is going.
    jimbo
     
  13. skidado

    skidado Well-Known Member

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    Jim - is that right that NO '65 or '66 shelbys had toploaders?

    The reason I ask is that I used to own a '65 k-code fastback (not shelby) that was built with a toploader in it at the San Jose facility. Could a similar car have been KD'd and sent to Shelby?
     
  14. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    where can i get a rebuilt original shift linkage?
    ed
     
  15. eljimb0

    eljimb0 Well-Known Member

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    I owned an A code 65 coupe (San Jose plant) that came with a toploader. As far as I know though no 65 65 shelbys had them.. (unless the owner put it in after that silly BW (4 forward speeds, 1 reverse, 8 neutrals) wore out.
    jimbo
     
  16. zrayr

    zrayr Well-Known Member

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    Jim Cowles at shelbyparts.com can do it

    Z. Ray
    6s1117
     
  17. Calvin

    Calvin Well-Known Member

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    In my experience, that is what happend to a great many of them. We bought a couple of the aluminuim T10's back in "the day" that were removed becuse they were failing, and many years later sold them for what we thought were pretty hefty amounts, of course less than they go for today.
     
  18. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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  19. steveshelbymustang

    steveshelbymustang Well-Known Member

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    Ed
    In years past the Borg Warner was known to have broken blocking rings in the syncronizers (usually from speed shifting) and just looking at them through the inspection plate you can't see them cracked. They will open up during shifting and jam up the shifting. This may cause a grinding occasionally but if you can find the best Rpm to shift they'll seem to work better. Another way to tell if they are cracked is the transmission will jump out of gear during deceleration. Do you know how to double clutch? A trick from driving heavy equipment, If you double clutch during shifting the syncronizers will line up better and shift more smoothly. Its not the best if you want to race your friend and win but if they anoy you enough you'll be double clutching or tearing your transmission apart to fix those blocking rings. There are good suggestions in previous replys so I guess you have checked what they recommended and still have a problem. The only thing else I could suggest is make sure your clutch is adjusted properly to allow the pressure plate to completely be free from the thowout bearing. If the bearing is riding the forks of the pressure plate the clutch won't properly engage the clutch disc causing symptoms you are speaking of. Make sure you have about one inch of free pedal travel on the clutch. This will tell you if the bearing is properly adjusted.
     
  20. Edward66GT350

    Edward66GT350 Well-Known Member

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    I should mention that the engaging gears/shifting is also difficult w/ the engine off and the clutch pedal depressed.
    ed
     

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