[alfa] Re: Transmirrion (Sic) Failure: Help

[AlfaNeely@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 11/10/2003 8:07:27 AM Central Standard Time, 
Jon_Durham@domain.elided writes:

> 
> sorry, it's a 74 spider. I looked underneath and can clearly see that the 
> cross member under the trany has several scrapes.
> 

       Given that the shift linkage on the 74 spider is entirely internal, I 
doubt you bent any linkage.  I guess you could have cracked the transmission 
case.
       Is the car popping out of every gear?  Or just certain ones?  I 
suspect you may have bent the crossmember enough to cause misalignment.  The 
gearshift lever may be pressing against the console and pushing the transmission out 
of gear.
       Or the problems could be unrelated.  The 74 transmission has spring 
loaded balls that press into notches in the shift rods.  There are three shift 
rods internal to the transmission with three spring loaded balls.  The balls 
and springs are located on the top of the transmission case toward the front of 
the cast.  There is a plate holding three cups for the springs held to the 
transmission with two 6 mm bolts.  These are well out of the way and not likely 
to be damaged by impact.  
       I have also had transmissions that would pop out of gear due to wear.  
If the bearings for the main and / or lay shafts are loose the parts can move 
around.  The gears are cut on an angle and want to unscrew them selves.  Due 
to the angles, I guess the gears try to screw themselves together under 
acceleration and unscrew on deceleration.  I would have to look at a transmission to 
be sure, but I am pretty sure that is the way the angles of the gears work.
       So inspect the crossmember.  Your floor pan could even be bent.   The 
hanger for the exhaust head pipe is lower that the transmission crossmember 
and will bend first.
       Make sure the driveshaft is in the center of the car and the 
transmission is aimed at the center of the rear axle.  You can also adjust the shift 
lever side to side within the console.  That requires removal of the console 
sides and removal of the rubber boots on top of the transmission shift tower.  
There is a single 7 mm bolt (11 mm wrench) that locks the shift lever.
       Once those problems are corrected, your problem may be solved.  Or it 
may be unrelated and require a rebuild of the transmission.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City
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