Fordnatics List Archive

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Mail From: (email redacted) (Robert King)

Ok, here's the sitation. The T-5 in my '88 Gt has about 70,000 miles
on it and the shifting is getting VERY notchy. I've been running Mobil
synthetic ATF for the past 30,000 miles in it. The tranny doesn't leak,
and it's been behaving well until this started happening two weeks ago.
The only symptom is notchy shifting, I haven't been grinding any gears,
and downshifting has no problems.

My questions:

1) What could be causing this?

2) How can it be fixed? (I know this is REALLY hard to answer without
knowing exactly what's wrong, but I'm looking for your best shot.)

3) How can I strengthen the tranny while fixing it? I've recently
started drag-racing (for fun - three passes isn't much of
commitment.) (Incidently, this problem started the week BEFORE I
took it down the track.)

This is the third transmission I've had in the car and I'm getting a
little tired of replacing-rebuilding this thing. I'd really like to just
drop in a World-Class T-5 or a Tremec, butI just can't afford it. The car
is still drivable, but I'd like to fix it before the tranny completely
crapps out.

- -- Robert King


+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Robert A. King | |
| Systems Software Engineer | |
| Kodak Health Imaging Systems | "I drank WHAT?!?" -- Socrates |
| | |
| (email redacted) | |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The opinions expressed here arn't even mine, much less my employer's! |
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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted)

Robert writes:

<< ...and the shifting is getting VERY notchy. I've been running Mobil
synthetic ATF for the past 30,000 miles in it. The tranny doesn't leak,
and it's been behaving well until this started happening two weeks ago.
The only symptom is notchy shifting, I haven't been grinding any gears,
and downshifting has no problems.>>
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My question/s to him....
Are you using the original clutch??
If so, have you tried to adjust the take up at the wheel located under the
dash by the gas pedal. You have to pull on a lever and push up the quadrant
with a long screwdriver. It's very tricky and if you do like I did once, the
thumb on your right hand will receive a brusing I might also add that you
should be well versed in the art of contortionism

Another problem could lie in the shift fork. They are flimsy and tend to
bend a bit over time, forcing the notchy shifting problems you've described.

If you aren't using the orignal clutch and you can totaly vouch for the
condition of it, you may be having a problem with the synchronizers.
although I doubt seriously you'd have that much trouble all at once.

My 2nd T-5 went out innocently enough. I pulled out of a parking lot like a
little granny and clunk, the car refused to move in first,second or third
gear. Needless to say, it was a bit tough getting it going in fourth gear.

Another thing, my T-5 likes to cop an attitude every once in a while. Soem
days it won't shift smoothly or quickly no matter how hard I try to finess
it. Other days it won't clunk even if I forget to push the clutch pedal all
the way in.

This may be an early warning sign...
Joe