Well I'm finishing up on putting a T5 in my car, got rid of the 700R4, but it wont shift at all, I havnt put in any gear oil yet, and I was curious if that would keep me from being able to get it into gears. Also what type of gear oil should i use

 

I'm hearing you say that you are running it, but have no lube in it.

Why would you do that?

Most likely, you have something assembled incorrectly. No pilot bearing or bushing, or the throwout bearing incorrectly installed on the fork.



DO NOT RUN IT DRY!!!!! YOu wouldn't run your motor without oil if you knew it was like that; why would you do something THAT DESTRUCTIVE to any other part of your car?

 

Make sure you have the shifter installed correctly. The lower ball has to be in the "actuator", for lack of the correct terminology. Pull the shifter and try shifting the actuator by hand, you should be able to move it through the gears freely (Both of mine do, anyway). I can post up a pic if need be, as I have one lying on the shed floor, sans shifter.

 

I think hes probably trying to shift it with the motor off.

I would say that if it doesnt go into gear at all with the engine off, then its doubtful that it will shift with the engine running. I dont recall having any trouble putting my old T-5 in my mustang in gear, regardless of whether the engine was running or not.

Also, the later T5's should get ATF, and the earlier ones call for gear oil, maybe 80W-90, cant recall what the correct viscosity was.

 

My older non-WC T5 calls for ATF, from the repair manual. Gear oil prematurely deteriorated the blocker rings, and I ended up having to get the trans rebuilt a second time. Previous owner put the gear oil in. Anyway, this issue has just about been beaten to death, so put in whatever you like.

 

if its not running it may not go into gear if the synchro's aren't lined up. If it's running I hope you have fluid in it.....which should be ATF(dexron/mercon III)

 

I am not running the car with no fluid in the trans, i'm not the brightest guy, but i'm not clueless either the shifter is set correctly, and I am 99% sure i got everything else hooked up correctly as well. Is it possible that it will not go through the gears without fluid though? I'm asking this because I dont want to go and pump it up and have to just drain it all out.

 

Well in my shop the demo 4 speed laying around shifts... it has no fluid watsoever in it

so, i wouldnt say fluid would not make it shift BUT u never know maybe it may help

 

hmmm so you guys think the bearing in the crank may not be in right?

 

You can indeed shift a t-5 with no fluid in it.. I have done it a few times... Not knowing it did not have any fluid until I crawled underneath and found a crack in the tail housing... ( I had just put fluid in it 24 hour prior). So it is not a fluid issue.. the shifter could be an issue. even if you think you put it all together perfect... heh. could be the bearing or bushing on the front. but then if it was just a straight swap I would not imagine you would pull the shifter plate off the top since it is not needed in order to put it up. nor would you mess with the guideplate or the other piece with the ball in it. So I would check the pilot bearing/bushing. And the book calls for ATF for my 84 T-5. so it is pretty safe that you can put the ATF in it.

 

how much travel is in the shifter

 

I would say that with the clutch pedal in, it should shift freely, even empty. Ive had a few manuals, and when they dont shift, theres a problem.

 

Its possible. If the input shaft cant turn freely, even with the motor off it wont shift very easily.

 

well the car was originally a automatic, i've checked the shifter, its a brand new b&m short shifter, and i've made sure its being put on right. i guess i'm gonna be taking everything back apart, re-check it all

 

should the pilot bushing slide in rather easy? or should it be a really snug fit

 

should the pilot bushing slide in easy or should it be a really snug fit

 

It should be snug, but you shouldnt have to beat the crap out of it to get it in the crank.

 

Hey, uhhh, don't you have to cut the hole a "little" different when you go from automatic to standard shift?

I thought I read in a different thread here somewhere about a shifter not being able to move through the gears because it is too tight in the hole until you open it up some...

 

yes you have to cut out a square in your trans tunnel for it to move around. if that is the case, then the fix is simple.


however, it is also possible that your trans might be stuck between gears. i had that happen in my buddies 82 z28. (t-10 4sp)

 

well i took the tranny back out, and mine looks like the wrong :P, hehe not good

 

yeah i've already cut all the nessesary holes for the clutch pedal assembely and the shifter

 

Well as someone FAR FAR smarter than me said a few centuries ago (or, sort of said, anyway), "the simplest explanation that fits all the facts is usually the right one".

I suspect that, once you get that under control, it'll be fine. If of course, your pilot bearing or bushing is good. Which kind did you use?

 

[QUOTE=sofakingdom;3056813]Well as someone FAR FAR smarter than me said a few centuries ago (or, sort of said, anyway), "the simplest explanation that fits all the facts is usually the right one". [QUOTE]

That would be Guillermi de ockam (William of Ockham). Ockham's Razor "With all things being equal , the simplest explanation/answer is normally the right one". and the only reason I admit to knowing that, is because I watch the Simpsons.

 

Exactly right. You win the cookie!!!

Although, what he ACTUALLY wrote, was "Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate''; which translates roughly to "the number of entities is not to be multiplied without necessity". In other words, don't make up unnecessary stuff to explain something, if some other explanation works without it. He was excommunicated for heresy, because of his radical ideas like this one. Some things never change, do they?

I cannot truthfully admit to being a Simpsons fan, or even to having it watched an entire episode of it; I find it mostly just not very funny. My reasons for knowing it are much more geekish than that!!!

 

you know, honestly i dont remember what kind they are now. i bought them a while back, when ifirst started this project, but then i had to put it on hold, cause other things came up. Now i'm just having fun trying to slide in the tranny onto the bellhousing in the car, hehe.

 

Are you talking about the pilot?

The pilot bearing is an "it", not a "they". There's only one. It goes in the back of the crank. Which kind did you put in there? Was it a roller bearing, or was it a bronze bushing?