I put a Ram heavy duty clutch in my 89 RS, and it was terrible...the first week I couldn't get it from first to second gears...like it wasn't disengaging...replaced all parts, finally took it to my mechanic and he dropped the clutch...it was burnt to a crisp. All of the springs were fused solid...anyway, Ram's replacing it with a stock replacement clutch for free, but this 5th gear thing is NOT cool...I have to push it just right to get it into 5th...the shifter will move there no problem...but it skips out sometimes and makes a loud grinding/rubbing noise when cruising in 5th. Is this in fact a tranny problem? Since they're dropping the tranny and all, how much more labor would it be to fix this problem? Is it a big deal? Should I just buy another T-5? How much are junkyard T-5s and can they be trusted? Thanks for all your help.

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'89 RS LO3- 140,000 miles
14x3 K&N Open Element
Ram Heavy Duty clutch
Edelbrock TES (Jet-hot coated)
Catco cat
Edelbrock 3" Cat-back
Pioneer DEH-P77
Dual .50 caliber machine guns just under ground effects

Coming:
KYB shocks
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace
South Side Machine subframe connectors

When your buddy reaches for a 10-pound sledge and says "I think we're gonna have to modify the floor pan, okay?" the answer is NO.

 

Did you replace the pilot bushing when you swapped clutches?


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1984 WS6 Trans Am Hartop
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 Trans Am T-tops
4-bolt main 350, performer intake, headers, Holley 650, T-5, hayes clutch, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101

[This message has been edited by 84FTA (edited February 20, 2001).]

 

Nope...I bought one in case the old one was torn up, but it looked fine, so I put it back on with loving care. Hmm...

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'89 RS LO3- 140,000 miles
14x3 K&N Open Element
Ram Heavy Duty clutch
Edelbrock TES (Jet-hot coated)
Catco cat
Edelbrock 3" Cat-back
Pioneer DEH-P77
Dual .50 caliber machine guns just under ground effects

Coming:
KYB shocks
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace
South Side Machine subframe connectors

When your buddy reaches for a 10-pound sledge and says "I think we're gonna have to modify the floor pan, okay?" the answer is NO.

 

I smell a synchro problem... if your clutch was that destroyed it sounds to me like it was always partially engaged. Your synchronizers will take a HELL of a beating that way. Plus, 5th has the weakest synchro of all five gears so it doesn't surprise me you're noticing the problem in 5th gear first.

I'd open the tranny and check the synchros while you have it out. I wouldn't be surprised if they were all in pretty bad shape by now.


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"Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master"

'84 Black Camaro ZZ4 M5 (V-6 in a former life) -- street beast
'91 Medium Blue Metallic Z28 A4 (UB-HSTRY's old ride) -- currently broken
'99 Navy Blue Metallic Firehawk #120 M6 (99.44% stock) -- daily driver

 

Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know much about trannys...how much would parts and labor be on synchros? That sounds to be exactly the problem...he's gonna have the tranny dropped anyway to put the new clutch in...how much extra? Thanks a lot...

------------------
'89 RS LO3- 140,000 miles
14x3 K&N Open Element
Ram Heavy Duty clutch
Edelbrock TES (Jet-hot coated)
Catco cat
Edelbrock 3" Cat-back
Pioneer DEH-P77
Dual .50 caliber machine guns just under ground effects

Coming:
KYB shocks
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace
South Side Machine subframe connectors

When your buddy reaches for a 10-pound sledge and says "I think we're gonna have to modify the floor pan, okay?" the answer is NO.