Exactly what the title says. This is in a 1983 camaro with a t5 trans. Forward gears all work and function decent, but reverse is a nightmare. Also, it sometimes pops out of gear. Is a rebuild in order here? I have checked out the trans/engine mounts and none of them are loose. Could it be a rearend problem? Any help appriciated. I need to get this car driving better, as my DD at the moment is a 95 f150 with a 4 inch lift (13 mpg is killing me)

 

bump...........................

 

Anyone feel like taking a stab at this one? I would hate to tear everything apart just to find out its something else wrong..

 

bump again..

 

Does your shifter jump up when you give it gas?

 

Nothing out of the ordinary. At first I was thinking worn synchro's, but I'm not 100% sure. It only does this in reverse, and no forward gears, so its not a drive shaft vibration or anything like that.

 

Does it grind going into reverse? Mine always did but if I went from 5 straight down to R it wouldn't grind. It probably needs synchros if it's a little hard to get into gears, but as far as rocking goes, does this happen when you let out of the clutch and don't give it enough gas? Man also did that too but that's pretty Much nature of the beast. Just let out of the clutch when you need to roll pretty much

 

No, this condition only happens when in reverse. It starts as soon as I start rolling in reverse. Doesn't matter if the clutch is all the way depressed or not. I drive a manual every day of my life, so its not just me. There is something else going on here. As for shifting, going into 3rd there is usually a little "grind" but nothing that I am concerned with. This car sat for many years before I got it. The reasons was because it was popping out of gear. But I need to figure out what is going on with this shaking in reverse.

 

Anyone have any ideas at all? I could really use some help on this one...

 

I am getting more help out of a forum for ford trucks... thanks people...
iroc-z_23, you were helpful, and I thank you for at least attempting to help.

 

No problem, but I do believe that's probably a rear end problem then. Pull the rear pan off and check for metal shavings on the magnet that's easy enough

 

If it was a rearend problem, wouldn't it also do this driving forward? Or am I wrong about that? I was thinking maybe the clutch linkage was out of adjustment? I haven't been under it to check it out yet, but I will be after a few days.

 

Does it get stuck in reverse when it doesn't pop out (like its hard to shift out of gear)? It might not be going into gear all the way, is it the stock shifter? When I had my hurst shifter there was an adjustment to allow more throw.

My synchros were shot in 2nd gear and it was hard to get in and out of gear.

What kind of fluid is in it? Make sure and use automatic tranny fluid (Yes I meant to say automatic tranny fluid.)

It almost sounds like your missing a tooth on your reverse gear. Does it clunk along with jerking?

How old is the clutch?

 

No it doesn't get stuck in reverse (but it is going into gear all the way, it is the stock shifter), I thought NWC t5s used gear lube, and the WC used the auto trans fluid? Yes it clunks along with all the hellacious jerking, clutch was replaced about 20 years ago, but the car has been sitting for well over 14.

 

This has me stumped. I used ATF in my NWC instead of the gear oil and it worked fine until I blew it to pieces. It wouldn't go into 1st thru 3rd.

 

I guess all I can do is drop the trans and see what I find.. I am really hoping that it is just a clutch-related problem, but its not seeming that way.. It will be a week or two before I can drop it, because my grad. party is this weekend, so I am pretty busy with that right now.

 

Unfortuantely if it were clutch related it would happen in every gear.

 

Like I said, all I can do is drop it and see what I have. If it turns out the tranny is shot, could I use a 2nd gen. auto trans in its place? I have an 81 camaro parts car with the 2.8 v6, but it has an auto instead of a t5.