I have two T5s. The WC one on my low mile '89 shifts fantastically. Precise, buttery smooth, etc.

The NWC T5 which was transplanted into my '83 requires more effort to shift and is a bit more notchy. I'm okay with that, but what bugs me, is that it is also a bit recalcitrant about being downshifted into 3rd. Upshifting into 3rd is okay, downshifting into 3rd is a problem though.

I was thinking about going with an aftermarket shifter, but before I do that, I was wondering if there is anything I can do to improve shift quality and precision with the stock piece?

 

Have you checked or changed the fluid?

I have noticed the NWC is a little more notchy mostly when cold. I believe it is because of the thicker gear oil and maybe because of the different syncros.

 

Fresh ATF.

The notchiness is an acceptable given when compared to a WC. It's the downshifting into 3rd which bugs me.

 

NWC should use gear oil.

The notchyness is probably syncro related. That being said I love my Pro 5.0 shifter.

 

Yeah, I know it came with gear oil as a factory fill, but in the big T5 thread, it was determined that ATF should be used for all T5s now. No?

 

That is debatable. The reason for ATF was because of the fiber syncros. Ask 10 people here and I guarantee you will get 10 different answers. In my experience NWC T5s shift better with gear oil. Although if it already has ATF in it you may try Lucas trans fix it is like ultra thick ATF.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...t5-fluids.html

 

Yeah, I wonder if something like Lucas Transfix would make a difference.

 

If your downshift into 3rd is not speed-matching the gear after a fluid change, it may just be time to go go through the box.

If the blocker friction surface is worn and the blocker ring bottoms out before your shift can put effective pressure into the blocker grabbing the gear cone, it's not going to shift "nice."

Even if the clutch is properly releasing.

 

You could have a point. I bought the box used with an unknown history. Here are it's innards:













Disregard the red markings.

 

NWC as it has brass syncros. And yeah, ATF all years but NON-synthetic. NWC brass doesn't like it.

Downshift issue does sound like you need a rebuild though!

http://lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly...n-rebuild.html

 

If it ends up that it needs a rebuild, (I haven't driven it lately, it's in winter sleep), I think I'll probably just try to find a functioning WC T5 instead.

 

Inspection and analysis of the blockers and gear side would require teardown. At which point, new blockers are cheap.

I would still do a pedal down rpm test in 1st to verify the car stays still / the clutch works.

 

Explain that test to me. Just rev it in 1st with the clutch pedal depressed?

BTW, clutch is brand new.

 

on level ground, yup.