308 GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM

Do a search of the archives. This has happened before, and is a relatively easy fix.

 

It sounds like your shift linkage is WAY off. Do an archive search. I think there's a procedure to repair it.

 

My mechanic told me there are "forks" inside the trans that keep the shifter in line and these forks often fall out of alignment in 308 boxes. Nothing drastic, shouldn't take much to fix it

 

It's not hard to fix but I'm not sure it can be done without removing the bottom of the transmission so you can see the forks. Verell showed me how to do it about a month ago when we adjusted his. It's very easy...but the bottom of his transmission was off, so we could see what we were doing. I would imagine that someone who has done it a thousand times can adjust it with the transmission pan on, but not sure. Anyway, there is nothing terribly wrong. It just needs adjustment.

Birdman

 

Yeah fairly easy fix and even easier when there is another person helping you.Not the case for me as I was by myself far from home at about 11pm.Luckily I had a small trolley jack in the boot and a tool kit with shifters.There are two locking nuts under the car on the shift shaft where it enters the engine.You have to undo these and its'a bit hard to explain for me but like the others said there are plenty of posts in the archives explaining the procedure.Just requires a bit of patience

 

As Maurice said it's an easy adjustment. The gear shift shaft (linkage) running from the shifter to the transmission is made up of 2 lengths of tube. They are joined near the transmission with a threaded connection which allows changes in the relationship of the 2 sections of tube. With the transmission itself in a perfectly centered neutral position you can adjust the shift lever to any where in the gate. Needless to say you want it in the center of the gate. By your description I'd say that a slight rotational adjustment is all you need. It may take some fiddling as rotational adjustment is pretty touchy, just tightening the locknut can throw everything off again. After about the 3rd try you will get a feel for how much tightening the locknut changes the setting and then compensate by having the adjustment a little off then use the locknut to bring it just right. Backing your GT4 up on to some ramps will get you good access to the linkage. While your under there check out everything you can and start that never ending "to do" list.

Congrats on your new GT4, you obviously have good taste (or a small wallet by Ferrari standards ). Don't be intimidated because it's a Ferrari, it's just as easy, sometimes easier, to work on as an Alfa.

 

i try that with out the pan off no good the best thing to do is to take the pan off that way you can see what you are doing

 

If it makes you feel any better, once when I picked up my Boxer from an engine-out service, reverse, 1st, and 4th were ALL reverse - its an easy fix.

 

I'm having a problem with shiftting on my 82 308 too. If i try to downshift from 2nd to 1st when i'm yeilding i can't get 1st gear when car is rolling. It will grind I have to stop completly. Even when it's rolling a little, it's a real pain. And when you go from 1st to 2nd at high revs it can't get it in 2nd i have to let out on rev to get it in 2nd. Is this the same problem or is it a whole diffrent ballgame? Thanks for any info.

 

Reminds me of the Europa guy who put the differential in upside down and had 1 forward gear and 5 in reverse. Boy, he could FLY going backwards down the highway! But then, it was no longer a mid engine car huh.

Ken

 

What you describe is almost certainly a different issue; I'd suspect more of a syncro problem rather than a fork alignment problem.

 

is a syncro problem something serious? been driving car with problem for 8 years i've had car for 10 years so i'm adjusted to it.

 

There should be lifting points along the side of the car for the car's standard (scissor?) jack. You can lift each side at a time with a trolley-jack from these, using a packer as required to avoid crushing any jack-locating flanges. Then place stands under the main chassis rails approximately where the rear lower control arms mount to the chassis. NEVER get under the car if it is just supported by a jack.

If taking the trans pan off, lookout for 3 detent balls & springs that fit into the pan edge. They are on the 3x8 trans so they should be on yours also. They will propel themselves into orbit if you aren't aware of them, and they hold the gear selector shafts into the "locked" gear positions.

 

Synchros ensure that the gears mesh smoothly when shifting. Without them, or if badly worn, the edges of the gears tend to grind against each other, get rounded off or chipped.

Also, when they're badly worn it's hard to shift unless you've got the engine & trans speeds pretty closely matched. Especially cause problems when down shifting.

Lots of early transmissions, particularly race ones were non-synchro. The Jaguar XK series trannys were notorious for the non-synchro down shift into 1st. You had to learn to double-clutch properly, or you'd never get it into 1st w/o coming to a full stop!!!

 

Thanks for the info. I guess i'll have to live with it. ps i see you're in Mass anybody you recommend that works on 308. Thanks again

 

Here is a picture someone gave me on this website about a year ago when I first got my car, hope it helps

Cheers.
Ice
Image Unavailable, Please Login