348 Shifting

The shifting problem is not isolated to the 348, and there was no improvement on later models.

What type of gear oil are you using? When I got my 348, it was next to impossible to shift into 2nd while cold. I switched to Redline 75W90NS and noticed a HUGE improvement.

Irrespective of the type of oil, once it's up to operating temperature, the shifting should improve.

I strongly recommend trying the Redline oil.

 

Totally know where your coming from and Ive done a bit of experimenting so herees a few tips....

As mentioned when cold shifting from 1st to 2nd can sometimes prove troublesome however this should go away after the oil is warm.

On mine underneath the gate (remove the 2 screws and check) was sponge to stop dirt going down - mine had all got mangled up providing resistance in the gear shifting. If you have one of these get rid of it and replace it with the later rubber bellows.

In my experience the more the car is used the better the shifting gets - I do wonder whether rubber seals need to have the metalwork moving across them regularly to stop them drying out. Theres a tip in the my348.com suggesting each time you start the car you move it between 1st and reverse.

Check the clutch/brake fluid level in the front trunk.

Check under the pumpkin for leaks of hydraulic fluid (out the perforated plate on bottom) a its common for triple seals to leak.

Hills engineering sell a modified gate where the corners are rounded to assist in shifting.

Ive also used spray grease to spray down the gate to lubricate round there but better still remove the gate and do it.

Make sure you have the revs quite high before changing - takes some getting used to but the rev ranges/speed are higher for each gear

TBH I dont think theree is a magical answer above "improving" it

 

Dave-
the design of the 348 tranny doesn't lend itself to fast shifting, especially when cold. Many a 348 tranny has been ruined by crashing shifts. When cold, second gear is very sleepy, so don't disturb it. First to third. Practice rev-matching. Smooth shifting in a sports car is key, as you don't want to disturb the balance of the car in curves. Quarter-mile times in a Ferrari are for reference only. When you look at the transverse design, you'll see why it's not a good idea to suddenly transfer a lot of torque to the gearshafts. Enjoy!

 

I agree with most of what has been said. Here are my additional 2 cents:

- More than a few shift levers have snapped-off from hard shifting / worn stems on the gate. So there's another reason not to shift hard.

- I've found that even cold, the synchros like 4,000 RPM. Try shifting into second around 4,000 until your Oil Temp comes off the peg. After that it should be fine.

- Learn how to rev match. It probably helps your clutch life, and probably takes stress off the transmission, but DEFINITELY sounds AWESOME when you master it.

For what it's worth, I've always run the factory recommended lubricants and my transmission shifts smooth as butter after it is warm. Once in a blue moon it doesn't want to go into first, but simply sliding back into neutral will fix that. Think the linkage is just a tad out of adjustment.

 

I let my car warmup for 5-10 minutes prior to a drive to make sure all works well.It really is worth the wait. The redline fluid has been a great find for everyone that has used it & I couldnt image going back to the standard fluid. If any of you chaps every snap your shift no fear,I have a spare on hand to assist replacement. -John

 

I am having the same problem on shifting. Just ordered 5 quarts of Redline 75W90NS from Advance Auto who gets it from Keystone (I used Advanced Auto since I wanted to replace the fluids this weekend - $22 per quart). I will let you know how the fluid replacement works.

When we purchased the car, the previous owner stated that "you always want to put the car in 1st then reverse before driving the car, as this helps synchronize the gears". When I would use the car, I would start the car and do as he advised. My wife (who drives the car occasssionally) told me that she puts the car in 1st and reverse BEFORE starting the car and shifting is not a problem for her (however she does not agressively). Just an opinion.

 

The Hill Eng. shift gate 348JEFF mentioned is called a slick shift and I found it made a world of difference. I did the Redline oil change , but I thought the shift gate made a larger improvement. Now for the black magic part: I think the ajustments of the system are VERY picky for a good shift. Rather than mess around with adjusting the cables which would be the proper way to go, I found small movements of the actual shftgate plate can make a major difference in shift quality. If you use smaller nut and bolts and some washers to pinch the shiftgate in place, rather than the provided 2 screws for the shift gate, you may find a little twist this way or that can bring huge gains. It certinly did for mine.

 

+1 me too

 

When the engine is cold get the revs in the 4-5000rpm range, and double clutch it.

 

What is "double clutching?"

 

Clutch

Go out of gear

Release clutch

Blip throttle for rev matching

Clutch again

Put into gear

Release clutch



I think....

Kai


****Edit**** forgot the throttle blipping.

 

Important thing with double clutching (or double declutching as it's often called) is that the sequence Kai has is correct but you must match the engine revs with the gear revs when you are in neutral and you take your foot off the clutch. So changing down you clutch in, gear into neutral, clutch out, blip throttle, clutch in while revs are still up, into gear, clutch out. It's actually for boxes which don't have synchro and is easier than it sounds. Think the shifting problems are due to stiff synchro which is why some find the shifting trick works to loosen things up. I do it religiously and since doing it my box has really loosened up, goes into second with no issues right from cold.

 

i thought one of the fundamental rules is not to take the rpm high when its cold.....for any vehicle for a matter of fact right?

 

I was speaking about the 1st - 2nd gear shift, not all the gears, when the gearbox oil is still cold.