Heavy shifting

Some thoughts: 1- 308s are typically hard to shift when not running. 2- Have you verified that the clutch is adjusted correctly / fully disengaging? That would make gear entry harder while running.

FWIW, I had 20 years of great shifting on my 512BBi using Swepco 201 (from the Porsche community). I recently put 201 in my Euro Carb 308, and ugh, it's so notchy, I'm going back to fresh Redline MTL, shifts like butter in the 308...

 

Another issue on the boxes until the 328 is the shift rod runs into a blind hole, when cold the oil has very little clearance to escape thru. I drill out a passage to give the cold oil a place to go. Ferrari addressed this issue in the mondial and 328 gearboxes with a spiral cut Grove in the shaft.

This modification is done to the 'midplate'.
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Scott,

Can you show a more 'overall pic' so we can get a better frame of reference of exactly where this new hole is or is supposed to be?

Thanx.

 

Here you go...
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I just looked at my oil temp gauge, 210 is the optimum temp, why I thought it read 270 ? , my memory was screwed up. My bad, I dont want to look like an idiot. Just dropped off the car to the dealer to get the steering wheel spacer installed, and have the AC hose couplings checked.

Thank you

 

THANX, Scott.

 

Thanks, everyone, for chiming in. Lots of good information. I thought I'd give an update...

I noticed that my "torque arm" bushings were junk. Given my inconsistent shifting, it made some sense to me that this could be a problem. And, of course, it's a problem "in general" and something that needs to be right before any deeper work can get done. So I ordered a set of bushings. I ended up only replacing the bushing on the valve cover as the one in the torque arm looked new.

Overall, the process wasn't real hard. I didn't have the best tools for the job, so most of my effort was spent making a "tool", finding its weakness, making a new "tool", and repeating that process until the bushing was installed.

The difference this has made is amazing. I figured it would help, but it was much more of an improvement that I could have anticipated, really. All the gears are great now, except 2nd, which is still "meh". It's better now, especially once warmed up, but not quite where I think it should be. I am going to order some MTL and drain the fluid I just put in since it seems like the consensus is that it will likely help.

Bad bushing:
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My final iteration of tooling, lol:
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Robert:

Since the torque-arm bushing was in such lousy condition I can’t imagine your motor mounts are in much better shape. As others have already mentioned, new motor mounts will often have a dramatic effect on shifting quality.

Changing motor mounts is a do-it-yourself job, assuming you have a lift or some other way to safely give yourself lots of room under the rear of the car.

The rub is that these mounts are very expensive...two or three hundred bucks a pop! Try AW Autoparts in N.J.

Good luck,
Alan
N.J.

 

Inside the 308 mount

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Yeah, I figure I should probably replace them on principle, but they are quite expensive! And I haven't seen a real good way to test them. Given that the torque arm bushing got shifting back into a happy place, my thought was to leave it alone! But, I am sure in time, I will do them.

 

Second gear synchros are "meh" in our boxes when starting out cold.

If once warm it's still problematic it may need attention.
Gear box oil is a whole other subject.

You want non slip as I recall but with a small amount of slip additive to support the differential lock up feature.
It works kind of like Positrac when it's correct.

 

Note this....good info!!

 

I would like to replace my motor mounts. $300 each / $1200 plus shipping ..... ouch. Hoping the pricing will half in a few months time.

 

Will this work?

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Yes, but only for a short time since you'll need the https://www.milesi.com/en/ Italian wood finish...then you'll get 10 years minimum (static only).

 

Hah!

Seriously, though, the shifting is so good right now. Truly makes the car enjoyable and fun to drive. I think I may hit the pause button on this particular issue for now and turn my focus to the funky front end feeling.