'82 308 GTSi can't shift into 1st gear | FerrariChat
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'82 308 GTSi can't shift into 1st gear

Discussion in '308/328' started by aubreysterling, Oct 3, 2009.

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  1. aubreysterling

    aubreysterling Rookie

    Sep 30, 2009
    1
    #1 aubreysterling, Oct 3, 2009
    I just bought this car last week. It had no problems shifting for about 100 miles. Now 1st gear is hit or miss. Sometimes I can get it to stay, but it usually pops out and if I try to hold it while letting up the clutch, it grinds. All other gears work fine, but it sometimes tries to pull forward in reverse. In the meantime, I've just been using 2nd gear from a stop, but I figure this is going to wear the clutch out.

    I've read a ton of threads, but I can't figure out what exactly is the issue (gear alignment?). All seem to be beyond what I am capable of fixing myself. I was hoping to get a few more miles before putting it in the shop, but oh well. How much is this going to cost?
     
  2. ragtop1

    ragtop1 F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2006
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    Larry Warren
    #2 ragtop1, Oct 3, 2009
    If you are lucky, it may be a linkage adjustment issue that can be aligned. Otherwise, an engine out service and transmission investigation is in order. Gears, syncros and bearings.
    Then you get to check out many more issues that will need addressing with a clean look at an empty engine bay.
    Too hard to estimate a cost at this point. Depends on the condition of the tranny. Once it is opened up, may as well replace any suspect or worn parts such as 2nd gear syncro, to save on future mishaps that will result in another tear down.
    Most of your costs here is labor.
     
  3. jeffQV

    jeffQV F1 Rookie

    Feb 13, 2004
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    jeff
    #3 jeffQV, Oct 3, 2009
    Hopefully as simple as this. I lost first n reverse a couple of weeks ago, turned out to be the selector forks inside the gearbox, they can work lose. A simplish fix, my mechanic sorted it out easily and not too many $$$, good luck!
     
  4. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
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    Brian Harper
    #4 Brian Harper, Oct 4, 2009
    There are two rubber Silentblock bushings in the shift linkage, one of which sees both heat and usually oil. At least that one is ready to replace if it is original no matter what. Verrell sells a superior bushing to replace the OEM. I would start there and then do the shifter alignment. That requires dropping the tranny pan, but is apparently easy. (That's on my to-do list still.)

    Getting the wrong gear in the wrong gate slot is way more likely to be an alignment and bushing issue than anything else.
     
  5. kerrari

    kerrari Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 22, 2004
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    Karen H.
    #5 kerrari, Oct 4, 2009
    +1 on this.
     
  6. Jet Lag

    Jet Lag Karting

    Dec 6, 2003
    173
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Robert Bangs
    #6 Jet Lag, Oct 4, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I would imagine several things could cause your problem. My '79 308 started off by sometimes going into 3rd instead of 1st, then had a hard time getting into reverse, and finally jammed to the point that I would have to take the gate off to release pressure enough to get the stick shift to move. It turned out to be the rear bushing in the shift linkage - #28 of below. Easy enough to check; a real b!t@h to replace, but it solved my problem.
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  7. stekkefun4

    stekkefun4 Formula 3
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    Nov 22, 2006
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    Belgium - Europe
    #7 stekkefun4, Oct 5, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have the same problem since I had a service done by an independent old timer garage in Brussels. I have a Mondial QV, shifting to first 1 in 10 times doesn't work. They disassembled the gearbox sump to replace the seal. The problems started immediately when I got my car back. Chances are they didn't put one of these 3 balls back in place - see picture. This will cause the lever to 'miss' a gear from time to time because the spring just underneath pushes the ball up to keep the gear in place. Known problem, simple solution but with some work.
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