C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

[Raymond W.]

Aside from an unfortunate and lasting lesson learned, any thoughts on what impact the following scenario may have had on a 1974 M-21 close ratio 4-speed transmission.

While raising my car on a set of full length Quick Lift ramps, the jack slipped off the cross bar, causing the car to drop abruptly from a height of about 12-15". The force of the drop caused the car to hop backwards down the ramps about 6" or so.

Since then, the "feel" when shifting the car is not the same? Under normal driving conditions, I'd explain the different feel as; it feels like it takes two steps to engage 1st and the same for 2nd, versus one clean throw.

Under parking lot conditions, when having to work back and forth between reverse and 1st, engaging into 1st gear takes quite a bit more pressure (feels like I'm hitting a stop or something).

Today's experience...while driving in a parade for about a mile in 1st gear, I got to a point where I pulled the car out of gear and put it in neutral, when I tried to get it back into first, there was a fair amount of resistance (like the stop mentioned above). I then tried third and fourth, both of which were successfully engaged, however, not without some of the same resistance. With some of the same additional force, I was able to eventually engage back 1st gear again. Proceeding home at stop lights and such, the shifting appeared to be back to normal?

Lastly, while parking the car, it took several attempts to engage reverse (grinding noise; as if the clutch wasn't being used). It took a couple of attempts of shifting into another gear, before successfully engaging in reverse. While shifting into an alternate gear, the same stop resistance was felt, but not enough to prohibit from engaging the gear?

I'd appreciate any thought on what might have happened here and what might be necessary to cure it...

Thanks,
Ray

[Michael H.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Ray,

Something has changed your clutch adjustment. I'm not sure what may have moved or bent, but the problem with the transmission is due to the clutch not fully releasing. Has the amount of free play changed?

The only thing I can think of fron here would be to inspect everything under the car and see if there is a sign of some contact or damage.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your traansmission.

[Rich G.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

If you are lucky, you only bent the shifter.. Best to get it on a lift and take a look. When I got my 66 it had a "Bubba repaired" shifter bracket. It was amazing how much better it shifts with the proper parts.

Good Luck

Rich Giannotti 38594

[Raymond W.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Mike,

I appreciate the input. With that said, I'll start to investigate. In advance of my findings, and a check of the clutch adjustment, I'm trying to understand what could have caused the adjustment on the clutch to be altered? Nothing under the car got hit except for the lower tire tub (top of jack pushed it in and also put a small dent in the spare tire rim). Believe me, I'm hoping you've nailed this one for me!

Thanks,
Ray

[Raymond W.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Rich,

I appreciate your comments. Please see my reply to Mike. Not only am I puzzeled at how the clutch alignment could be altered, but also, how something to do with the shifter/transmission could have been damaged. Time will tell, for which I'll reply with an update.

Thanks again,
Ray

[Michael H.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Ray,

If we find that the clutch adjustment changed, that will answer the shifting problem. (pretty sure it did) If it did, we'll then have to figure out why it changed.

Transmission shift linkage adjustment or problems could have caused the high effort when shifting into any forward gears but the fact that you had a heavy gring while trying to shift into reverse would indicate that the clutch is not releasing completely. It would also make shifting into any forward gears difficult.

Was the rear of the car initially raised using the floor jack under the differential?

How much free play does the clutch have now? Is it the same as it was before the problem started?

[Raymond W.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Mike,

I plan to look into all this further in the week. I did check the play in the clutch pedal and it appeared to be the same as before this episode. The car was not lifted under the differential, the car is raised while sitting on the ramps themselves. A hydraulic jack, placed under a large, curved, steel bar (3" diameter), which extends through the underside of both ramps, is what raises up the ramps and car.

Ray

[Patrick H.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

One other thought is that a motor mount or the rear trans mount was already broken (not uncommon that the rubber separates) and the "big bang" shifted the alignment of one of these mounts. This would change the alignment of the running gear to the shifter mechanism.

It's definitely worth checking. Easy enough to do.

Patrick

[Raymond W.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Thanks fellas...after a little adjustment to the clutch linkage, everything with the car as previously explained appears to be fine and back to what I remember. I feel better too! Thanks.

[Michael H.]

Re: C-3 Transmission woes...(Need Help)

Thought so. Glad it was an easy fix.