QuestionI have an 82 911SC 5 speed targa with 70k miles. When shifting to 2nd gear, I am getting a banging/grinding noise as it goes into gear, but it does always go into gear. All other gears are fine. When shifting to 2nd, it only seems to catch the gear at the very end of the throw, when the gearshift cannot go any further. Any idea what may be causing this? I am hoping it may only be an adjustment of the rods, as opposed to a clutch or flywheel. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.
AnswerDennis,
I'm pleased to report the problem is not likely the clutch or the flywheel...but...in this case I'd consider pulling the transmission this afternoon, right after lunch.
Not what you wanted to hear...definitely.
Before you undo anything, get yourself another one or two or three opinions. The best would be an owner/mechanic who'd say: let's go for a drive...and you could watch in his expressions where the problem lies as he shifts up and down through the gears. This person has driven so many 911SCs that he knows exactly what they "feel" like new...and exactly what they feel like as age or abuse set in.
There is a slight chance, given your description, that the linkage may indeed be the problem. If you want to give that a try first, check out this technical article, I think it will be enlightening:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_shifting_improvements/911_shifting_...
I've never owned an SC, but I've lusted after some of these beauties many a time, usually as they are shifting gears going past me at about 85! The weakness that exposes itself first on these cars is usually the exploding clutch. These cars had rubber-centered clutches that didn't last, and so, even in used car ads, you'll see mention that the clutch was replaced, or upgraded, to the spring-centered clutch, even if the mileage didn't indicate any other reason to pull the engine. If your car has the original clutch, I'd say this is even more reason to pull the transmission now.
Think of the problem as you would termites in your house, If you fix the problem when you find one 2"x4" eaten up, then the rest of the structure will last a long time once the bad piece is replaced. If you wait, the bad piece becomes two and three bad pieces and....$$$$$
The first 2"x4"s to go bad on your car are the synchro rings in the transmission. These can be replaced without replacing the more expensive synchro hubs and the slider gears, if you catch the problem soon enough. Yes, all the same labor is involved to pull and re-install the transmission, but there'll be a huge savings in parts if the synchros are all that's been 'eaten up'.
Yes, you could baby those shifts and get some more mileage out of her without too much damage, but exactly when does the first termite say:
"Burp! I've had enough of this rotten synchro, I want a bite of that shiny part $$$ over there!"
With this news it would be really wrong of me to say, "Have a nice day!" So even though I want you to have a nice rest of the... what I really want is for you you get some advice from someone who can "feel" the car...and then get your beauty fixed and back on the road, where she belongs.
Dave
