'81 5 speed transmission rebuild - making progress

[rjkoop]

Making progress on the transmission rebuild. The mirafiori guide...

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... age33.html

... is by the far best resource but still lacks some detail. Mainly they talk a lot about 'spacers' but the pictures and description don't say which one to use.

The internals on the main shaft and countershaft are done and I think they are perfect (after my 2nd attempt!). On the main shaft output assembly I noticed a bit of play after sliding all the components on including where the speedometer drive gear... #24 in this picture...

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... age38.html

According to the diagram the bushing slides on (#20) then goes the bearing (#21) and spacer (#22). But after sliding on the speedometer drive gear (#24) the bearing can slide back and forth a bit. I think they are missing the sleeve the goes inside the bearing and that would tighten things up. Or maybe when you install a bearing it's assumed the you put the sleeve inside the bearing 1st and that's why they don't show it in the diagram. Any ideas? Here's a picture of the order I think things should go in.



Can anyone confirm?

Also on the countershaft I'm thinking there should be a washer after the bearing, before the nut goes on? This doesn't look quite right but once again it's not mentioned in the mirafiori guide.



And here's a few pictures in case anyone sees anything wrong.










Richard

[Nanonevol]

I did mine several years ago. Wish I had taken more photos but here are a few that might help.
I also used the Mirafiori guide and was fortunate that I just had to rebuild it the way it was. No missing parts to wonder about.

I think you're good with that bearing without a spacer.

[rjkoop]

Thanks for the pictures.

Got the shift fork shafts in today...

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... age39.html

Wasn't too bad but still did it wrong (I was able to engage reverse and 1st at the same time) but once I got the detent balls in correctly everything looks great now. And everything appears tight.

I only have the perseverance/patience for doing about 1 page of that guide per day! But I think the worst is done now.

Richard

[rjkoop]

Does it make sense that before I install the engaging lever...

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... age40.html

...the shift fork shafts are really tough to engage/disengage by hand? I'm able to get it into gear but it's really tough to move things are into neutral again. If I loosen the plate the holds down the 3 ball bearings and the springs a little bit everything engages and disengages easily. Maybe that's normal and it should be stiff. Or maybe someone replaced the ball bearings before and used larger ones??? Not sure.

Richard

[rjkoop]

Almost everything looks tight and aligned. I did notice some movement in the main shaft assembly...

https://youtu.be/ol3YIRupjtk

... but I haven't attached the everything yet as you can see in the video. Is this normal to see movement on the main shaft until everything is put together? I hate to put everything back together just to take it apart again.

Richard

[rjkoop]

Once shift fork shafts, 2 detent beans, skinny bean that goes in the 3rd/4th shift shaft and ball bearings are in and I don't full tighten the cover plate things shift really well and you can only put one gear in at a time. But once I tighten the cover plate on it's really tough to shift the gears. I have to use vise grips, grab the end of the shaft and push fairly hard to get the shaft to shift into gear. Is this normal? Any chance the ball bearings are too large or springs too long/tight? Anyone know the correct diameter of the ball bearings? I could measure mine to compare. Also one of the spring is slightly longer than the others but in some guides there is mention that the longer one goes in the 5th/reverse hole. Can someone confirm?

If I loosen the cover plate a bit I can shift the shafts much easier.

Richard

[rjkoop]

Think I'm all good now. Got the shift tower back in. Next up the bell housing and then I could be good to put it back in the car... just in time for winter!

Richard

[rjkoop]

Bell housing back on.



Couldn't find the clutch release fork spring but hopefully it will show up when I clean up my garage.

Richard

[toplessexpat]

This might be a little late... but on Mira is the entire rebuild manual..

https://www.mirafiori.com/forum/viewtop ... 75&t=97718

[rjkoop]

Thanks for that.

I do feel really silly though. I was using this manual...



Turns out when I got the car I also got this manual...



... and I didn't realize it had a LOT more detail. I could of used that sooner! Argh!

Richard

[Odoyle]

Richard, looks like you have got everything back together but just for another point of reference, I made a post in July called; 83 Spider Transmission Rebuild Review & Tips. Can't seem to link it for some reason but I talked about making careful note of all spacers, I found that in my diagram they said there is spacer (15) behind reverse gear, but in my gearbox it was a large bellenville washer.

Also, are you replacing the clutch and pressure plate ?

[rjkoop]

Richard, looks like you have got everything back together but just for another point of reference, I made a post in July called; 83 Spider Transmission Rebuild Review & Tips. Can't seem to link it for some reason but I talked about making careful note of all spacers, I found that in my diagram they said there is spacer (15) behind reverse gear, but in my gearbox it was a large bellenville washer.

Also, are you replacing the clutch and pressure plate ?

Yep. I think I used that post and noticed the bellenville washer was the correct one... Actually I think I used about 40 posts from this site and advice from others. Keeping my fingers crossed that the rebuild actually works!

Richard

[rjkoop]

Since the transmission was out I decided to take off the pressure plate and clutch disc off. Boy that was the quickest job I've ever done on the spider... since the transmission was already out!

Not even going to bother checking it. No idea of the history on it and for the $199 cost of the replacement kit I'm just going to replace it. And I have a clutch cable too so going to replace that as well.

I'll just cleanup the flywheel since it looks fine. Was thinking about replacing with a lighter flywheel but from what I've read they can be a little twitchy on acceleration. Just want a daily driver.

Richard

[spiderdan]

Looks like you are on the final stretch Richard.
It will be great to have a local trany "expert" around!

[rjkoop]

Looks like you are on the final stretch Richard.
It will be great to have a local trany "expert" around!

Expert? Hmmm... Not sure I want to deal with another transmission again!

The plan for this year is getting the drivetrain back in and driving it. Then come fall I'm considering a repaint. Paint is starting to peel and I've always wanted to learn about painting a car. I'm thinking about a nice shade of blue.



Maybe a darker color. Not sure yet.

Richard