I went to the LVD Open Session today to run with the F-bodies and Y-bodies...but I experienced an M6 tranny issue before I even got to the burnout box. Here is what basically happened:

While I was moving up in the staging lanes (I was maybe 3 cars before the water box) I decided to run the shifter through the gears like I was going down the track. Basically being stopped, but with the engine running and my foot on the clutch I ran the shifter from 1 - 2 - 3 - 4...and the shifter refused to come out of 4th. Please keep in mind this was basically stopped, clutch IN, idle speed...not running down the track.

I stepped out of line and drove around the staging lanes in 4th over to the pit area where I tried to get the dam tranny to come out of 4th. My Spec Stage 3 clutch still feels fine, and there was no 'pop, bang, or any other noise' when this happened. I have the stock factory Hurst shifter on my 2002 Z28 tranny, so I figured I would removed the shifter and take a look at the interface (ball and cup). Nothing out of the ordinary.

I asked around with the guys that were close by and received some help at trying to 'pop' it out of 4th, but no luck. I decided I should leave it in 4th because I knew I could drive it home in 4th (I have 4.56 gears in my '95 Caprice conversion). I got back home with no problems by 'timing' my approach to the dozen or so traffic lights on my 45 minute trip back home so I wouldn't have to actually stop at all. This worked out great.

I will be pulling the tranny out of the car in the next day or so, and I am asking for any help at what I should be looking for. I figure I will find something very obvious wrong with the 3/4 shifter fork (I have a spare Iron fork on the bench) or in that area, but while I have the tranny apart, what should I be concentrating on to find any other damage or weak spots?

Any help is appreciated. Today was the day I was expecting to drop into the low 12s (12.2 or 12.3) since I had just completed some chassis mods to my 4350 pound car. At least I was able to drive it home.

Gary

 

My stuck in 4th too like 2 months ago
3-4 keys are pressed and hollow thats what mine was the key brock and would not let it out of 4th. the resone the keys breack is because they are weak and the 3-4 fork was bent and cause extra stress on the kweak stock keys.
better fork in now, billet keys, new 3erd gear (was worn down) and 3-4 slidder ***.
works great now

 

my muncie used to do this..

I would just go under the car and dissengage the linkage.

But whenever I tried to BANG gears.. it would stick ( my tranny needed a rebuild BAD).

I wonder if you can just yank on the linkage and have it free up?

 

A quick update...

I went out last night to move my car out of the road and hopefully get it into my steep driveway without damaging anything (air dams or exhaust tips). After driving through the neighborhood in 4th gear to turn the car around, I did manage to have the tranny 'free-up' and shift like normal (it just all of a sudden shifted properly). I was able to drive the last couple hundred feet shifting down into 3rd, then 2nd, and finally 1st. I did back the car up into my driveway and park it where it is usually parked.

Then, after it was parked in the driveway, I tried moving the shifter through the gears again (like when it locked up before). On the 3rd pass through the gears, it got stuck in 4th again. At least...driving for a short distance with the tranny shifting properly tells me that I didn't do a bunch of damage inside, and it should be an easy fix.

I'm hoping to have a local garage allow me to pull the tranny on their lift in the next day or two. I will then disassemble the tranny at home and check it all out.

Pontiac...I will keep the keys in mind when I take it apart.

Wyckedcamaro...these T56 trannies have an internal shift 'rail'. No external linkage.

Thanks for the replies, Now it is off to see who I can buy parts from. The only place I know of is theGearbox on ebay. Anyone else I should try?

Gary

 

dont yank you will break your 3-4 shift fork!!!!!

 

Try Rock On transmissions in Denton, TX. Dave can get you what you need if you plan on doing it.

 

Your slider keys are broke.Your gonna need new carbon fber rings too.When you rebuild it go with a set of billet slider keys from G-force trannsmissions.

 

THis happened to me a year or two back. I was making a WOT pass down the highway, up to 5th gear. As I slowed down to get off my exit, I downshifted to 4th gear. I tried to shift down into 3rd to merge with traffic, but alas my shifter would not come out of 4th gear. I pulled into a parking lot, and after about 5 minutes of tugging on it I finally got it to break free.

I parked the car for a good 3 weeks after that. I eventually got the ***** to drive it again, and it would occasionally stick very lightly in 4th, but it would come out easily. Finally one day while out taking a pleasure cruise around town, I turn back into my neighborhood and had it in 4th gear. This time it was stuck for good. I limped the car back to my house. I got in the back seat and proceeded to kick my shifter lol. No luck, it was stuck for good this time. $600 tranny rebuild, and a new 3-4 shift fork.

 

Well... I pulled my tranny yesterday evening in the driveway (couldn't wait a few days to use a buddies lift). I then set-up my 8 foot conference table in the garage and drilled a 2inch hole in the middle but towards one end. Then I could stand the tranny upright on the table and disassemble it.

I still need to make myself an extended gear puller for 5/6 but I was able to get the tranny apart enough to confirm the cause of my shifting woes.

On the magnets in the bottom of the case were two pieces of the 3-4 keys. In the 3-4 slider I found one intact key and the remaining two broken keys. The rest of the tranny looks great. The synchros and all the gears and bearings look like new.

So, I am off to order a set of the billet keys and hopefully get this back together in a couple of days. Thanks for the help guys.

Gary

 

mine stuck in 4th too but it was after I just replaced 3rd & 4th syncro assem. with carbon fiber rings and a steal shift fork. When I took it apart, it was in 4th and 1st gear. All the keys looked fine. I put it back together and it ran good for about a month then it happened again. I dont know whats wrong with mine. Im about to start to remove it again. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

 

I got my tranny back together with the billet steel 3-4 keys, new 3-4 synchro assembly, new 3&4 blocker rings, and a steel 3-4 shift fork. Someone had told me a while back that all '01 and '02 F-bodies had a steel 3-4 fork installed from the factory. Mine was aluminum.

Anyway, I got it all back together and installed yesterday (in the driveway on jack stands). It is like a completely different tranny now. The shifter doesn't try to pop out of 3rd anymore, and the engagement into reverse is great now (I flipped the reverse synchro slider over, to use the 'new' teeth on the unused side).

I will be trying out my two 'new' shifters and see which one I like the best (B&M Ripper or Kirban).

Georgia99z28,

If your tranny was able to get into 2 gears at the same time, you probably have the little 'ring shaped' piece on the 1-2 and 3-4 shift rail in the wrong orientation. That little piece keeps the tranny from engaging two gears at the same time.

Gary