I'm rebuilding two 89 L3 transmissions both DX (even though one was sold to me as an Si; punks). One was originally in the car, and I don't know why it blew. But I took off the case for the one I blew, and all of the gears were fine. On the magnet though, there was a thin piece of round metal that may have been a spacer or washer or something. I have no clue where it goes or what its for, but there's nothing else showing a reason to why the thing blew. Everything is there in the synchro's. The bearings on the differential sounded kinda rough, but they weren't bad enough to have caused the thing to stop working.

Here's what I was doing when it happened. Burnout... let the E brake go, and I thought I had the clutch in, the RPM's were low, and all of the sudden the car just stops. When we were pushing it backwards off the line, I had it in neutral, and there was a clicking sound... Like a gear was catching or something. Later I had it in neutral, and let out the clutch and it moved forwards a bit. Like it was in 1st gear. But all the gears are fine, shifter forks are working and in place, synchro's look excellent. I have no clue. Any ideas?

I'll get a pic of that ring thing tomorrow, I left it at the shop trying to find out what it was for.... It is really thin and twisted on one end. That end has a gash in it where it was smashed or something. But anyways, when I had it in 1st, and let out the clutch, the engine would stall if you let it. Like something was locked up.

 

Does the ring look like a peice of wire alomost? If so that is what is inbetween the synchro and the center collars. That ring is what provides the click when you go into gear.

 

I'll look into that. It is very thin. Still learning about transmissions, but why would that go when I was letting off in 1st?

Here's a crappy pic if it helps... As it lays, its only 2 inches long.





Modified by I8ayellowcrayon at 4:19 PM 7/9/2003

 

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you say the synchros look excellent but have you looked them all over to make sure their respective syncrho springs (as was mentioned above) were still in place and intact?

if your engine was in gear and that piece of wire jammed into the gear teeth or freely moving around in your trans, i would imagine it would be enough to kill the engine and cause it to make audible noises as you said.

 

have u taken the differential outta the case....
maybe u blew the diff pin and maybe thats why it broke
as far as the pic.... thats a synchro ring..... that kinda holds gear in place... thats the lil click feeling eveytime u put gears....

u need new synchros...
and judging from what u described..... i will look veryyyyyyyy closesely to the 1st and 2nd select fork.... might be ready to snap broken....
the sympstoms are the same i had wheni broke my select forks... i have been tru 2 of them..... goi back and look at thos.e

 

Well, when I took apart my other tranny, everything was jacked up, and I souldn't have used it as a comparison really, but I started to take it apart, and the 5th gear synchro snap ring (the dealership says) wasn't there. I didn't notice that because the hub was covering that part. So I am going to need a whole new 5th gear synchro assembly. Dealership has them for $438. Screw that, its time for another tranny. Thanks for your help guys. I'm learning more every day.

 

Oh yeah, differential bearings sound like skate board bearings. Need replaced too.

 

If you need some D series trannies, I have one SI and 2 DX trannies at the shop. I know they are good because I took the cars for a test drive before they came in for B series swaps.

Make a reasonable offer on the trannies. I want a little more for the "SI" tranny due to the better gearing and demand. Anything else D series you may need, I have it. Alternators, axles, starters, distributors, etc.

I should start posting this stuff on ebay or the classifieds, but Im havent yet. I keep them around the shop and have sold them locally to people who need D series stuff. Heck, even a guy I know at NAPA has referred EF customers my way to get things like D series distributors or starters a fraction of the cost if they bought new or rebuilt from a parts store.

Time is important to me, so you can call me at the number posted below if you have any questions.

I can ship the trannies (or anything else) if need be. (at your expense) but getting it from me will be cheaper than buying from a local salvage yard......I guarantee it. Tracking # and delivery confirmation will be provided.

I dont bother holding on to stuff that I know is bad. These were perfectly fine D series engine and trannies from customers that went Bseries.