I just bought a stock 83 gl Wagon with the D/R 4speed. Trying to shift into third does not work except for once in a blue moon at high (4500+) rpms. I am mechanically stupid:clap: and have not checked anything yet but any ideas:confused: ??? I know 2nd and 4th are WAY down in stick location but when I try for third all I get is a grinding sound (like trying to start a car when it's running) when I release the clutch. I'm told possibly fluid level, but it checked ok and as for linkages.....well I haven't jacked the car up yet. Any ideas or imput would be greatly appeciated.

I just bought a stock 83 gl Wagon with the D/R 4speed. Trying to shift into third does not work except for once in a blue moon at high (4500+) rpms. I am mechanically stupid:clap: and have not checked anything yet but any ideas:confused: ??? I know 2nd and 4th are WAY down in stick location but when I try for third all I get is a grinding sound (like trying to start a car when it's running) when I release the clutch. I'm told possibly fluid level, but it checked ok and as for linkages.....well I haven't jacked the car up yet. Any ideas or imput would be greatly appeciated.

 

I've heard that these have an issue with the synchros on third gear. The first one I owned ground regularly, but did go in gear usually. Does it go into third when the engine is off? If you are used to five speed trannies, make sure it is all the way over the the right, not in the middle like you are used to.

Third gear syncro is gone. It's relatively common on the 4 speeds. Your best bet would be to swap in the 5 speed. Better fuel economy, vastly improved shift linkage, and lower low range gear.

 

There's not going to be any way to fix it without rebuilding the tranny. I had one that was the same way - I could get it in gear if I held it FIRMLY in 3rd and released the clutch while holding it. It would click hard and go in. Of course I bought the car knowing the tranny was bad, and replaced it immediately.

 

GD

Your best bet would be to swap in the 5 speed. Better fuel economy, vastly improved shift linkage, and lower low range gear.

 

Out of curiosity, how do the high range gear ratios change between the 4 speed and 5 speed - or are gears 1-4 the same ratio and 5th gear is an overdrive ? My Brat has the 4-speed and I'm not thrilled with the existing ratios (2nd to 3rd is a big jump, and it doesn't seem happy at high RPM in 2nd or low RPM at 3rd when I change) - I'm hoping the 5 speed will address it ?

 

Dean.

4th gear in the 4 speed is close to the same, but a little lower than 5th in the 5 speed. The jump from second to third is definately the biggest gearing problem for the 4 speed. You can cruise nicely in 3rd gear at 25 MPH with the 5 speed.

 

Low range changed from 1.45:1 in the 4, to 1.59:1 in the 5.

 

GD