I just had a Competition Clutch IronMan kit w/flywheel installed in my MY '00 in preparation for a Comptech SC/AC install hopefully next week if the kit makes it by then. The transmission fluid was also changed from GM SM/FM to a Schaeffer's ~equivalent.

The good news is the clutch buzz is pretty much subdued at least for now. The bad news is that while the car now shifts like buttah for the most part I'm having problems sometimes when trying to engage 1st gear when stopped at idle. When I press the clutch pedal down and try to put the shifter in first it's like I have to either rock the shifter back toward second and then shift to first or the shifter just doesn't want to go into first. I can put the shifter in any other gear including reverse and then first without a problem.

Diagnostics so far:

With the engine shut off I can row through the gears with no problem whether I use the clutch or not.

If I can let the car roll just a bit I can engage first (or any other gear) with no problem.

Any ideas?

 

This is a normal characteristic of the car. Does it do this just when cold, or does it do this all the time? When my car is cold, I simply shift into third, and then immediately into first with out any problem what so ever.

 

And.. you do wait for 2-3 seconds before putting it into 1st right?
With the gearbox spinning at engine idle speed it takes some time for the shafts to slow down when you disengage the clutch.

 

Pretty much all the time. It may even be more pronounced after the car warms up. I just had never experienced this with the OEM clutch and GM tranny fluid. If it's normal or typical behavior I'll get used to it, no big deal. It's going to be well worth it in a couple of weeks.

 

Yep. Always. Thanks guys.

 

Was the transmission main shaft lubed where the clutch rides? Failure to lube the splines may cause this.

In the mean time pull it into second prior to going into first and this may help.

 

Thanks. I'm not sure if it was lubed or not but I'll ask. I'm beginning to think it may just be the nature of this combination of parts. If I wait about 1 count longer than I used to after pressing in the clutch before moving the shifter it slides right in no problem.

If it turns out the splines weren't lubed will that be a problem down the road?

 

It won't get better.

 

^Understood. Thanks again.

 

Actually, I can go into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear and then immediatly into first. If I wait too long, it might not go into first. The reason I do this is, I don't want to just ram it into gear with excessive force. I don't think that can be good for it. When I do what I described above, It will gently glide into 1st gear.

When my car is good and hot, it will easily go into first without having to do this. My Del Sol was the same way, when cold, I would have to select 3rd gear first, and then select 1st gear.

I guess I have been blessed with my transmission cause it shifts like butter in all the gears when everything is properly warmed up, and I have never had any problems such as popping out of gear, or the one two grind









*knocks on wood*