i have done a lot of research looking through all the threads and i can not find any information on our transmissions. as the title says im installing (or trying to install a new shifter spring on my 87 na. i have the tranny all apart and for the past few days have had the tail shaft housing the shifter and the spring in my lap and con not figure out how that damn spring is suppose to go together. has anybody done this before?

 

This is all I dug up on my quick search, don't know if it will help you 100% or not though.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...shifter+spring

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...shifter+spring

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...shifter+spring

Some of these threads have references to the FSM, make sure you have a copy.

 

thanks man. thats kinda what i got too but it just doesnt seem to fit very well....
anybody else...

 

You're where I was about two weeks ago... Just finished replacing this spring in my GTUs.

For the record:
Yes, this job can be done with the transmission in the car. It's just harder.

Anyway, if you have the trans on the floor, first thing to do is remove these items in order:
1) The Check ball - This is the large bolt at the back of the shifter housing.
2) The lower shifter lockout mechanism - note the orientation of the plunger.
3) The 4 bolts that hold the access cover.

At this point you're in the shifter housing looking at the shift actuator and the roll pin that holds it to the shift rod. (Make sure the transmission is in neutral.) You'll need to find a drift to tap the roll pin out. There is no need to drill the pin out; it will slide out with a few gentle taps.

Once the pin is out, you need to rotate the shift actuator rod 180 degrees. Once you have it rotated, you'll be able to push the rod into the transmission, giving you enough room to slide the shift actuator end off the rod.

With the actuator finally out, you can wrap the spring around it. The orientation has the "Hook" part centered above the socket for the shifter. (Yes, you'll have to push the spring out of the way to install the shifter!) The other end of the spring wraps around the actuator and rests on the indentation on the right side.

The only tricky part now is reinstalling the actuator piece on the rod. You still have the actuator rod turned 180 degrees... You need to replace the actuator on the rod, slide the rod back, turn the rod 180 degrees till it’s in the normal position, then reinstall the roll pin.

Piece of cake right?

 

Geez, all that just to have your shifter pop back into neutral...

You guys are nuts.

 

Crazy? You better believe it! To be honest, this is a LOT of work to get this spring replaced. If the trans is on the floor, it's super easy. In the car however, this is a 4-5 hour job because you have to remove:
Interior shifter pieces, Exhaust, Heat sheilds, Driveshaft, and loosen the tranny mount just to get access to the shifter housing. Throw in the fact that your working on your back? Enuff said.

On the other hand, rebuilding the shifter with all new parts is very rewarding when you have been shifting with a limp noodle for over a year. Combine that with the fact that my access cover was leaking and this job was worth while in the end.

 

Amen! Its like night and day. Bushings were nonexistent!

 

I agree with changing bushings, just the going back to middle neutral spring I could really care less about.