Tailshafts vs. Shift-Pattern
 

I want to put a GSL-SE transmission (gears) in my FC, but I want to keep my current S5 shift pattern. My question is...

are shift patterns determined by the tail housing, or the lengths of the forks/whatnot in the tranny?

If I wanted to keep the shift pattern the same w/ the other gears I would need to...

A) Just swap the tail housings.

B) Take apart the tranny, and swap the gears.

Thanks. ~Colby

just slap the fc tailhousing on the fb, you'll have to change to the fc rod and control forks as well, no big deal, really easy, then slap it back in your car, tada, all done, i just did it, but not with a gsl-se, didnt have one of them, haha.

FB's and S4's have the same sift pattern

S5's and S4's do not

I have had both an S4 & S5. What difference are you talking about?

Liquid seems to think the 1-2 3-4 rows are closer together (latterally) on the S4's vs the S5's. He drew me a picture of it but I can't confirm either way as I don't have an S5 handy.

The boxes are the same, it's just the shifter that's different.

Anyone who knows what I'm talking about?

All the shift patterns are the same:

1 3 5
2 4 R

I think what he's trying to say is that they're NOT exactly the same

s4:
1 3 5

2 4 R

s5:
1 3 5

2 4 R

Liquid and I actually had a nice little chat about this late this morning right before I posted the brief response here. I hadn't thought about using the spacing as you guys did to spell it out like he had in a little pic he sent me. Here's the difference as Colby explained it to me.

S4:
1 - 3 -- 5

2 - 4 -- R

S5:
1 -- 3 -- 5

2 -- 4 -- R

The pattern is supposedly wider spaced between the S5 gears on the lower side of the ratios. Hopefully someone can clarify this. The only S5 I've driven had the fucked up shifter bushings and was annoying as hell.

EDIT per stupid auto spacing correction

2 things. First of all, 3rd is in a weird spot. It really takes some getting used to.

Next, I cannot recommend an FB tranny for an FC. Ive had mine in for 3000 miles, with 2000 of that breaking in a motor. I have 4 messed up gears so far. 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th are all bad. 1st gear grinds every time you select it, no matter what, and always clunks, etc. No matter how you work the clutch either. 3rd, 4th, and 5th all have a jingling sort of sound, like the sunchro ring is broken aparp from the rest of the gear. It sounds horrible, and is loud enough my gf complains about it.

The FB trannies were designed to handle 100 hp, but not any more. It WILL NOT last in an FC. My FC tranny is going back in as soon as I get the time. I think doing that swap is a waste of time and money, and the gears are nice, but a tranny that doesnt break if you look at it wrong is nicer.

Adam, that said... didn't you get a 12A tranny from a S1? There are KNOWN to have weak gears. Seeing as GSL-SE's were only S3 then any GSL-SE tranny should have the stronger gears.

Other than the durability, I remember you telling me soon after the install that it was one of the best things you ever did to your car...

If I can eliminate the worry of the transmission failing (by getting the best of the 1st gen trannys) I think this could be a very worthwhile swap.

The tranny was from an 84 GSL. Same as the GSL-SE one, but a shorter 5th gear.

I had the best, and its broken. Stick with an FC tranny, and get a 4.3 diff gear.

One more thing, I checked out that tranny before it originally went in my car. It was pristine. Everything was perfect.

And the gears were nice, but I hated going on the interstate. 4K rpm at 80 mph sucks. I put too many miles on my car to not be worried about gas mileage. The throttle response in 5th gear was great, but a ported motor gives more of a noticable gain in 5th than that tranny on stock ports.

Bottom line, I think the short gears were nice, but I would rather have the 4.3 diff my friend has in his 87 GXL. And he doesnt break a tranny in 3K miles of being nice to it. The tranny was WAY too weak. Within 200 miles of putting the tranny in before, 4th was making the noise I described above. Then the rest of the gears started to do it.