I seem to have developed a very bad habit when I am in the deep rush of a second to third gear fender to fender streetrace of slipping all the way over and hitting 5Th and cracking the Syncro. I did this once about 3 years ago and I did it again last fall. Always racing Mustangs! Last time I pulled the gearbox out and replaced the syncro and I put in the "improved" spring and pin that was suppose to help resolve this issue but I guess it did not work for me.
Is there some mod or anything I can do to keep from doing this again?
Better lockout modification?
Short Shifter?
Heaver syncro rings?
Anyone else have this strange habit of screwing up 5th gear syncro or am I alone in this world of creating work for myself?

 

Shift softer when racing those Mustangs. You don't need to slam it into gear, make sure your slotting it in properly too.

thewird

 

Short shifters work wonders...i think the b&m is the best one i have used. It is the entire shifter (not just a shorter shift stick) and it forces u into 3rd

 

I agree.... I like to powershift and the B&M type of shifter has its own centering springs which really help prevent a miss into fifth as you describe. All I have to do is push the shifter forward (no side to side effort required), the shifter guides itself into the correct gate for 3rd. I Rarely miss gears now; last missed shift was last May, and that was pilot error.

The downside is that some people think the B&M and its clones are too notchy, not comfortable, and/or that they require too much effort. There is a lot of discussion and opinion about this that has already been written, which you can search on. I agree that the B&M definitely does not have the smooth, buttery feel of a stock type for sure--but I like it--IMO it is the better shifter for fast shifting or power shifting, especially for the oft missed 2-->3 change.

 

i have the b&m and like what was mentioned. . it does center the shifter so 3rd is less missed but also as mentioned its like rowing a boat through rocks. very notchy. but its the sacrifices hat have to be taken.

 

I can live with the gateway guidance and the extra effort it requires in the day to day. I worked on GT3 Porsches for many years and they were very selective about how you did gear changes. I remember thinking as I hammered the gas in first and went to second "Don't blow the 5th gear syncro again!!" But when the motor wound up and it was about to sing the shift me song I felt like one of those guys in the movies where everything gets quiet and weird and you don't think you just act (stupid). I did notice after trashing the syncro the Mustang guy had lifted and I was still a fender and a door ahead of him so in retrospect it was worth it! He now waves everytime he sees me like we are old buddies! Expensive buddy EH!
Thanks again.
I did see a mention of a improved 5th gear syncro (heaver) anyone know anything about that?

 

The parts you currently get from Mazda are the revised parts. I would imagine you have the newer parts in the car.

I'm surprised with the updated spring you still mis-shifted to 5th. My car is quite tricky to get into 5th with the updated part. I've NEVER messed up that shift, and I've done it VERY easily on cars without the updated spring.

On the stock shifter, if your shift lever bushings are old and tired or worn away, replacing them makes a BIG difference. It makes the whole assembly much tighter and solid, and new bushings will run like $20 or so, they're cheap.

I am not a fan of any of the short throw shifters. Every car I've driven with them I had to wrestle into gear and it wasn't clear many times what gear you were currently in. The FD has a GREAT shifter stock, nice crisp throws, and a short shifter just ruins it.

Get a full set of shift bushings and the innermost shift boot and see how that feels.

May be worth getting a good used JDM tranny too. I have one in my car, it's amazing how nice a low mileage transmission feels. They're on Ebay all day for $300 or so.

Dale