shifter will only go into 5th gear
 

So I replaced my stock blown motor with rebuilt one that I picked up from a seller. I bought the transmission too because it was lower mileage and had the 5th gear synchro fixed. The motor and trans are in, and when I installed my stock shifter (that was in pretty bad shape), I was only able to shift it into 5th gear (car not running), but none of the other gears. I messed with it for a while, gave up. I came back to it later in the day to see if I could shift it into reverse. for whatever reason, whether it was because I tried putting it in reverse, or maybe I'd just man-handled it enough, I was suddenly able to shift it into the other gears (albeit not very smoothly).

Fast forward to today, I received a brand new in box C's shifter I had on order, and I decided to install it. I removed my stock shifter, of which the bottom plastic piece/bushing had finally given up completely. (it was only 60% there to begin with) So I had to use some grabbers to remove all of the broken pieces. cleaned the area out where the lower ball sits, and continued to install the new shifter. but now I have the same problem. It will only shift into 5th gear (or neutral)

here are pics of the old shifter:

https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...b6&oe=5903523F

https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...87&oe=5947B668

the C's shifter is brand new.

anyone know what I'm doing wrong here? When I search, all I can come up with is people who can't get into 5th.

thanks

Holy mangled shifter, Batman! :batman:

Is there sufficient fluid in the trans? Did you get all of the bits out? Who did the rebuild on the transmission?

It may have nothing to do with you and could be the condition of the transmission itself?

there's fluid in the trans. got all the bits out. not sure on the rebuild.

well, I had the thought that maybe I need to be in the driver's seat to pull this off, cause that was another difference the first time around. (first installed and tried shifting from the passenger side) So just went back out there and started messing with it, and got it into reverse, then fourth opened up, then with a little bit of working with it, I could get it into all the gears. still, not as easy as a task that it should be. wonder if the guy who rebuilt the trans f'ed it up.

I'd say that's probably the case. The extension housing needs to be removed to get at the 5th gear syncro. If it's not put back on correctly, the control rod won't mate to the shift rod ends properly, which is essentially the mechanical connection between the shifter and the gears.

Ask me how I know.... https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread.../#post12085905

And generally (and conversely to my signature), more muscle will not fix a problem but will make it worse.

I had a similar issue with my FD, ended up being the clitch fork... at first would be really stiff ((one tine broke) then locked up and wouldn't shift to any gear.

I also say the trans was assembled incorrectly. As bad as that shifter looks, it will usually only make shifting sloppy. You should still be able to engage gears.

sometimes depending on where the gear teeth are you will not be able to go into a certain gear without the engine running but not all. sounds like a fubar transmission to me.

RotaryEvolution: I'm hoping the first part of what you said has something to do with it. I need to bleed my clutch/brakes and see what happens when it's in gear while running.