SHO Has No 5th or Reverse Gear!

[DeepPower]

Since getting my '89 SHO back from Tony H. I have a long long list of new problems. One of them is that, despite the fact that he did not do anything to the transmission, it is now difficult finding then right gear (before Tony, shifting was buttery smooth). During today's 45 min drive to work, it was tough shifting into 5th, and then suddenly 5th wasn't available, like it was blocked. When I was able to push it into what felt like 5th, I got 3rd gear instead. No reverse gear, instead the car inches forward.

I've got the cover to the gear shifter in the cabin off, and the linkage appears good. I have a 45 minute freeway drive home tonight in 4th gear.

Please someone tell me this is a cable problem. Tony won't see me until Wednesday, so early tomorrow morning I'm taking my SHO to my good friend and trusted local mechanic to look at. Any help or suggestions, please!!!

 

[rubydist]

it sounds like the left/right cable is too loose or not adjusted right so that it does not move the selector inside the trans over to allow 5th/rev.

 

[DeepPower]

it sounds like the left/right cable is too loose or not adjusted right so that it does not move the selector inside the trans over to allow 5th/rev.

Thank You. That is just what I needed to hear to make me feel better!

I just now got home from work, 40 miles, on the highway. I deliberately left at the height of Dallas rush hour so I wouldn't need 5th but because God has a sense of humor, there was no traffic. Do you know how much self-control it takes to drive a SHO on clear roads at 60mph???

 

[rubydist]

your SHO goes way faster than 60 in 4th.....

 

[DeepPower]

your SHO goes way faster than 60 in 4th.....

Yes I know, but I wasn't comfortable revving the engine too high for that long a period.

 

[luigisho]

You going to have someone else look at it to confirm what item failed? If the shifter mechanism failed you could always swap over a rod shifter from a later manual SHO unless keeping it original is important to you.

 

[zak]

Time for a rod shifter upgrade? I know the cables are hard to find.

 

[DeepPower]

You going to have someone else look at it to confirm what item failed? If the shifter mechanism failed you could always swap over a rod shifter from a later manual SHO unless keeping it original is important to you.

My trusted local mechanic took a look at it this morning. Tony Huerta. put in a bunch of twisty-ties at the transmission linkage that massively failed. My trusted mechanic did some magic and fixed it. Car shifts silky-smooth now.

In any case, I'm looking for a replacement cable.

Time for a rod shifter upgrade? I know the cables are hard to find.

I wasn't comfortable with the rod shifter, didn't like the feel of the one I drove.