Couldn't get into 2nd gear...SOLVED

[sfdon]

We use a sway bar rubber doughnut and critically a nyloc nut.

 

[Rjsnyc]

That is the problem and there should be a rubber spacer sandwiched between.

Don and @hbchris , attached is the closest diagram I could get to the Getrag. Is part #15 (boxed in black) the bolt and spacer we are referring to? ie, is the spacer this size? I ask only as I need to drive the car tomorrow night and won't have time to get the actual part. I may have to improvise.

I will end this post in a bit. Apologies for consuming so much of your bandwidth.

 

[Rjsnyc]

We use a sway bar rubber doughnut and critically a nyloc nut.

Seems sfdon just clarified it for me. I'm still trying to think of a temp improvise. A sub for the rubber spacer.

 

[HB Chris]

We are glad to help and this might help others as well.

 

[Dan Wood]

Seems sfdon just clarified it for me. I'm still trying to think of a temp improvise. A sub for the rubber spacer.

This is what I used and I believe @sfdon also recommends.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATM1032822?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&store=27836&campaign=GSC-Steering-Suspension&campaign_id=10947735037&adgroup_id=107081865786&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl8anBhCFARIsAKbbpyQW7lLJHJJT1IBGNq3V0eONtCv07e6-OthJsdPYUCYfsljiIlAfmbMaAl-nEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&

 

[Rjsnyc]

This is what I used and I believe @sfdon also recommends.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATM1032822?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&store=27836&campaign=GSC-Steering-Suspension&campaign_id=10947735037&adgroup_id=107081865786&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl8anBhCFARIsAKbbpyQW7lLJHJJT1IBGNq3V0eONtCv07e6-OthJsdPYUCYfsljiIlAfmbMaAl-nEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&

SOLVED! Thanks so much for the workaround w sway bar rubber doughnut. The bolt w spacer seems to have been the main culprit. The platform bushings didn't seem that bad. I left them alone. Do them when there is time.

I do notice now that if I am in third gear take my foot off the gas the stick moves back about 1/4 of an inch. (?)

For other newbies out there: I used a low profile 3 ton jack (my springs are lowered - a regular 5" jack will not fit). With two 3 ton jack stands. I jacked it up from the front and in the middle on the corrugated cover plate of the axel. As recommended by @eriknetherlands ( https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/best-lift-points-to-hold-your-e9-up-in-the-air.39594/ ) do not do this if the this cover is flat rather than corrugated see attachment. I put the jacks on on left and right on the subframe ( see attacheched). Also I have a spoiler. Even the low profile jack would not clear the spoiler. I used 2x4s under each front tire. Worked great.