Gear Box Shift Feel

Nicad

Nicad

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My 71' has a ZF 4 speed and my previous Bavaria had a Getrag. At the time I rebuilt all the linkages and the box was pretty satisfying to use, though certainly not a Miata shifter. Does the ZF shift feel improve with new parts? I can't see too much from below the car.

IS the swap to a 5 speed mostly about relaxed highway cruising or is it a nicer feeling gearbox? Since our speed limits are drastically enforced in Ontario, the car will never go faster than 90 MPH.
 
Nicad said:
Since our speed limits are drastically enforced in Ontario, the car will never go faster than 90 MPH.
Click to expand...

Of course, it's not how fast you go, it's how quick you get there.

On the shifter feel - based on my experience with both the '02 and e9 Getrag linkages, there is quite a bit you can gain for both the 4 and 5 speed. New bushings, short shift kits and shifter rods etc. I think Sven has the UCC DSSR selector rod in his car that I lust for. I assume there are also ZF OEM and aftermarket pats as well.

Need snow.

Doug
 
Gears

My car is 4 speed. I am remiss that I do not know the final drive ratio...LSD. The car has legs. 140 mph indicated, the car starts to lift. Plenty of tach left. Scary.
 
I like the speed limit on the left

coast of Canada better!
 
Never had any experience of driving a ZF 4 speed, but from reading other coupe owners' perspectives, it is rather a notchy gearbox and not as smooth as shifting as the 4 or 5 speed trannies from Getrag.

Remember while driving my old coupe, cruising at 4th gear on the highway @ 75 mph was quite busy as the car would rev in the 4000 rpm range, whereas going at the same speed at 5th gear, the coupe would rev about 1000 rpms lower. Definitely a more relax driving experience with a Getrag 5 speed.
 
I have the 4 speed box ('74) and shifting is like stirring spaghetti sauce, even with new bushings etc. in the linkage. Nothing like the MX-5 (aka miata) I also have. What can one do to improve the "feel" w/o upgrading to a 5-speed?
 
Funky shifters

Check the knuckle/ joint at the other end of the horizontal rod for play.

Both trans had a funky two part shifter that have o-rings and or a pad depending upon year. Those go bad and get sloppy.

A fix for that for a more firm feel is to drill, tap, and screw the upper chrome lever at it's lowest point and "pin" the two together three or four times like a christmas tree stand. That's how mine was done by someone else a long time ago. It's all hidden below the shifter boot.

Here's a good one- ZF is still in business. ANybody tried or heard of retro'ing in a ZF 5 speed? Looks like the shifter holes are the same. Might have to change a clutch disk to mate the input.
 
Thanks for the replies. I certainly do not see much from below, unlike the Getrag on my Bavaria. Will look for an exposed view diagram. I am not in the mood to go 5 speed this year. Once the car is driving I don't think I will mind the revs, as I'd bet it is pretty lively around 80 MPH.

Doug. No snow in Ontario either. Crazyest winter in my lifetime.
 
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