280zx shifting woes

[sek8031]

After driving around quite a bit this weekend I'm finding that my 1980 280zx is having some trouble shifting gears. I checked the clutch fluid and it's fine, but physically getting the shifter into and out of 1st or 2nd meets a lot of resistance, like I have to push it through something. Reverse on the other hand, seems like the synchro is out of whack or gone, because I just get grinding dog teeth if the car is runnning. 3rd through 5th all work fine. Thoughts?

[evildky]

this might be a symptom of a worn clutch, reverse and first commonly get harder to put in gear as the clutch fails

might also try checking and or changing the trans fluid, it's a PITA but easier than a clutch job

[sek8031]

So this probably doesn't have anything to do with the master/slave cylinder? I know the system isn't leaking and has fluid, but wasn't sure if it could be bypassing pressure or something somehow.

Also in digging around trying to get a better grasp on these things I found this post:

http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1741974

And I'm thinking there may be some faint whining that stops when the clutch pedal is depressed. I'll have to give it a listen somewhere quiet this afternoon.

[evildky]

generally the master and slave work or they don't, if you are able to get it in first without shearing the gear then most likely your hudraulic's are fine, that being siad a new cluthc with nearly 30 year old master and slave might be a bit much stress for the old parts

[sek8031]

When I went to leave work I noticed that in reverse the car goes backwards ever so slowly even with the clutch pedal depressed. I guess I never noticed before because our driveway is pretty inclined so I'm used to just rolling out of it anyway. Talked to a gearhead friend who thinks it's the master/operating cylinder. I think I could probably change those myself, just need to bribe someone to come over and help me bleed the system.
Modified by sek8031 at 9:20 PM 11/10/2008

[evildky]

might be worth the effort to change the trans fluid, maybe wth a synthetic, the shift forks on the early 5 speeds have been known to break, could be worn out syncro's

[sek8031]

On a related note, I'm seeing widely varying prices for master cylinders. thezstore.com has one for $38.42, and autopartswarehouse has PBR and Nabtesco different brands for ~$65. I'm guessing the zstore one is refurbished. Any recommendations for good online retailers or brands?

[evildky]

I got mine at autozone, and I think it was new, I don't think i had to take back a core

[sek8031]

So I got a new master cylinder and when I went to take the old one out, I totally stripped the nut on the clutch tube that runs from the master to the operating cylinder (I used a flare-nut wrench I swear!). I feel like I could just cut it off and continue replacing the master cylinder, but I can't seem to find that part for sale anywhere. Anyone know where I can get one of those or have a suggestion for getting the current one off...then back on?

[evildky]

I've had good luck removign stubborn stripped flare nuts with thesehttp://www.irwin.com/irwin/con...00328if the line itself gets destroyed napa sells lengths of steel tube with metric ends, you just gotta bend it to shape