Hard shifts on '95 300zx

[DAEDALUS]

My buddy recently bought a '95 manual NA 300zx with 60k. When cold, the 1-2 shift is pretty harsh, and grinds if he shifts fast without going to neutral from 1 to 2. I did a search and it sounds like it might be the syncros, and maybe the problem would be helped by going to a synthetic transmission fluid.

Any comments? If the syncros are bad, is it just a matter of R&R, and if so, how hard a job is it relative to, say, replacing the timing belt?

Thanks much any help.

[p00t]

my friend's 1990 NA 300zx used to grind real bad on the 3-4 shift at high rpm. redline fluid fixed it right up.

http://www.twinturbo.net/net/v...dline

do more searches on http://www.twinturbo.net about it. its an awesome 300zx resource

[DAEDALUS]

Thanks p00t. I'll have him give the Redline a try before anything else.

[NISTECH]

replacing syncros is more complicated then doing the belt. you need a hel of a memory on how the parts came off or a really good service manual. but the hardest part would be having the equipment. It requires the use of a press to seperate gears and bearings. the gear oil is a good place to start though. when you change the fluid take note of the amount of metal attached to the drain plug and how much is in the drain pan after draining. If you have a high volume of metal you need to repair the trans. but if your buddy is a used trans type of person it would be cheaper to pick up a used trans rather then rebuild the existing one.

[DAEDALUS]

Thanks Nistech. Doesn't sound like something I'd be willing to tackle, though I do have a hydraulic press . According to the previous owner, the clutch was rebuilt not too long ago. I'm wondering if they just missed a step.