Got an '80 5-speed over a year ago when the 5-speed from a '78 gave up the ghost. I had problems getting it to go in to second and I'm curious if there are any known reliability problems with the 5-speeds out of the 80 model year.

I checked he reservoir and it's full. I'm going to check the gear shift to see if it needs to be tightened etc. Last resort short of the transmission is the clutch slave cylinder...I'd really hate to eat another transmission after only about a year.

Sounds like the second gear syncho ring is worn to me. Not an uncommon problem with any used manual transmission, probably not year specific. When you consider how many miles most of these transmissions have on them by now, why should it surprise us?

My '71 4 speed was the same way. I replaced all the synchro rings when I had it apart for bearing replacement, shifts into second (and all gears) beautifully now.

Got a source for the synchro rings?

I got mine at the dealer. I'm pretty certain that they are all the same, both four and five speeds. But disassembling a transmission is not for the faint of heart.

Oh, I don't know. I've done a few of them. It's not the dissasembling that's not for the faint of heart, it's the reassembling!

How is the '80 5-speed different, or is it, from the 5-speeds in the '78-'79s or the '81-'83s?

The gear ratios are different, that is all. Check them out here:

http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/transmission.html

That may have been the 100th time that link has been posted.

My 1980 5pd has the same problem. I have to do a slow shift from 1 to 2nd, if I shift to fast it jams a bit. My friend, who runs a tranny shop, went through it for me and replaced a few bearings, said that the no 2 synchronizer was just a little worn, I wished now that I would have had him change it.

The synchro ring is about $30. I routinely replace them just because whenever I have a transmission that far apart. Especially the first and second gear synchros, as those two get the bulk of the wear.

I tend side with those that learn the hard way. Jon :stupid:

The gear ratios are different, that is all. Check them out here:

http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/transmission.html

That may have been the 100th time that link has been posted.

I knew the ratios were different but I was told the exterior cases were different as well, that's in large part why I asked.

I may just try to get a T-5 rebuilt and swap them, keeping this one as a spare.

This pic shows the differences.