This morning I got in my 78 280z to head to work, tried slipping it into reverse and was greeted with the awesome sound of grinding gears. I tried putting it into a few others, 1st was impossible, and some of the others barely let me in as well. With the car off, all gears are easily available.

To me, sounds like my clutch isnt disengaging the transmission as it should. From what ive read, reverse isnt synchronized like the others, that sounds like why i cant get into first at all, and why reverse grinds.

Can anyone confirm my suspicions?

Also, any decent guides to replacing your clutch online that you would recommend? Dont say check the FSM, I mean anything I can read/watch on top of what the FSM will give me.

I am determined to get and keep this car running.

 

Check fluid level in master cylinder.

 

Will try that first lol.
Not really looking to drop another $650 plus tow to the shop.

The clutch DOES need to be replaced, even if its not the cause of this issue. Flywheel probably needs to be resurfaced, lots of chatter.

Im debating whether to jump in ***** deep and give it a go myself. Seems relatively straight forward to do, just lots of steps and stuff in the way.

Fingers crossed its just the fluid levels. I would really like to have this thing on the road more than a day or two before i have to get into heavy maintainance again lol.

Thanks!

 

Update!

Fluid levels look good.

Pumped the **** out of the clutch pedal and now no issues. First is easy to get to, reverse has not a hint of grinding.

The PO told me he redid the brake master cylinder and that it could probably use a lttle more bleeding. That tidbit of info literally just resurfaced in my mind as i began typing this reply.

I think i just need to bleed my master cylinder more?

 

Yeah, get a buddy or a GF (or maybe your sister if she's not busy and doesn't still hate from that time you punched her boyfriend out...) to help. It really takes two to bleed clutch or brakes right on a Z31. The idea is to get all the air out of the lines. You keep adding fluid to the master while someone pumps the pedal repeatedly until the flow out the other (valve) end is free of gaps... then you close it off and pump up the pressure... no more air. Or something like that. Just sayin', it's hard to do right by yourself.

 

Grabbed my roommate as he pulled int o the driveway in my old 350z :P

OH EHM GEE. That fluid was disgusting. Got it all cleaned flushed out and clan. Went for reverse and not even the slightest grinding.

Thank god, I really didnt want to get right back into heavy maintenance again. I was hoping for like, a week or so of just being able to drive lol.