okay i recently put in a 5 spd tranny in my z and i think i did everything right lining up the clutch, driveshaft, and throwout bearing. i got everything bolted in and gear oil in and ready to go. i start the car up and the car is in reverse. the shifter rows threw 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th but doesn't go into 5th or reverse. when i shift into first the car goes backwards and same thing for all the other gears.

now my question is did i buy a crap transmission? or did i install something backwards. i know this is a real vague question but i think the forks in the transmission is broken. but i've been known to do stupid stuff so i was wondering if i just messed up and did something wrong with installing it or is the transmission crap. could i have installed the throwout bearing backwards and that could have done it or what else?

any suggestions would really be appreciated, thanks.

 

1'st is all the way left and up its a standard "H" pattern

 

"GOES BACKWARD" means.... using the power of the motor is drives backwards, or just rolls backwards???

Can you shift through all the gears were the shifter should, like you can move it side to side?

And yes... what you explained is pretty vague. Putting some thought into your description will help us all.

 

when you put it in reverse does it go forward?

 

yeh its in the standard "H" pattern. it looked to be a 5spd meaning it looked just like the five speed i pulled out. and first was all the way left.

 

goes backwards meaning its in reverse. when i shift into first, it feels like the car is in reverse. its like the car is stuck in reverse. and i can only get into 1-4 gears with the shifter and i can't get into 5th or reverse. shifter moves side to side but not over to the right to engage 5th.

im trying to be as descriptive as i can. im just confused to what could be wrong.

 

no i can't engage it into reverse. its like the shifter won't go all the way right so 5th and reverse are unable to be placed into with the shifter.

 

have you tried putting it into any other gear? also take off the little shift plate and make sure the bushing is inside the hole of that shaft that is coming out the inside of the trans.

 

yes i have tried to put it in other gears. in first it feels like its stuck in reverse same thing with the other gears. i can't get it into fifth or reverse.

i will try the shift plate removal

 

how about when its in neutral?
If you leave it in neutral but let the clutch pedal up does the car go backwards?

If so then it certainly is 'stuck' in reverse internally. Sounds like that might be the issue. You were sold a bad transmission in that case.

 

their is a nut that messes with the reverse gear.

 

yeh the car stays in reverse when in neutral. i was afraid that i had installed a bum transmission

 

Take the tranny out and try again. Which shift stick are you using? Some of them are different. 280zx shifter has a shorter pivot point than s30's. But I highly doubt that is what is YOUR problem. Is there fluid in the tranny?

 

yes fluid in the tranny. using the same shift lever that came with the transmission then i switched to the one that came with the car same deal. the levers look the same. gonna pull the tranny wednesday and look at getting it fixed.