tremec 3550 pops outta 3rd

outlaw · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2004, 07:42 AM

Have a new 3550 in my recently finished SV. It has always popped out of 3rd gear. Its never been power shifted so I haven't broken it. I thought it was aft pressure being made by the shift boot when in third gear but after inspection, that isn't a problem. If i hold it in third with slight pressure, no problem, but when you are operating in 3rd without holding it in, it will eventually pop out. Pain in the a$$.
Help!

outlaw

blykins · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2004, 11:17 AM

Is it an aftermarket shifter with adjustable stops?

outlaw · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2004, 04:15 PM

It is an aftermarket shifter, but does not have adjustable stops. Its a B&M ripper. Went in perfectly. Never really thought about the shifter. certainly could be the problem, but with no adjustments, can't understand why. BTW BLYKINS, how's your header/steering clearance problem going? YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ MY OTHER POST ON "BINDING STEERING" WITH MY SHELL VALLEY. My binding is difinitely heat related.

later

outlaw

blykins · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 05:42 PM

Got the header problem solved. Dana was very cooperative and they actually sent me a couple of sets to try....even a custom set. After it was all said and done, they sent me some header tubes and I lengthened and shaped the header as needed. Works and looks perfect. I honestly don't have a clue as to what was up with that. It's a mystery.

I just re-read your post.....the clearance issue is fixed also. There's quite a bit of room between the header and the steering shaft.

There's got to be something else that's causing your problem.....I'm sure it may be heat related as you said the heat shield calmed it down a little. However, I've seen headers that wrapped around the steering shaft....and I've seen headers that come within a 1/2" of the shaft. There's got to be some little thing that we're overlooking. How hot is your engine compartment? Headers coated? Engine isn't running lean is it?

I won't have to worry about the brake fluid problems...my master cylinders are mounted inside on my floor mounted pedals....and the resevoirs are on the firewall.

blykins · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 05:59 PM

Hey Outlaw....I was reading in Jegs about the Ripper shifter....It has notes by the ones made for the C4 & C5 Vettes that say "No Adjustable Stops." That leads me to believe the others have adjustable stops. The Tremec 3550 shifer is listed and it doesn't have a note by it.....

So you might wanna pop that puppy open and make sure there isn't something in the shifter that's knocking you outta gear....there could be a stop that's just sticking out far enough to keep the synchros from engaging the gears all the way.

outlaw · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 09:02 AM

thanks blykins,
ya know, when i got the ripper, i "expected" to have stops and there were none. the paperwork with the kit included the generic version and addressed adjustable stops but there "ain't" no adjustable stops on the ripper i have installed on a tremmec.
that was my first thought as well. i really hate taking the tranny down cause i figure its something simple as i know it hasn't been abused. i know when i first installed the eng /trans i had to provide some more trans stick clearance in the tunnel and cut some more of the glass fwd of the hole i had already cut. i just had the car on the jacks and looked closely at the boot/tunnel/shifter interference and really saw nothing that i thought was a problem. i may just make a little more clearance anyway, the problem with that is the carpets all done and moving the shift boot fwd is out of the question unless i install a new tunnel piece, which i might have to do.
appreciate the insight. will ge back and let you know what i found.

outlaw

Mr.Fixit · #7 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 10:22 AM

Remove the rubber shifter boot and drive the car, see what happens.

Then try the tremec shifter instead of the aftermarket unit.

JL1924 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 10:04 AM

Outlaw,
I have a similiar problem. I have a SV with a new Tremec 3550, although, with the stock Tremec shifter. Just got the vehicle registered day before yesterday and it too, pops out of third. It also has not been power shifted or abused and has less than 10 miles on the vehicle. I have not yet had a chance to recheck the clearance on the shifter hole but hope to get to it tomorrow. If you find a solution, please advise.

JL1924

Excaliber · #9 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 10:44 AM

Mr Fixit must have driven MY car! It was fine until I replaced the shifter boot with a new one! The new rubber held "just enough" tension on it in 2md gear that it would pop out under light throttle conditions.

I adjusted the rubber boot and no problems!

outlaw · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2004, 09:13 AM

thanks guys,
i think mr fixit may be on to something here. the car is going on jack stands for the winter here in a coupla weeks anyway. i have always had concerns about the tension placed on the "stick" in third by the boot and now its starting to pop out of first gear at times,,so i believe mr fixit may have solved my problem, but i've not tried it yet. thanks mr fixit.
jl1924, have you had any success yet with your problem?
keep me informed..

outlaw

JL1924 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-29-2004, 02:58 AM

Outlaw,

I too am leaning toward the stiff boot solution. Has been too cold to actually take the boot off and try driving without it, but on a lift, it looks like that may be the problem. I ordered a soft leather boot from an after market company anyway and will let you know what happens after installation.

JL1924

SkipB · #12 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005, 06:33 PM

Outlaw,

Yep, I'll bet its the shifter boot. Same thing happened on mine, but popped out of 2nd and 4th. Unscrewed shifter boot, put the car in neutral and made sure the boot was positioned straight downl. Problem solved. Apparently the boot was originally installed while the car was in gear.

5.0crazy · #13 (**permalink**) 04-23-2005, 07:02 PM

I purchased a brand new Tremec, and the very first trip down the road, the very first time it was put in third gear, it jumped out and wouldn't stay with out a significant amount of pressure was applied to the ****er to keep it in there. I immediately contacted the supplier from which i ordered the trans. and the sent the carriere back to pick it up, and had it shipped back to them. This company also builds and services transmissions, so they disassembled it and found the problem to be a "improperly machined" gear on the third gear slide gear. After this fix, i have had no problems, and race my car regurarly at the local track, i have a 87 stang mildly built, with a 9" rear, and launch my car at 6000-6500 RPM's with Drag slicks the Tremec is the only way to go!

JL1924 · #14 (**permalink**) 04-24-2005, 07:31 PM

To all concerned,

I installed the soft leather boot.... it cured all my pop-out of gear problems. Thanks for the input guys

JL1924