I drove the 5th or 6th Fiero manual today and again the shifting seems harder than it needs to be. Is this because of the cables? This particular 87 Duke coupe was a mechanically well maintained car and it still is hard to shift in my opinion. I really did not like the 5 speed either felt slow.


Sparx22

A lot of the manuals cables are by now suffering from the heat of the exhaust cooking the plastic sleeves. Also the bends in the cables don't help the feel. Also just having the cables can make it feel a bit sloppy sometimes.

The Fiero tranmissions were never as smooth as butter, but old cables and fluid can be a culprit.

If the transmission oil is old - changing it can make a difference. I know of several people with real shifting problems say it really made a difference. Use the proper Synchromesh Transmission Oil/Fluid from AC Delco, Penzoil etc. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/100442.html

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World of Wheels Winners
My 3.4L S/C 87 GT
& Super Duty 4 Indy

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 07-29-2009).]

quote Originally posted by sparx22: I drove the 5th or 6th Fiero manual today and again the shifting seems harder than it needs to be. Is this because of the cables? This particular 87 Duke coupe was a mechanically well maintained car and it still is hard to shift in my opinion. I really did not like the 5 speed either felt slow. Sparx22

I always found my old 84 4 speed to be a hard shift, it wasnt the econo one either.

is everyone here serious?

I have an 84 4-speed m19 and the thing IS A DREAM to drive. Bleed your clutch correctly(no pumping) change the slave, no worries

which leads me to a sub-question for th topic, do all the 84s have a stick shift this short? I saw an 88 with a super long 80s supra looking shifter

Yours definitely has been modified with a shorter shifter. They're quite a popular modification since the OEM shifter does stick up quite high... altough the longer shifter would actually help with added leverage if you have a stiff tranny or cables.

What is an "M19" and what do you mean by "econo"?
sparx22

Yes 94's have a much shorter shifter, this pic show an 86, an 84, and a shortened straight shifter.



Both my 85 and 86 shifted nice smooth and easy, but I also bled the clutch anually and had steel pedals installed.

[This message has been edited by Mike Gonzalez (edited 07-29-2009).]

I have the 4 speed 86 GT,,I have replaced both cables with rodney dickman cables (One damaged) and rodney dickman 4 speed shift bushings ,, I am using an old POS slave.. stuffed a MR 2 piston in it and have great shifting..I have not got it like I want but it is smooth shifting..
You need proper fluid in tranny,, cables in good shape..with heat shield PROTECTION,,,, THERE Are many cheap cables out there that do not work,, I have purchased 3 of them.. a proper slave action and a descent master .. on the 4 speed you NEED rodneys bushings (easy install) these bushing tighten the shift up,,and lube the inside shift(under shift lever ) mechanism ,,better yet clean and lube ..
My personal opinion is the Fiero manual transmissions shift systems are complete crap,of course this is based on 50 years experience as a motor head,with 20 years as a scooter mechanic ,very troublesome..this is mainly because of the slave system ..But with some attention the system is OK ..Most people only do 50% to 75% of the work required to bring the system up to 95 to 100%..
Rodney has come to the rescue like Mighty Mouse with his new slave cylinder ,, now available ..
Do what needs to be done and a more happy ending than you will have at the local massage parlour will be your reward
1st good brakes ,,2nd good running engine,, 3rd >if it is a bear to shift ,,you are not a happy pilgrim,,4th safety & steering/ suspension,, 5th exorzism to rid car of imps,, gremlins, and the other evil spirits that prefer Fiero,s
Walked into a bar saw a lady reading a book on witchcraft & canabalism with a brand new chainsaw beside her,,my buddy said ""ask her out !!..What could go wrong ??""

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 07-29-2009).]

quote Originally posted by redfieroman2: is everyone here serious? I have an 84 4-speed m19 and the thing IS A DREAM to drive. Bleed your clutch correctly(no pumping) change the slave, no worries

Most people here, (including me) have never driven a smooth shifting stock Fiero. Most Fieros have 20+ year old clunky transmissions, rickety old cables, and sloppy shifters.

But to be honest they were never buttery smooth. I do remember sitting in a Fiero at the auto show in 87-88 timeframe and I specifically remember how clunky the shifting felt compared to the Hondas and Toyotas of the day.

quote Originally posted by sparx22: What is an "M19" and what do you mean by "econo"? sparx22

M19 is the code given to a particular transmission. There were a total of 3 different transmissions offered in 1984 Fieros:

MY8 - four speed with 0.73 top gear and 3.32 axle ratio, known as the economy leader with EPA estimates 50/31 mpg
M19 - four speed with 0.81 top gear and 4.10 axle ratio with EPA estimate 42/26 mpg; and
MD9 - three speed automatic with 1.0 top gear and 3.18 axle ratio with 37/25 mpg estimates;

My 88GT has both of Rodney's cables, his front getrag shifting bushing kit, and rear (on the tranny) bushing kit also. With the correct synchromech fluid in the tranny, my getrag shifts really, really good. Plus I have the steel "GM" pedal. I can shift with 1 finger...I'm very happy.

IMO, the getrag is the best shifting fiero tranny out there, no question. Plus, its a 20 year old car.

Lets not try to compare to new vehicles today...that's over-doing it.

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fierogt28

88 GT, loaded, 5-speed

The car I drove today was an 87 Duke. I dunno what trans it had other than a 5 spped. VIN>>> 1G2PM11R9HP221772
Hate to say it but my 74 Ford Mustang II shifted better than these Fieros.
sparx22

[This message has been edited by sparx22 (edited 07-29-2009).]

quote Originally posted by sparx22: ...but my 74 Ford Mustang II shifted better than these Fieros.

There's a big difference between using long shift cables and direct tranny linkage. Guess you need a front engined, rear wheel drive car.

quote Originally posted by fierosound: There's a big difference between using long shift cables and direct tranny linkage. Guess you need a front engined, rear wheel drive car.

Yes I knew that much the cables are the issue.

My shift cables forteh getrag were very stiff and unpleasant until i lubes them with some PB blaster. Just push the cable to one end so that an opening will form between the cable and the rubber end seal. Squirt PB into the opening and pump the cable a few times, repeat. I know it sounds ridiculous and I was very doubtful that it would work but my shifter is smooth as butter so give it a try.

From 1987 to 1989, I worked as a porter, then as prep. manager for Patrick Pontiac-GMC. I got to drive all sorts of new and used Fieros. Always thought they all were a little sloppy, but not horrid. Ever drive a Yugo? Shifting that was like pushing a stick around a vat of rubber-absolutely no feel of when you were in gear or not. At least with the Fiero, you get used to it's slightly strange feel, and once you do, can enjoy it.

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'84 Sport Coupe (third time's a charm?)

I have driven several isuzus and 1 getrag an none of them shifted smoothly.
You get used to it.


I blame age for MOST of the problems but I believe they were "notchy" brand new.

I place the Fiero shift design between my old top loader Triumph TR4 (direct to the shift forks) and my 67 VW bug with a long rod back to the transaxel. Not to tight but not too loose. Fieros are in a world of their own.

yes, as above - the main culprits are:
sticky cables and old tranny fluid
another little thing that helps is cleaning & lubeing the actual shifter

My '86 Duke with the isuzu 5 speed was way stiffer and notchier than my current '87 GT getrag 5 speed, FWIW.

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'87 GT, 5 Speed, Loaded. Resto Project

'92 Grand Prix 3.4TDC (The Paperweight)

I've heard it said that Fieros shift like "moving a baseball bat in a bucket of rocks".

Synchromesh fluid is a huge change on the 4 speed Muncie. Also, it gets notchy really fast if your clutch is not FULLY disengaging. Check your banjo link on the clutch pedal. If the clutch pedal has freeplay, the banjo is worn. This will keep your clutch from fully disengaging. Rodney's adjustable banjo will cure this.

Arn

I have an 88 duke 5-speed. When I first got it, shifting wasn't so good, because the cables needed adjusting. I did that, and also drained the transmission oil, put in synthetic synchromesh, and put on an 84 short shifter. It shifts wonderfully now. I sometimes drive my stepson's Neon, which is also a 5-speed. It's shifting is very "slushy" compared to my Fiero. His car takes less effort, but that is because his shifter is a mile high compared to mine, and the throws are a mile longer.

maybe its the short shifter^^

I havent changed the Transmission fluid since i got it, i probably should if i want to keep my Fiero shifting gorgeously. Seriously, i cant believe how much complaining about shifting there is in this thread. But i dont blame you guys i expected bad shifting when i was younger before i had cars i studied the Fieros and read many user reviews on the net and there were complaints of the shifting so i expected bad shifting off the back, when i bought my car i replaced the Slave cylinder and bled the clutch properly and ever since then its been shifting like a 2004 car.

quote Originally posted by JohnyGt67: From 1987 to 1989, I worked as a porter, then as prep. manager for Patrick Pontiac-GMC.

Where was this? Just curious.

My 84 M-19 shifts very smooth. I guess 224,000 miles broke it in well. I had a lot of trouble shifting it for years, and started using Mobil 1 5w-30 in the trans, which helped some. and bled the slave very often. I finally replaced the clutch pedal and just couldn't believe the difference it made. I wish I replaced it years ago but i found it hard to believe that the pedal could make such a difference.

My '86 with the duke behind the 5 speed shifts like a flippen dream, it's got some play (but not alot) in the shifter while in gear, but when I push the clutch and start to actually shift gears, it goes, no muss no fuss. It's crisp, it's clean and it's fast, of course this may be due to the new clutch plate, pressure plate, flywheel, and slave cylinder too.

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4,500 RPM in 5th gear is bad?

The Duke will NEVER DIE

Libertyville, IL. The Patrick Dealer group was majority owned by Hanley Dawson III. They also had BMW, Caddy, etc. in Schaumburg, IL, and at least 1 more Pontiac/GMC store in another state-Ohio, I think.

My 87 with a getrag feels tough shifting into gears, but my girlfriends 88 duke with the isuzu feels like shifting in a brand new car. wonderfully smooth and easy

My 87 Getrag has never been stiff, just the gates seem clumsy. No wear near as slick as a Honda gearbox. I always assumed it was the cables.

my 84 shifts ok but compared to a nwer car its a big peace of s*** .... im thinking about lookinmg for a newer car with a 4 speed n swaping them might help

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True driver's will see more interior then exterior.
interior mod's b4 exterior 84 2m4 se
A.k.a Blue glow