So my first manual Fiero is one that I bought as a bare shell and I've swapped a 3800sc with a Fiero getrag into it. I originally used Rodney's comp II shifter and his shift/select cables. The actual shifter body has been rebuilt using Rodney's kit.
I have now just finished swapping the Fiero getrag out for an F23 and I'm using California push pull cables.
With both setups, I notice a lot of "looseness" within the shifter cables that makes it feel extremely disconnected to the trans. Nothing is really loose, I guess it's just the inherent play you'll have in long cables with bends in them. I'm just curious if they are all like this or if there is actually something wrong.
I have a 2017 Focus ST that shifts via cables, albiet much shorter cables, and it feels like the shifter is directly connected to the trans. I know it is much newer technology but I am chasing that solid shifting feel in the Fiero. Let me know your thoughts!
It's not the cables, it's the linkage on top of the trans. The cable sheaths are held in place, the cable length makes no difference.
I had thought of that, but with both transmissions I've held the linkage at the transmission in place and had someone wiggle the shifter. The select cable moves at the shifter but not at the linkage. This leads me to believe the play is within the cable. Since I've tried both Rodney's cable and the new one from California push pull it isn't a faulty cable..
All my shifters feel neglected and lonely. I should park them closer together so they can keep eachother company.
Oh man. I just realized I have shifters boxed up in the barn for years. I wonder how they feel. What a horrible Fiero parent!! Wouldn't surprise me if the FPA came calling. I better straighten up the shop.
All my shifters feel neglected and lonely. I should park them closer together so they can keep eachother company.
Oh man. I just realized I have shifters boxed up in the barn for years. I wonder how they feel. What a horrible Fiero parent!! Wouldn't surprise me if the FPA came calling. I better straighten up the shop.
You have spare shifters? New ones? Really good shape shifters? Willing to part with any?
I had a daily driven 5-speed Isuzu for 8 years or so, and it felt fine.
The 4-speed feels better with its springs/detents in the shifter itself, but this is an in-progress swap, so I don't have any on-road impressions.
I wouldn't categorize the Fiero shifters as "extremely disconnected". With the Isuzu I found it easy to slam gears at the dragstrip.
It's hard to compare feel, as I haven't tried a Ford Focus. It's hard to say if your expectations are too high, or if something is broken/worn in your Fiero.
The Fiero shift mechanism in the console is crap. No way around that. I want to install another shift mechanism from another car one day. I have no idea how, but my initial thoughts go towards a B&M that is in the T5 aftermarket world.
I have mine as clean as it can be, greased with axle grease to help with some of the wear, but it is still not as direct as I believe it can be. I thought about rebushing it, but the "lipstick on a pig" analogy comes to mind.
My most recent Fiero with a getrag has a short throw shift and a cut off shifter. Now that is a little harsh. A buddy told me he can hear me shift when he is driving along side me with his window down.
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 04-10-2018).]
Soak kroil oil in shifter cables that are stiff and hard to shift. They will work like new after. I have purchased new set from rodney and I still have them because Kroil has worked every time. Rodney make best cables BTW if you need to buy them.
The Fiero shifter suffers from stacking of tolerances and is most noticeable with the select (side to side) function.
With the 5 speed shifters, there are 7 locations between the shift knob and the shift cable where parts move relative to each other. If they move, they have to have some clearance, and with 7 locations needing some clearance, it all adds up. There are 3 more points that need clearance on the transmission select lever.
The Fiero shifter suffers from stacking of tolerances and is most noticeable with the select (side to side) function.
With the 5 speed shifters, there are 7 locations between the shift knob and the shift cable where parts move relative to each other. If they move, they have to have some clearance, and with 7 locations needing some clearance, it all adds up. There are 3 more points that need clearance on the transmission select lever.
The Shift movement has always felt positive to me. The feeling of having engaged a gear is unambiguous to me; feels like hitting a stiff wall. (am speaking from Isuzu experience)
With Select, there is play, but it is not a problem IMO. To find 3-4, release the shifter. To find 1-2, slam the lever all the way to the left. To find 5-R, slam all the way right. I consider this Select play to be a characteristic having no effect on the functionality of the car, not a flaw.
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Originally posted by Tony Kania:
I understand the mechanics of both mechanisms. I would like to incorporate the two.
Are you going to bring out a shift cable for each shift fork all the way into the cabin? That seems like fairly extensive modifications to the transmission, but perhaps not impossible.
If you want to overlay a tight shift pattern in the cabin over the slack pattern in the transmission, that seems like a recipe for mismatch between both patterns and a bunch of headaches. Reminds me of indexed shifters on bicycles; it's always a pain making sure the dérailleur stops directly below a cog. If those are the maintenance issues you want to give yourself...
My new (used) daily driver I just purchased is a Ford Ranger. It has a shifter similar to the type you pictured. It directly actuates three shift forks below. It's quite an elegant setup I find...
[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 04-10-2018).]
