[Rob Doe]

X2 on Mr. Bader's comments.

I recently went through the drive train on our 31 coupe. It was my first time to do this. Luckily, I checked the work done forward of the u-joint before moving on to install the rebuilt rear end with all new bearings and a 3:54 set of gears. This work included all new transmission parts. On my first attempt to reinstall the shift tower I distinctly remember leaning far down to watch the forks seat. Yet somehow, they were not seated correctly and things did not work well for sure.

This was after a previous adrenaline rush. I had installed a new ring gear and original style Bendix. I had cleaned the paint from the starter flange and the flywheel housing and coated with a light coat of carbonized grease. With the tower still removed from the transmission, I removed the cardboard cover and poured in a bit of W600 for the larger bearings and gears to mesh. I then just touched the starter to make certain the bendix and ring gear meshed and the starter was strong.

A day or so later, I started to install the shift tower and WHAT THE HXXX! The forward slider was behind second gear. It was on the same side as the rear slider!!!

First attempts to move the slider back through second did not work. After a second adrenaline rush and visions of having to remove and disassemble the transmission again, I got the hand crank out and just bumped it a bit, multiple times until I could slide the forward slider through second and back into position. Whew, that was a close one!

For the non professional, the devil is always in the details.