Linkage will not adjust.

Check the hole in the bulkhead where the linkage travels through to the ZF, is it binding there ?
Have you had someone watch from the rear when your shifting into various gears for any other binding ?
Hopfully it's not your shifter box.

quote:

Originally posted by Coz:
Check the hole in the bulkhead where the linkage travels through to the ZF, is it binding there ?
Have you had someone watch from the rear when your shifting into various gears for any other binding ?
Hopfully it's not your shifter box.

You mean that little box on the side of the transmission?? What's in there?? Is it real bad??

...Yes! It's the little 'cubic' shaped box on the rear of the transaxle, drivers' side! And since we are talking about THAT box; lay on your back under the Pantera and look UP at the underside of that box. You will find 2 rubber plugs; remove them by gently prying them out. Up Inside each hole is a set screw! I found these loose, once when trying to find a similar shifting problem. You'll need a metric 'Allen' wrench to tighten them. You have to use the wrench length-wise with an adjustable wrench to torque on the shorter end(unless you have a long 'T' handle allen). This may or MAY NOT help you. But in MY case there was quit a bit of slack to tighten up.

...to be more clear: The before mentioned set screws, tighten one of the shifting 'forks' onto the internal shifter shaft. Also, you can remove the four bolts that hold the cover onto the shifter box,(the cover that the reverse light switch screws into), and remove the cover for inspection. NO oil will come out, it's lubricated with a heavy grease in there. And now's a chance to check it and perhaps add some more...

Wow. Here I thought I had tried everything and was getting ready to call the junk yard. Thanks everybody for the great input. I will try the suggestions this week. I can't junk my car now, my daughter bought me new seats for fathers day.

another place to look at is the area where the linkage bolts onto the input shaft that goes into the aforementioned box. The hole that goes through the coupler and the shaft had gotten enlarged and the linkage was rotating about 5 degrees before the input shaft started to move. I drilled out the input shaft and the coupler and put the next larger size bolt in there and now she shifts like Butter!

Gary

OK, today I took the interior out and checked the clearance on the boot through the firewall. It rubbed a little but definetly was not binding at all. I looked in the holes covered by rubber plugs and I couldn't see any allen head screws. Maybe they are not there? I tried a few differant wrenches, nothing. I tried a screw driver and that seemed to work a little, maybe. I also checked the pin in the shaft and there is absolutely no play in it at all. I am wondering if there is a bearing inside the control box?

Have you taken the shift lever mechanism apart and inspected and lubricated it?

My linkage was beginning to squeak and get 'heavier to shift' at the shift lever under the shift gate. I adjusted the trunion bushing before disassembling the shift lever's mechanism and that fixed it insteaad. It shifts without noise and without friction or drag anymore. I saw a new shift lever for sale on e-Bay, and the photo showed a ball at the other end (hidden end) of the shift lever from the shift knob. I'm just guessing, to give you another idea. I suppose that 'delivery' end needs to be operating in a tight and precision manner, just the same as the control box 'receiving' end needs to be operating properly. It probably should be inspected as part of the diagnosis. Please let everybody know how you fix this. Thanks. Good luck, you'll find it.

quote:

Originally posted by veryfast italain:
Have you taken the shift lever mechanism apart and inspected and lubricated it?

My linkage was beginning to squeak and get 'heavier to shift' at the shift lever under the shift gate. I adjusted the trunion bushing before disassembling the shift lever's mechanism and that fixed it insteaad. It shifts without noise and without friction or drag anymore. I saw a new shift lever for sale on e-Bay, and the photo showed a ball at the other end (hidden end) of the shift lever from the shift knob. I'm just guessing, to give you another idea. I suppose that 'delivery' end needs to be operating in a tight and precision manner, just the same as the control box 'receiving' end needs to be operating properly. It probably should be inspected as part of the diagnosis. Please let everybody know how you fix this. Thanks. Good luck, you'll find it.

This reply is to you fastitalian but I also want to thank everybody who made suggestions. It turns out the the biggest part of the problem was inside the shifter box. The set screws were loose and it allowed the shaft to rotate almost fifeteen degrees before it moved the little arm inside. The problem was I couldn't see the set screws from underneath the car, mainly because of my bifocals, but the tranny has to be in absolute nutral position to aling with the access holes. I had dissassembled the entire car so I could see the linkage. It wasn't binding although it does rub a few places. So I subdued my fear of the shifter box, knowing the ZF will fly apart and lose parts without provocation, and looked inside the shifter box. Heart ponding least any mistep on my part, totaly ruin my car by destroying the transmission by tightening or loosening the wrong nut or bolt. With the cover off I was able to at last see the set screws and tightened them. It was a miracle. It shifts now. It is still hard to adjust and I think part of it may be my frame not being quite right, maybe even from the factory, I can only speculate. It probably needs a slight tweek by shortening the turnbuckle just a skoosh. But by now I am afraid to touch it. I drove it for the first time in months today. It was wonderfull. I still have to clean her up and may enter her in a show this August if I get it ready in time. It was about this time last year that my Son and I broke the car. A one year sentance Panteraless is a cruel punishment.

...perhaps NEXT time You'll believe Me!...

quote:

Originally posted by MARLIN JACK:
...perhaps NEXT time You'll believe Me!...

Oh I believed you. I just couldn't see up in that hole is all. And when Coz said "Just pray it isn't the shifter box" I was all scared to open it. I figured springs would launch swiss watch size parts all over the garage to be lost forever and they would cost hundreds of dollars per once to replace. I belived you Marlin, I just had to conquer my fear was all.

...DeTom, You did fine!! I would NEVER advise a Brother Pantera owner to take anything apart, that I did not, first, do Myself. If anything was going to 'spring' out, All of us would have warned You. Did You take the oportunity to add some grease in the box, to the Shaft and 'Pivot Ball'? If not, You can do it Next Time. I'am Happy We were able to be of help to You, now get out and drive that Cat!

Sorry brother, didn't mean to scare you. Just meant hoping nothing was broke inside. Glad everything worked out and it just ended up being adjustments and tightening.

quote:

Originally posted by DeTom:

quote:

Originally posted by MARLIN JACK:
...perhaps NEXT time You'll believe Me!...

Oh I believed you. I just couldn't see up in that hole is all. And when Coz said "Just pray it isn't the shifter box" I was all scared to open it. I figured springs would launch swiss watch size parts all over the garage to be lost forever and they would cost hundreds of dollars per once to replace. I belived you Marlin, I just had to conquer my fear was all.

Heck Coz, it's ok. Folks SHOULD be scared away from dinking with their trannies. What I have been reading there is good reason. Did you know there is a nut down by the spedometer cable that if lossened can ruin your tranny?? Did you also know the stupid thing is mounted UPSIDE DOWN?? Yep, they all are. They say it is so they don't scrap on the ground, but come on, upside down?? Ugh, I hope the new SUPERCOZ tranny save all us lesser Pantera owners future grief and sorrow.

Don't know about a super tranny....Still looking into a conversion. But for now, we're all stuck with the same one and the headaches and costs that go with it.

quote:

I hope the new SUPERCOZ tranny save all us lesser Pantera owners future grief and sorrow.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Coz:
Don't know about a super tranny....Still looking into a conversion. But for now, we're all stuck with the same one and the headaches and costs that go with it.

Well on the upside though, when I did pull the cover, which had never been off since day one because of the way the screws were in there I could tell, the parts inside looked brand new, even though some of the greese was ancient. I did put some new greese in. But the quality of the parts has to be outstanding to have aged so well. Then again, my car only has Twenty five thousand miles on it.

All's well that End's well brother !