Winter upgrade suggestions.

[NoDOHC]

Originally Posted by iheardsupport

Thanks for all the info, its actually quite rare when i can get it into reverse without grinding. Something i have noticed is to keep it from grinding i have to push the shifter knob into third at a certain angle, which i can do every time now, and it's not really a problem. Could this be a linkage problem? Kinda feels like its really tight.

If the gear is grinding, the linkage is forcing it in (not a linkage problem). It could be the detent studs on the 3rd gear synchro, but that requires tearing the transmission down too.

I am guessing that if you press the shifter sideways, you take more or less time, allowing the revs to match before pressing the splines together.

The grinding into reverse is normal if your reverse gear is directly behind your 5th gear. If you have to push the shifter more to the right after 5th to get into reverse, it should be synchronized (no grinding). To not grind reverse, the input shaft and countershaft need to be stopped and so does your car. Holding the clutch down for 5 seconds or so and allowing the car to completely stop should allow a smooth shift into reverse.

Originally Posted by My5ABaby

My 1st to 2nd is fine but grinds into 3rd.

Huh, maybe it's just me. I have killed at least 5 RX7 transmissions (that I can remember) and they all followed the same failure pattern:
Weak synchros in second ->
(Change driving style to limp along - do 1st to 5th shift more frequently and skip second) ->
Weak synchros in 5th (duh) ->
(Start rev matching gears while shifting) ->
Interlude of a year or so ->
minor bearing noise ->
louder bearing noise (wrrrrrrrrr at idle) ->
(Get another eBay transmission) ->
Squealing in 5th gear ->
(drives in fourth gear on highway) ->
Squealing in all gears but 4th and reverse ->
(Start looking for a good time to replace transmission) ->
(Find time and replace transmission)

Now process repeats.