700 mile trip tomorrow

[dn010]

I've broken a pivot bolt once and also lost hydraulics once or twice at certain points in time. Lost hydraulics you can still slam-shift to get home but without the pivot bolt you're stuck in whatever gear it left you in when it broke, as stated. So it doesn't sound like the bolt. Maybe the clunk was a transmission mount coming loose. My original mounts were all sorts of cracked which could have led to failure if not fixed and the change in position once it's gone could cause harder shifting.

[82DMC12]

I've broken a pivot bolt once and also lost hydraulics once or twice at certain points in time. Lost hydraulics you can still slam-shift to get home but without the pivot bolt you're stuck in whatever gear it left you in when it broke, as stated. So it doesn't sound like the bolt. Maybe the clunk was a transmission mount coming loose. My original mounts were cracked which could have led to failure if not fixed and the change in position once it's gone could cause harder shifting.

Good theory. Broken transmission mount would cause all the symptoms stated.

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[Rich]

Good theory. Broken transmission mount would cause all the symptoms stated.

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Good call.

I now like this theory better than the pivot bolt theory.

It explains the big thunk. And it explains 2nd/4th working better than 1st or any numbered gears if the transmission is now lower and a but further from the shift pivot. The grinding is probably from now having only partial gear engagement in one or more gears so try to avoid that until repairs are done.

Look under the car again. See if the forward end of the transmission is still where it belongs relative to the body tub or frame.

[Helirich]

Good call.

I now like this theory better than the pivot bolt theory.

It explains the big thunk. And it explains 2nd/4th working better than 1st or any numbered gears if the transmission is now lower and a but further from the shift pivot. The grinding is probably from now having only partial gear engagement in one or more gears so try to avoid that until repairs are done.

Look under the car again. See if the forward end of the transmission is still where it belongs relative to the body tub or frame.

So this morning I went out to the car and shifted through the gears with the engine not running. It was fine. Started the car and tried again. No way would it go in any gear. I pumped the clutch about 10 times and tried second. It went right in. So I tried first and it went right in. I pulled the car in his hanger because it was air conditioned. We had to go flying.

This afternoon, I came back and bled the clutch. It was a PITA and I think I did a bad job, but when I was done the clutch worked. We took it to dinner and it was fine. I?m hoping that?s it. I?m still wondering about the clunk. I did look under the car today and didn?t see anything, but I can?t say I could see much. I didn?t get it up on Jack stands.

If it was just the clutch, why did it go in second when it wouldn?t go in first? Just a thought. I use to have a Jaguar that had sincros on 2,3 and 4, but not on first. Is that the way a D is?

Anyways, thanks to all that threw out ideas. It feels good to have people helping me from afar.

[82DMC12]

Good news I think. Glad to hear you're up and running!

All but reverse is synchronized.

Possibly an issue with the 1st gear / 2nd gear roll pin... Would be great to get it on a lift when you get home. Keep us updated!

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[dn010]

You said the fluid level was not going down but check under the dash by the steering column to see if your clutch master is leaking into the car where the rod connects to the pedal. Even if replaced, crazier things have happened.

[Helirich]

You said the fluid level was not going down but check under the dash by the steering column to see if your clutch master is leaking into the car where the rod connects to the pedal. Even if replaced, crazier things have happened.

I completely forgot to check that. I will tomorrow. I?m really scared about the tranny mount. I can?t even remember what it looks like. I know I?ve never replaced it or the engine mounts. I keep telling myself I must have hit something, but it sure didn?t sound like that.

[Helirich]

Good news I think. Glad to hear you're up and running!

All but reverse is synchronized.

Possibly an issue with the 1st gear / 2nd gear roll pin... Would be great to get it on a lift when you get home. Keep us updated!

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That?s strange. I just don?t follow why it would go in second. I?m pretty uneducated on transmissions. Could the synchro on the first gear have gone bad? Could it some how get loose in the tranny and be banged against the inside of the housing making a loud clunk?

[82DMC12]

That?s strange. I just don?t follow why it would go in second. I?m pretty uneducated on transmissions. Could the synchro on the first gear have gone bad? Could it some how get loose in the tranny and be banged against the inside of the housing making a loud clunk?

Yeah the synchro could be bad , but I just don't think it's an internal trans problem. If bleeding the clutch helped, I have to assume the main problem is a clutch leak somewhere.

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[dn010]

If a gear was loose your transmission would chew up a bunch of parts with what would need to come loose in order for gears to move around. Check out the mounts and for subtle hydraulic leaks tomorrow. You drove it around and went to dinner with it so it doesn?t sound catastrophic at this point.