Thread: Tips for a better shifting tranny and all around driving

Here's some little mods that I have done and recommend. Thought I'd right them out for you noobs ;) These tips are for those whose tranny is in ok shape. Doesn't have to be new, but if your tranny is really dieing and on it's last leg, not much is going to save it short of a rebuild. For reference, I had a slight grind from 1st to 2nd most of the time but everything else was in good apparent working order besides being a little rough.

So you want smoother, more precise shifting but money's tight? Here's a good combo that you can bolt on easily for less than $100 total.

First step, change that tranny fluid with some decent synthetic stuff. General Motors Synchro-mesh is awesome, can be found at your local Chevy dealer for like $8 a bottle. Here's the big secret, the Penzoil Synchro-mesh that is maybe $4 a bottle at Autozone is the SAME EXACT fluid, so save yourself some bucks and use that instead. Using this stuff alone got rid of my 1st to 2nd grind.

2nd step, Go to www.roadraceengineering.com and order some polyurethane shift mount bushings for $13 plus shipping (for the 2G, $20 for the 1G I believe). These greatly improve the feel and precision of your shifts. The stock rubber bushings get old and dry then crack apart. Not to mention they're too soft in the first place. The poly set will improve the feel of your shifts without giving the harsh feel that metal spacers or no spacers provide (some don't mind).

3rd, the CNC machined brass bushing sets that replace the under hood shift cable bushings at the tranny give more precise shifting also and reduce the chance of mis shifts. These can be had for $20-$30 from Mach V or other DSM specialty shops, check out your favorite DSM vendor for a set. They install in no more than 10 min. A set of roller blade bearings works just as well but are a bitch to install sometimes.

4th, Road Race Engineering, Slow Boy Racing, Mach V, DSMparts.com, and many others have a stainless steel braided clutch cable to replace the plastic stock line and on 2G eclipse/talons, replace the entire reservoir interrupting the line. This mod will give you a better peddle feel and better/quicker engagement of the clutch. These run an average of $20 and are a simple install.

And last, replace your old clutch fluid while doing the above mod.

This should run you a few hours at the most in simple installations using basic hand tools and set you back no more than $100. The end result is very impressive, you won't be disappointed.

Gyeah.. I have the same setup lee.. very sound advice and highly reccomended also!

The BG stuff is said to be better but costs like freakin $18 a bottle compaired to $4-$8 for the GM or Penzoil stuff.

The front and rear engine mount inserst are well worth the ~$20 also, I agree. They help us poor FWDers with our stupid wheel hop :p

I noticed quite a bit of difference in vibration, between the just the stock mounts, and both the front and rear mount inserts installed.