New (to me) ZR1 with Trans Problem?

[csx4350]

I recently bought a 1990 ZR1 with 22k on the clock. The car runs & drives very well, very tight and with the exception of the rear speakers everything works as it's supposed to. One thing I noticed was a transmission whine, but I have a large collection of 60's & 70's muscle cars and tranny whine is common on the straight cut gears in old trannys so it didn't worry me. I took my mechanic for a ride last night, and his first words were that the transmission input shaft bearing is whining and needs to be replaced. I was already a bit worried about the clutch, it seems to be engaging awfully high in the pedal throw, but there's no slipping. I could really do without the bearing being trashed though.

My questions are:

Is a transmission whine normal or is it indicative of a problem with the ZF6?

Does the ZF require a specialist to work on it or can we do the bearing ourselves?

I've been reading here about using the Castrol TWS for trans lube. My assumption is that the car has the original lube in the trans & diff, both of which I intended to change ASAP. Is it possible that changing the lube will quiet the noise down? What is the trans fluid capacity?

How about the clutch, I assume the high engagement isn't normal. Any recommendations on a bulletproof replacement?

TIA

John

[rhipsher]

The input shaft pilot bushing needs to be replaced. I've removed my transmission 3 times on my 90 until I found out that the reason I was breaking TB was due to a bent clutch fork. It's a job but doesn't take a specialist. If your clutch doesn't engage until 3/4 of the peddle travel is let out then that's normal. If the clutch engages 1" off the floor board then you have to worry.

[mike100]

Some of these gearboxes make a lot of noise. I've had one of each- my current black label ZF in my 91 has always been fairly quiet, but I had a real whiny one in my old 95 LT1 car. The 95 actually shifted better, it was just a noisy one.

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by csx4350

...snip...

My questions are:

Is a transmission whine normal or is it indicative of a problem with the ZF6?

Does the ZF require a specialist to work on it or can we do the bearing ourselves?

....snip....

How about the clutch, I assume the high engagement isn't normal. Any recommendations on a bulletproof replacement?

TIA

John

Whine may be the input shaft/gear itself. It was on mine.
Likely both the shaft and input bearing but I'll never know for sure now.
Did both after the whine continued after replacing the bearing..

The ZF6 work can be done yourself but you need patients and as I recall there are three things easily effed up. You need a 20ton or so press for any syncro work.

Capacity is a bit over 2 qts (I'm not near my FSM) but you just keep adding till it want to run out the fill hole.

Clutch engaging high is a good thing to me. Better that than low.

[Paul Workman]

The 90 (black tag) ZF does have straight-cut gears, and they do whine a little, especially in first gear. And, I'm a little skeptical of bearing issues with only 22k miles; dang thing is hardly broken in!

Bill Boudreau is "THEE" ZF guru, ZFdoc.com and on his web site he recommends the Castrol TWS 10W-60 synthetic which might be all that is needed.

And, I too had the same question re the clutch release position on my 95 Vette, and Bill told me then that was normal, and if it was otherwise, that would be a problem.

Well, obviously, with only 22k on it, it has done its share of resting. Resting has a way of being very hard on seals, and bearings (drying out), etc. so I'll stop short of declaring phooey to a bearing issue. I'd want someone who has an early Z to test drive it and let you know what is normal or not.

In the mean time, do you hear it whine in higher gears? And, does it whine when decelerating with the clutch out? Either of these might be indicative of "something" not quite right. I'd want to check the trans oil level, and as you indicated, changing that would be the first thing to do after checking the level and see if that makes a difference. Again...bearing after only 22k??? The things that make ya say "Hmmmmm...."

Good luck with the easy stuff. If you pull the trans, you could benefit from the C-beam plates that Bill sells, if it doesn't already have 'em (for easing the process of removing and realigning the C-beam, if nothing else!).

P.

[SteelBlueZR1]

Change to Castrol from GM Synchromesh fluid completely eradicated the first gear whine in my 91 ZR-1. Just do it and the difference you'll notice in quietness and easy shifting.

[PhillipsLT5]

If original trans fluid you are more than due, just change it, see if it gets quiet

[csx4350]

OK, I changed the trans fluid to the Castrol TWS and the noise is still there. It was actually over filled, when I pulled the fill plug lube came pouring out. I made a few observations on the test drive. Understand that due to too many firefights my hearing isn't great any more.

It whines in neutral, but stops when I push in the clutch.

It whines on acceleration, but gets much quieter (or possibly even stops) on deceleration.

It whines in first through third, but appears to go away (or at least gets much quieter) in fourth and above. I was working really hard trying to keep the road and exhaust noise down listening for it but couldn't hear it.

[DarkAngel]

Originally Posted by csx4350

OK, I changed the trans fluid to the Castrol TWS and the noise is still there. It was actually over filled, when I pulled the fill plug lube came pouring out. I made a few observations on the test drive. Understand that due to too many firefights my hearing isn't great any more.

It whines in neutral, but stops when I push in the clutch.

It whines on acceleration, but gets much quieter (or possibly even stops) on deceleration.

It whines in first through third, but appears to go away (or at least gets much quieter) in fourth and above. I was working really hard trying to keep the road and exhaust noise down listening for it but couldn't hear it.

i have same pbl with mine (1990 17000 miles on it)
whines in neutral but stop when i push the clutch and in first through third
i guessed it was normal 'cause i have a black tag ZF
and i read that it was "normal"

changed trans fluid recently with amsoil and gears passed without any pbl except that noise

[gbrtng]

PM me - I'm in New Braunfels and can take a look ...
Glenn