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> Synchro Replacement, 1st Gear
Chaznaster
post Jan 20 2026, 06:31 PM
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Hi.

I am planning to address the grinding I get when going into 1st gear at anything faster than a full stop. The Pelican article on the replacing first gear seems pretty good, and I plan to search these pages for nuggets of wisdom before starting.

This thing has been grinding as long as I have had it and certainly long before that ... so I figure it is in pretty bad shape.

Pelican suggests the following parts: slider, shift fork, synchro ring and brake band, dog teeth, and maybe first gear if it is worn. I plan to open it up before getting parts - and I assume they are all available without much trouble.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on tackling this project as well as any advice.

Thanks. Christian
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mgphoto
post Jan 20 2026, 07:09 PM
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QUOTE(Chaznaster @ Jan 20 2026, 04:31 PM) *

Hi.

I am planning to address the grinding I get when going into 1st gear at anything faster than a full stop. The Pelican article on the replacing first gear seems pretty good, and I plan to search these pages for nuggets of wisdom before starting.

This thing has been grinding as long as I have had it and certainly long before that ... so I figure it is in pretty bad shape.

Pelican suggests the following parts: slider, shift fork, synchro ring and brake band, dog teeth, and maybe first gear if it is worn. I plan to open it up before getting parts - and I assume they are all available without much trouble.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on tackling this project as well as any advice.

Thanks. Christian


You do know there isn’t any syncro from 2nd to first, you basically have to let the gears mesh up to shift.
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rfinegan
post Jan 20 2026, 07:38 PM
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Dr Evil may have some of the parts both new or used...
Ill look for links of the you tubes I recorded when I updated mine

-Robert
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mepstein
post Jan 20 2026, 07:39 PM
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My experience, after rebuilding a couple dozen transmissions over the past couple years is it’s rarely just first gear. That gear might be giving you most of the issues but unless it’s a really low mileage trans, there’s probably more to do. You will know once you open it up.
Before you get too far into it, you can open up the side cover and inspect the ring and pinion. A damaged r&p pretty much disqualifies the trans from getting rebuilt.
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Dave_Darling
post Jan 21 2026, 02:22 AM
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QUOTE(mgphoto @ Jan 20 2026, 06:09 PM) *

You do know there isn’t any syncro from 2nd to first, you basically have to let the gears mesh up to shift.


That is incorrect, there is a synchro on 1st gear. In stock form, it's a different one from the others, but any of the other synchros can be used as long as you use the other parts (e.g., the stop blocks and maybe other stuff) that go with them.

A number of old cars do not have synchros on first gear. AFAIK, all Porsches have always had 1st gear synchros. (Possibly some very early 356es did not, but the later ones did!)

--DD
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brant
post Jan 21 2026, 08:06 AM
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QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ Jan 21 2026, 01:22 AM) *

QUOTE(mgphoto @ Jan 20 2026, 06:09 PM) *

You do know there isn’t any syncro from 2nd to first, you basically have to let the gears mesh up to shift.


That is incorrect, there is a synchro on 1st gear. In stock form, it's a different one from the others, but any of the other synchros can be used as long as you use the other parts (e.g., the stop blocks and maybe other stuff) that go with them.

A number of old cars do not have synchros on first gear. AFAIK, all Porsches have always had 1st gear synchros. (Possibly some very early 356es did not, but the later ones did!)

--DD

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914werke
post Jan 21 2026, 10:05 AM
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QUOTE(Chaznaster @ Jan 20 2026, 04:31 PM) *
Hi. I am planning to address the grinding I get when going into 1st gear at anything faster than a full stop. The Pelican article on the replacing first gear seems pretty good, and I plan to search these pages for nuggets of wisdom before starting.
Pelican suggests the following parts: slider, shift fork, synchro ring and brake band, dog teeth, and maybe first gear if it is worn. I plan to open it up before getting parts - and I assume they are all available without much trouble.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on tackling this project as well as any advice.

Thanks. Christian


1st can be done in the car, easiest id you have a lift but do-able on stands.
You'll definitely need a slider, the 1st/reverse syncro (which is spendy) & dog teeth.
Doubtful you'll need a fork or brake bands/block.
As others mention the 1st revers syncro is usually perished if it hant been touched in 50 yrs but normally 2nd is also pretty hammered which means pulling the stack. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
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Ninja
post Jan 21 2026, 10:05 AM
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QUOTE(rfinegan @ Jan 20 2026, 07:38 PM) *

Dr Evil may have some of the parts both new or used...
Ill look for links of the you tubes I recorded when I updated mine

-Robert


No one has said it yet...

The EVIL Doctor is the BOMB regarding these transmissions!

I would get/search EVERYTHING he has posted.

To me (I'm experienced) his info is the GOLD standard even beyond Porsche themselves.

Hit up the Dr early instead of late. He is one of those special guys you gained access to by joining the forum.


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