Recently bought an 03 Evo VIII as a restoration project. The dipstick I bought it from didn't know anything about cars and tried to tune. Anyway it has major problems with the transmission. I can almost never get it into reverse or second gear. Also everytime I shift into 5th it grinds until the gear is fully engaged. I replaced the gear selector lever since it was shaved and almost gone, also replaced the shifter with a TWM performance short throw and had a stage two clutch installed just before i bought it. The gear selector lever Perry much fixed the reverse problem but the second and fifth are still bad. Do you think it is the synchronizes? Should I just replace the transmission? If so what do you suggest?

 

sounds like you need to send the Transmission to Jacks Transmissions,TRE or Shepp.it isn't that much to rebuild as long as you have a good core.the actual transmission itself is what's expensive.you can get it rebuilt to better than factory secs for under $800 i believe.

also quite a bit of elbow grease if you plan to do it yourself,if you are going to pay someone,i would guess 10 hrs labor,but i'm not sure about that.

 

Almost all the higher mileage Evo viii's start to grind into 5th, mine was doing when I bought it. The cost is going to depend on if it just needs a rebuild and new synchros or if any gear sets need replaced. Shep is where I'd send it.

 

yeah mine grinds a little going into 5th also. not gonna worry bout it though cause if i go really slow into 5th it doesnt grind.