Background..

1969 vert, 350/350 4-speed car.
In May the eXhaust blew
Weeks after I took the bad exhaust off to place on new 2.5 inch exhaust.  While removing exhaust I needed to remove the Exhaust bracket.

Fast forward to the day before yesterday. 
I had issues fitting the exhaust properly so I took it into the shop. The shop placed the exhaust on and it seems to be fine.

Tranny problems.
I am not sure if he placed the exhaust bracket back on.  I will look a little later.  I am not sure if this is the cause of the problems.  We are having issues placing the car in 2nd.  Not all the time, but random.  It seems to grind.  The tranny overall feels slushy. 

Before we took it to the shop it ran great minus the exhaust issues.  Now the tranny feels awful!

What do you all feel it could be?

Many thanks!

Adam Boca

Maybe clutch adjustment.  Maybe they swang on the clutch adjustment bar while installing exhaust.  Maybe pried on it.  Ask them what the heck? 

   COULD BE THE PIPE IS UP AGAINST THE SHIFT LINKAGE. YOU NEED TO GET IT ON A RACK TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT IT. MAYBE A TRIP BACK TO THE MUFFLER SHOP IS IN ORDER.

                                   REID '72 T-TOP

(1) Check to make sure the new exhaust is not hindering the travel of the clutch release fork.
(2) Check & make sure the trans mount is bolted up securely, with the exh. bracket. (or with a spacer the same thickness)
(3) Verify that the shifter is bolted up properly to the crossmember.

Sometimes, a larger diameter "head pipe", or one that is not correctly bent, will rub on, or otherwise get in the way of the fork, or the bell-crank/linkage.

If the exh. bracket is left off, it changes the geometry of the clutch linkage, since the linkage is run from the frame to the engine. It could also be in interfering with the travel of the linkage/fork, causing the clutch to not release all the way.

I'm don't remember if the earlier cars are like mine (I am an old fart, after all!), but my '74 shifter actually bolts to the crossmember, not the trans. If it was unbolted for clearance when installing the exh. it might not have been retightened.

Now, with all of that said, I would think that if it was a clutch related problem it would effect all of the gears, not just 2nd. The pedal has to move just as far to get in 1st as it does for 4th!

I think the problem is going to be a combination of the fork not being able to move far enough, and the shifter linkage out-o-whack. Adams' Apple38546.8123842593

k, I got under the car and the exhaust braket it on the car..The one thing I did notice is that there are 3-4 spacers (washers) on each side.  Would this be any cause for concern?

Where are they? Are they in a position to raise the rear of the trans up? If so, then that might effect the clutch and the shifter, as well as the alignment of the driveshaft. Did it have them before, and why does it need them now?(things that make you go hhhmmmmm?!)
You might try to adjust the clutch linkage, just for the heck of it. That might solve the problem, but it won't tell you what happened to create it in the first place.

They were not there before..I am assuming since I went with a bigger di. pipe it is to push the bracket up.  They are located under the bracket and inbetween the tranny crossmember..

 

I would say if there is nothing (exhaust) rubbing, touching, or otherwise creating a "bind" in the shift and/or clutch linkages, go ahead & adjust the clutch, and see if that helps with the problem.
Drive it on the road @ speed, tho, and make sure there is no vibration from the driveshaft that was not there before. If the trans alignment has been moved (by the use of spacers), it's likely to cause a vib.

btw.... there is a diff. exhaust bracket for the 2.5' exh.(factory) It might be worth the effort to get one & install it, and get rid of the extra "spacers".