Manual Transmission

Lens88fox · Aug 14, 2016

Hello I guys, so I got my foxbody, but this is the first manual car Ive owned myself, I dont or have never had anybody to teach me, so I have the car in the garage, and have been getting use to the gears, I have what could be a dumb question can I practice getting use to changing the gears, and using the clutch with the car running, I did it for about 30 mins would I be doing any damage or should I strickly be doing it with the car off? Im learning on my own right now lol

ekrainey · Aug 14, 2016

It's fine to practice with the car running. That's actually the only way you will learn the bite point of your clutch. But do not do it in the garage. You may end up in the wall. Get it outside so you can actually learn how to drive it.

Have fun!

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Boosted92LX · Aug 14, 2016

Man, If you practice changing gears in the garage with the engine running, and you let off the clutch, you are going to have a new door from your garage into the house.

I'd recommend having a friend that can drive stick take you to a big, empty parking lot somewhere that'll be safe and get the feel of it first. The garage is about the worst place possible for that..

RaggedGT · Aug 14, 2016

I'd cruise the neighborhood, granted somewhat slowly lol. At least until you get comfortable with taking off

FoxMustangLvr · Aug 15, 2016

RaggedGT said:
I'd cruise the neighborhood, granted somewhat slowly lol. At least until you get comfortable with taking off

Yes practice in the neighborhood. Just remember that children are worth more points than the elderly (DR 2000)

cleanLX · Aug 15, 2016

Assuming the car is stock... and you have a flat driveway, or place to practice.
The way I learned...
Never left the driveway.
Learn to use the clutch only NO GAS PEDAL.
Put it in 1st gear, ease the clutch out and pull forward... no gas.
Stop.
Put it in reverse, ease the clutch out and backup... no gas.
Stop.
Do that until you don't have to think about it.
Now... to help prepare for hill starts...
Put it in 1st gear, hold the brake, ease the clutch out until it is on the verge of stall, let the brake off and ease the clutch out the rest off the way as you pull forward... no gas.
Stop.
Put it in reverse, hold the brake, ease the clutch out until it is on the verge of stall, let the brake off and ease the clutch out the rest off the way as you backup... no gas.
Do that until you don't have to think about it.
Now you are ready to go for an easy drive.

FoxMustangLvr · Aug 15, 2016

cleanLX said:
Assuming the car is stock... and you have a flat driveway, or place to practice.
The way I learned...
Never left the driveway.
Learn to use the clutch only NO GAS PEDAL.
Put it in 1st gear, ease the clutch out and pull forward... no gas.
Stop.
Put it in reverse, ease the clutch out and backup... no gas.
Stop.
Do that until you don't have to think about it.
Now... to help prepare for hill starts...
Put it in 1st gear, hold the brake, ease the clutch out until it is on the verge of stall, let the brake off and ease the clutch out the rest off the way as you pull forward... no gas.
Stop.
Put it in reverse, hold the brake, ease the clutch out until it is on the verge of stall, let the brake off and ease the clutch out the rest off the way as you backup... no gas.
Do that until you don't have to think about it.
Now you are ready to go for an easy drive.

That is good advice. I'd also like to add that with a manual transmission you'll sometimes grind trying to get into R. Best way to shift in to R without grinding is to shift to 4th gear then R (while at a stop of course).

jrichker · Aug 15, 2016

Some of the things that you are going to need are 4 jackstands and a good floor jack. Now is the time to get them and put them to use. Harbor Freight Tools has good jackstands at a reasonable price, try them first, look for a sale. DO NOT buy the jack from them, find another source; you'll be glad that you did...

Jack up the car and put a jackstand under each A arm in the front and under the rear axle on each side in the rear axle. Make sure that all 4 wheels are off the ground. Then you can shift and play with the throttle and clutch with the engine running all you want.

Manual Transmission

Lens88fox

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ekrainey

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Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

RaggedGT

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FoxMustangLvr

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cleanLX

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Manual Transmission

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It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

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