1986 244, 380K, M46 (4spd with overdrive) transmission.

M46 has been popping out of 1st gear for a few months. When accelerating in 1st, it would pop out and into neutral at around 2200-2300 rpm. This could be avoided by shifting early (<2000 rpm) or accelerating very gently. Changed tranny fluid back in May but it did not make much of a difference.

Now, it does not want to go into 1st gear at all, even with the engine turned off. It is like there is a "wall" and it will not go into the gate for 1st. 2nd and 3rd have also become more difficult to engage, though 4th slides right in. To get the car moving, I have to give it a ton of gas in 2nd and "slip" the clutch a bit.

Thinking I should start shopping for a new tranny. The old fluid that I changed out back in May had an alarming amount of shavings in it.

Any possibility this is *not* an internal tranny issue?

Metal in the fluid, popping out of gear and reluctance to go into most of them? You should've started looking into a fix quite some time ago. You're gonna tear up clutch/flywheel if you're not careful -- although, while you're in there, best to tend to those too if they have miles on them. The car's been trying to tell you something for a while - fix the car!

hi McP- the symptoms are the exact ones that indicate shot trans. have had a few of these go stinko after many miles that were american 3 speeds and 4 speeds. almost no one left with the expertise to repair manual transmissions without taking you to the cleaners . best bet would be to find an m47 in a yard, but chances slim there too . last year found one for 600 which with shipping would put it over 800. my 92 245 m47 hasnt crapped yet. most of these are very old and with very high mileage. same thing happened to packards after the last one in 57. may have to start haunting big car shows and swap meets. last chance would probably be hershey or the other big one in october. cant remember its name, but is near harrisburg. good luck oldduke

Sorry...metal in the fluid!

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