Coming home today after a nice drive and some spirited driving my superspec was very violently jumping and shaking the car in 1st gear and when reversing into the garage it was jerki g back and forth making it harder to control at slow speed. When driving gently the car goes into gear smoothly but when accelerating to motorway speeds the car takes an absolute age to go in to gear if chooses to go in.

What could be causing this. It's the rover engine mated to a Ford gearbox

Does this change when the engine/gearbox is cold?

You do not say if there are any new noises.

2 first thoughts, First engine to gearbox mounting (bell housing) bolts loose either at the engine end or the gearbox end, look for gaps.

second the clutch is not releasing, could be partially melted clutch cable.

Edited May 29, 20215 yr by IanS

To be fair there are alot of noises when the clutch pedal is out (normal for superspec) so it does become very hard to hear them.

 

The only noise thst is new is when I'm trying to move and you can hear everything shaking

Edited May 29, 20215 yr by deano266
Forgot something

Also check engine mounts, gearbox mounts and prop shaft uj's. Maybe jack up one rear wheel, engine off, try rocking the wheel to see if anything moves or knocks through each gear including reverse.