Installing Shifter Question
 

Hi,

I am a novice...I tried searching for an answer, but I couldn't find it. I hope someone can help me. I replaced the ball cup bushing tin my shifter and I'm now trying to bolt the gear shifter back down to the floor of the car. There is a flange that you have to bolt it to and I can't figure out how to bolt it to the flange..you can't get your fingers under the gear shifter housing to do it...is there a trick to it that I'm missing?

Thanks so much for you help....I apologize for being a novice!

It's a pain in the balz.

I took a piece of string and put it under the shift rod. Then put the shift housing on top and pull the string through one of the side openings. Then pull up on the string to lift the shift rod up and try to thread one of the small bolts into that plate.

It takes some tries and some patience. Maybe someone else has a better way, but I've done it that way the last few times.

I lined up the bracket with the holes then placed the two bolts through the shifter housing and just slowly guided it down through the holes.

+1

Used a string as well, but I still couldn't re-install. I ended up disconnecting the shaft from the bushing in the rear tunnel and then installing the shifter. This worked, but it was a ***** to re-connect the shaft, but eventually I got it.

You need to line up the plate with the holes first. Then use the string to pull it up. It does take a few tries. But I've always eventually got it work.

before you do it -- replace the ring bushing in the L bracket - and do any tune-up or blueprinting to the shifter itself for the next few years...

since it's a pain you want to avoid doing it again next year...

the string is a smart idea

I found a longer 10mm bolt, made the threads on one side to pull the plate up, made the other side with the correct bolt, then removed the long bolt and replaced it with the correct bolt...

Actually it's an M6 bolt. 10mm is the hex head/socket dimension. However, that's a good solution to grab the threads within reach. Another solution is to replace the existing bolts with longer M6 bolts. There's nothing below that could bind.

Sherwood

Also check that the screw which attaches the ball cup to the shift rod is tight. If it is loose your shift lever will have a lot of play.

Thanks for the ideas.
 

I appreciate it....I'll let you know how I do tomorrow!