(another) Shifter adjustment question

[h20dawg]

Car: 1985 911 Coupe (stock)

I have just finished replacing my shifter bushings and am in the process of putting everything back together. However, I am having an issue when trying to attach the shifter mounting base back to the center tunnel. The rod bushing bracket does not mount to the tunnel in my car. Instead, it mounts to the shifter base. My issue is when trying to seat the shifter bushing in the bushing adapter, there is no space to engage the two bolts that hold the rod bushing bracket. They sit too far "down" in the tunnel.

What trick am I missing? I have both Wayne's book (101 911 projects) and the Bentley shop manual and neither one has any detailed instructions. We are having a glorious summer here in Seattle and I haven't been able to enjoy my car in the good weather

Any help would be appreciated.

[Driven97]

I can't figure out what you are describing - can you take a photo? Is the issue getting part #20 to line up with part #25?

[911pcars]

The bushing bracket (#25) installs between the shift housing and the tunnel.

Separate the bushing bracket from the shift housing.

Check length of the (2) M6 bolts.(#9) Are they new? They should extend no further than to secure the housing into the bracket.

When installing, the bracket fits on top of the tunnel. Do not install shift housing to bracket before. The bushing bracket must support the shift shaft first.

Install shift housing. Loosely install (1) M8 bolt at the rear to secure the shift housing and bushing bracket to the tunnel. Do not fully tighten.

Install the remaining (2) M6 bolts and (2) M8 bolts.

Confirm the housing isn't binding or under stress when tightening the bolts.

Shift gears to confirm 5 forward and 1 reverse gear position.

Road test to confirm. Shift coupler adjustment is an additional process.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

[h20dawg]

911pcars,

Thank you for the suggestions. I will attempt to attach the rear most M8 bolt first to see if I can align the other two. I'll report back when I have accomplished this.

[h20dawg]

Well, the shifter is back together and working great. I would like to thank both of you for the help and to say that I am an idiot. When disassembling the shifter I failed to notice that the bracket for the rod bushing went between the tunnel and the shifter base. Once I figured that out it went back together fine.

Shifting is much improved but reverse is a little notchy (I am going to address this soon).

[Driven97]

Notchy reverse might be the lockout mechanism and a slight tweak fore/aft in the coupler may fix it. Or the lockout mechanism might be broken, it was on my old shifter. The lockout is on part #4, a new I've came with my short shift kit.

My coupler is slightly too far rearward, and it occasionally gets caught in 5th unless I push it all the way into gear. It took me so long to adjust the coupler last time I'm afraid to loosen it.