New Shift Bushing Slop

[Scott S]

Hi All -

I just bough all new bushings for my 72 tail shifter to coinside with the 6 conversion that I just about have done. I installed them all and removed a pile of slop - except for one area. The very last bushing that is the most rearward on the car seems to have the same loose tolerance as the stock one that it is replacing. while the shift bar has definitely lost it's paint, it mics out at almost the exact same diameter as the still painted surfaces at any given point along the rest of the shift bar.

There is probably a millimeter of slop between the bushing and the bar. Shouldnt it fit pretty tight?

I double checked the part number with our host and it is the correct part. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Scott S

[mike95125]

Nope, they are designed to fit several diameters. It will not be too problematic, but if you can get the slop out it will only improve things.

For slop between the bushing and the bushing bore I insert zip ties around the bushing with it in place to take up the space. For slop between the bushing and the rod, you are kinda at a loss. The only other thing to do is to make a bronze bushing and JB weld it in there. This needs to have the ID cut to fit your particular rod.

[John Rogers]

If that is the bushing that is in the cast housing that fits into the transmission, there are a couple of fixes.

First is the easiest and cheapest and that is to get some very small (smallest you can find) nylon wire zip ties. Pull off the cover and thread several through the hole between the shift rod and bushing. Tighten them and snip off the excess. They do not pick up dirt or goop and last pretty well.

Second is to get or make a bronze bushing for the rod to pass through. They cost more, wear out the shift rod and can cause galling/seizing in that area.

I used the first for 12 years or so on our race car!

[r_towle]

Scott,
Easy is the bronze bushing..sold right here...

Second is Chris Foleys mod...go see him at Tangerine racing.

Rich

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I'm wondering if a good wrap with teflon tape might build up the rod where it goes through the bushing? I'm not sure how you could keep teflon tape on the ID of the bushing, or that would be another possibility.

Never tried it, mind you, but it might work. (Might turn into gunk really quickly, though.)

--DD

[maf914]

I bought the bronze version of this bushing from Pelican some time ago and found that the fit of the shift rod was not much tighter than the plastic bushing commonly available. I went to a local hobby shop and bought a section of brass tubing with an inside diameter approximately the same as the ouside diameter of the shift rod. I cut a section the length of the bronze bushing, inserted it into the bushing and soldered it in place. Cleaned it up with a file and sandpaper. Now the shift rod has a snug fit in the sleeved bronze busing. By the way, the bronze bushing is retained in the tranny console position using a c-clip.