Dan and others,
The most frequent question I get about the Gate Shift kit is,
"Does the clamp hold it securely?" The kit contains a Gate Shift arm. Its an offset piece of steel (for 1st/2nd) that clamps onto the driver's side of the shift lever. The arm mimics the existing welded piece on the passenger side of the shift lever (for 5th and Reverse). The mount surface of the arm has a radius to conform to the OD of the shift lever for max. contact surface and the hose clamp exerts a lot of force. The first few kits were supplied with an arm with a flat mount surface and a skinny clamp, but those early customers have been updated to the current arm design and a wider clamp.
Yes, there's a chance the clamp can loosen, just like any other fastener in our cars. FWIW, not everybody's driving style is the same and the Gate Shift kit in my car has only the hose clamp and it does not move. Of course, my anxious moments banging the shift lever aound where it shouldn't go won't be like anybody elses.
The kit instructions recommend this arm be eventually welded. The hose clamp is the simplest method to attach and adjust the arm without my supplying a ready-to-install welded shift lever (I want to make this affordable). Here's what to do: After installing the kit and adjusting it, remove the entire shift housing from the car, take it to a welder and have the arm tack welded (electric welder) onto the lever. It will not move or slide after it's welded.
I've been meaning to do some research on the force generated by a clamp (for those who are hesitant about it), but be that as it may, add a few spot welds for piece of mind. I could show pics of the kit with a weld (w/o a clamp), but I thought this might mislead some people.
Shift lever in Neutral; 3rd/4th shift plane
Hope this helps. Sorry for being so wordy, but I thought my responding might shed some light on "the clamp."
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars
www.seinesystems.com