Impala Balko

I have a 94 6 speed coupe with a Hurst shifter and I want to know how do iget the factory **** off so I can install my new Hurst ball

rogerdoger1993

Use a small and narrow screw driver and pry the plastic shift pattern cap off. Then you will see a wedge below it. Take some vice grips and grip onto the wedge(tightly). Then pull up on the vice grips with all your might. After the wedge forcibly comes out, the **** will twist off with lots of ease.

Impala Balko

That wedge is on there I need a smaller needle nose set of vice grips to get at it

RollaMo-LT4

With a slight but highly effective variation.
Once you get the vice grips "locked" down on that wedge, slide a long handle screw driver through, to make a horizontal bar that you can tap up on.
This will make getting that wedge out much easier, than just pulling up on it.

Impala Balko

Is there any other methods because this thing will not budge.... is this the right thing

PLRX

Pull the steel insert and turn **** counterclockwise.

RollaMo-LT4

That "wedge" has to come out, before you will be able to unscrew the shift ****.

Someone else might be able to chime in with other ways to get the wedge out. Mine came out using the method I described above.
Just pulling it out will be very difficult. But having a way to tap in an upward direction will break it free.

Impala Balko

That insert wont come out... I have tried with vicegrips prybars screwdrivers. I don't know what else to do

PLRX

Hmm,,,I was very lucky but, I prepared for that to happen to me the day I was ready to lower my ZF.

I got these instructions from a ZF guy but, my insert came out with my finger tips.

Remove Targa Top
Grab the insert with a pair of vice grips
Stand on the Door Sills
Grab vice grips and pull with all your heart.

I hope it works for you.

Once last thing, try tapping it with a hammer and try to pull it one last time first.

Impala Balko

If I soak it in pb blast or wd40 would that help

dogfish246

Dont use pb blaster!!! That stuff melts plastics!!!

Impala Balko

Thanks for the heads up.... ill soak it in wd40 over night and attack it tomorrow. Hopefully ill be jamming gears with my Hurst ball

dogfish246

No problem! I would hate to see a new thread "PB Blaster Destroyed Interior"

GREGGPENN

When you say you've used prybars, be specific. Years ago, I couldn't get mine off, then I went by my dad's house in case he had an idea. He handed me a small brake adjuster tool (which looked like the world's smallest crowbar. It fit down in the recess and pulled the "nail" out quite nicely. And, it did so w/o harming the leather ****.

After all that, it made me look at the **** so closely that I tried to refinish it, f'd it up, and thru it away. Now, I've got a blasphamous ****. Yep, that's right,,,,it's got a C5 logo on it! (But, it looks cool!)

gp

Impala Balko

Do you have pictures of this miracle tool because I am at my wits end

GREGGPENN

It look like (or similar to) this.

They should be sold at any autoparts store. I also see them on harbor freight's website as part of a 3-tool set.

Their might be different sizes of these tiny crowbars. You need one where the 90-degree end is short enough to sit down in the ****'s recess. That will allow you to pull up on the nail. I'm thinking 4 to 6 inches is about how big (long) these tools are.

If you have a grinder, you could shorten one if it turned out to be too long on that end.

Seems like I've seen screwdriver-looking tools that look similar. (IOW, the long portion of the bar has a screwdriver handle on it.)

Impala Balko

Well I got it off with a hammer and a doorpannel removal tool... I damaged the leather a little on the **** but the cue ball **** is on order

Blue 92

You forgot the protective cup you're going to need when that thing pops loose.