Shifter Hot
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Commerce Township MI
Shifter Hot
I was driving my 1968 (327) 4-speed yesterday on the Freeway and local streets for about 30 minutes and I noticed that the shaft of the shifter was getting really hot as well has the console felt very warm. The engine temperature gauge looked good at ~180-190 and oil pressure looked good as well. When I got home the oil level was good too.
I am thinking that this might be a trans fluid issue?!? Is there anything else I should check or troubleshoot?
Car seemed to run fine otherwise, no knocks or pings either...
I am thinking that this might be a trans fluid issue?!? Is there anything else I should check or troubleshoot?
Car seemed to run fine otherwise, no knocks or pings either...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Commerce Township MI
So it is normal for the shifter shaft to be very hot to the touch and the boot console area to be very warm as well? I never noticed before and thought maybe that with all the slow leaks the trans fluid might be low...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Well you could check the tranny fluid level but normally when it start getting low, the whine pitch will change. How long have you been driving this car?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
My 66 had a hurst shifter and 4 speed, it was my dd and on a trip down the highway the shifter would get hot enough you didnt wanna touch it, like some of the power supplies for lap tops....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Commerce Township MI
I have had it for about 2 years. Driven about 20 times. The 327 was rebuilt last fall. Driven it about 10 times since myself and my GF about the same.
Would new Mobil synthetic trans fluid (75-90) help keep it cooloer?
Would new Mobil synthetic trans fluid (75-90) help keep it cooloer?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
FWIW, I had a '65 Chev. Impala 4 speed that did the same thing. I doubt that Mobil syn. would help. It handles heat better but the tranny temp would probably be the same. I'd personally forget about it.
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
For safety's sake.........
It couldn't hurt to check the level of the gear oil in the transmission yearly......especially if there are a few drips on the garage floor (which means there are drips on the highway from point A to point Z.
Also carefully loosen the drain plug and let an ounce drain into a clear container to check for metal particles/water(moisture)/discolored gear oil.
Catching a problem before it becomes a disaster is a good thing.
It couldn't hurt to check the level of the gear oil in the transmission yearly......especially if there are a few drips on the garage floor (which means there are drips on the highway from point A to point Z.
Also carefully loosen the drain plug and let an ounce drain into a clear container to check for metal particles/water(moisture)/discolored gear oil.
Catching a problem before it becomes a disaster is a good thing.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
For safety's sake.........
It couldn't hurt to check the level of the gear oil in the transmission yearly......especially if there are a few drips on the garage floor (which means there are drips on the highway from point A to point Z.
Also carefully loosen the drain plug and let an ounce drain into a clear container to check for metal particles/water(moisture)/discolored gear oil.
Catching a problem before it becomes a disaster is a good thing.
It couldn't hurt to check the level of the gear oil in the transmission yearly......especially if there are a few drips on the garage floor (which means there are drips on the highway from point A to point Z.
Also carefully loosen the drain plug and let an ounce drain into a clear container to check for metal particles/water(moisture)/discolored gear oil.
Catching a problem before it becomes a disaster is a good thing.
Can't hurt...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,680
Likes: 3,134
From: Shamong, NJ
The Hurst shifters seem to get even hotter, than the OEM ones. After a half hour drive, you can't touch the Hurst in my 62. And it's been that way for 40 years.The stock shifter will get hot, but not like a Hurst. The shaft of the stock shifter is hollow, and allows a little air flow through it. The shaft of the Hurst is solid steel, and will really hold on to the heat.
