Not your typically hurst shifter issue.....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
Not your typically hurst shifter issue.....
Hi all,
My shifter handle will not go into reverse without pushing the console over towards the driver side. I tried fooling with the mount on the trans and the shifter... it didn't help. It has been this way since I bought the car in 98.
I also bought a new 4spd 1970 console thinking maybe wrong year was put on there by previous owner... no dice.
Anyone know how to fix this? It almost seems like the shifter handle needs to be offset towards the passenger side.
BTW... the trans shifts and drives just fine... grabs reverse well... but smashes the console over about inch everytime...
4spd Muncie with Hurst shifter is the setup
My shifter handle will not go into reverse without pushing the console over towards the driver side. I tried fooling with the mount on the trans and the shifter... it didn't help. It has been this way since I bought the car in 98.
I also bought a new 4spd 1970 console thinking maybe wrong year was put on there by previous owner... no dice.
Anyone know how to fix this? It almost seems like the shifter handle needs to be offset towards the passenger side.
BTW... the trans shifts and drives just fine... grabs reverse well... but smashes the console over about inch everytime...
4spd Muncie with Hurst shifter is the setup
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
huh? It is a hurst 4spd shifter and mount setup. The stock shifter is long gone.. previous owner...so no reverse lockout handle setup
The shifter when engaged into the reverse gear will push the console to the left as if the console isn't fitted properly. All the bolt holes are lined up perfectly for the console.
The shifter when engaged into the reverse gear will push the console to the left as if the console isn't fitted properly. All the bolt holes are lined up perfectly for the console.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 3
When I installed the shifter in my 79 this summer(not sure if its the same as yours) there was a 3/8 inch(?) spacer that mounted between the shifter handle and the shifter. The spacer moved the shifter to the passenger side of the car about 2 inchs at the console. Maybe your car is missing this....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
I have the spacer you reference. It is " I " shape to fit in the grooves. My shifter mount and lower handle side is knurled so I believe they contact each other for grip.
Just so you guys don't think I am loosin' it... check these out...
In THIRD gear... (already sitting in center... should it be right a little?)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_010.jpg
In FOURTH gear...
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_011.jpg
In First gear... (getting close to touching console towards drive side)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_012.jpg
In Second gear... (touch console and it actually moved it a little)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_013.jpg
In REVERSE gear.. (Laying on console and moved it 1 inch to driver side. Notice how the gauge console is moved as well...)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_014.jpg
Mounting bracket...Yellow is transmission face, Green is shifter mount, Blue is the " I " spacer and red are some washers I used to "attempt" to move the handle left. As the pics show... it didn't work.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_015.jpg
ANY SUGGESTIONS? Can someone post pics of a muncie setup so I can see if the mount is on correctly???
Thanks -Anthony
Just so you guys don't think I am loosin' it... check these out...
In THIRD gear... (already sitting in center... should it be right a little?)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_010.jpg
In FOURTH gear...
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_011.jpg
In First gear... (getting close to touching console towards drive side)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_012.jpg
In Second gear... (touch console and it actually moved it a little)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_013.jpg
In REVERSE gear.. (Laying on console and moved it 1 inch to driver side. Notice how the gauge console is moved as well...)
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_014.jpg
Mounting bracket...Yellow is transmission face, Green is shifter mount, Blue is the " I " spacer and red are some washers I used to "attempt" to move the handle left. As the pics show... it didn't work.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/ben...hifter_015.jpg
ANY SUGGESTIONS? Can someone post pics of a muncie setup so I can see if the mount is on correctly???
Thanks -Anthony
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
I'm sorry I know nothing about how this linkage works, but is there anything you could shim to tilt the entire 'works' to the right? It doesn't look like it can be moved closer to the body of the transmission at all.
An off chance, what condition is your driver's side motor mount in? It wouldn't take much rotation of the entire engine/trans to cause your problem.
An off chance, what condition is your driver's side motor mount in? It wouldn't take much rotation of the entire engine/trans to cause your problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I had a similar problem with the Hurst in my 1973 from the time I purchased it in 1989. Years later while doing a frame-off, I decided to use the reproduction handle that bolts to the linkage thinking it was the Hurst handle that was the problem. Sure enough it was also bumping the console when I went into reverse. I tried a number of ways to shim the shifter, but unless I machined the top mounting boss on the transmission housing it would not shift it enough to make a difference.
I then looked at the tailshaft itself and its relationship to the driveshaft. It appeared that the tailshaft was about a half inch offset to the left. I was able to loosen the transmission mount and elongate the holes a bit and move the tailshaft to the right. This cleared up the problem completely.
Because the factory shifter attaches to the frame a minor misalignment may not get noticed since the linkage from the shifter to the transmission acts to compensate. The Hurst attaches to the tailshaft and therefore requires that the tailshaft be positioned more precisely. Shimming might get you a quarter inch, but short of machining the tailshaft or the mounting bracket it is rarely enough.
Good luck… GUSTO
I then looked at the tailshaft itself and its relationship to the driveshaft. It appeared that the tailshaft was about a half inch offset to the left. I was able to loosen the transmission mount and elongate the holes a bit and move the tailshaft to the right. This cleared up the problem completely.
Because the factory shifter attaches to the frame a minor misalignment may not get noticed since the linkage from the shifter to the transmission acts to compensate. The Hurst attaches to the tailshaft and therefore requires that the tailshaft be positioned more precisely. Shimming might get you a quarter inch, but short of machining the tailshaft or the mounting bracket it is rarely enough.
Good luck… GUSTO
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
good stuff guys!
My mounts are new as this is the final stages of my 4 year body off rebuild.. Damn near every bolt is refinished or new.....
I had this issue before the resto... so I checked the trans mount as well. Great suggestion though... I even bought a new trans mount.. still... no workie on the sticky... he ehe
SO... MY FIX...
I am going to take the shifter I have (it is a stock look a like that fits the hurst mount... has fake "T" handle lock out) and cut the bottom flat part off. Then I am going to mig it back together off center to favor short side. This will give me atleast 3/4" movement to the passenger side and with the shim on the left side... the whole thing will be moved right about 1 1/2".
I took a bunch on lock washers last night and repositioned it this way... It works well for mock up... but I think the offset and the mounts contacting each other will prevent movement during spirited driving.
also... in checking the trans mount... I did find the assembly to be straight.. so if I did want to go that route... The shifter may line up.. but the drive shaft would most likely be angled sideways... 6 in one and 1/2 in the other... hacking and welding might be easier with body on...
My mounts are new as this is the final stages of my 4 year body off rebuild.. Damn near every bolt is refinished or new.....
I had this issue before the resto... so I checked the trans mount as well. Great suggestion though... I even bought a new trans mount.. still... no workie on the sticky... he ehe
SO... MY FIX...
I am going to take the shifter I have (it is a stock look a like that fits the hurst mount... has fake "T" handle lock out) and cut the bottom flat part off. Then I am going to mig it back together off center to favor short side. This will give me atleast 3/4" movement to the passenger side and with the shim on the left side... the whole thing will be moved right about 1 1/2".
I took a bunch on lock washers last night and repositioned it this way... It works well for mock up... but I think the offset and the mounts contacting each other will prevent movement during spirited driving.
also... in checking the trans mount... I did find the assembly to be straight.. so if I did want to go that route... The shifter may line up.. but the drive shaft would most likely be angled sideways... 6 in one and 1/2 in the other... hacking and welding might be easier with body on...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Des Allemands LA
Just a thought here, but if you are going to cut/weld have you considered heating and bending the bottom of the shifter handle where it goes into the shift gate? I'm not sure how the handle mounts into the shifter on yours but from what I remember it bolts in. What I'm suggesting is make the handle have a little bit of an "S" shape (bend it toward pass side then above this bend it back straight up). Looks like you can bend it below the console so it won't be visible when everything is put back together. Like I said just a thought.
ltlevil
ltlevil
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
That is a great idea... but I don't have a torch.. 
It would also be the easiest. I actually finished it up tonight. Instead of Mig welding the offset, I created one. I made really big shims to push everything out to the right. I was about to cut and weld when it occurred to me... I might be creating a weak point with the welded offset... so I made a big fat spacer... took my die grinder and knurled both sides to get some "bite" in there. It looks and works great. THANKS for all the great suggestions.
It would also be the easiest. I actually finished it up tonight. Instead of Mig welding the offset, I created one. I made really big shims to push everything out to the right. I was about to cut and weld when it occurred to me... I might be creating a weak point with the welded offset... so I made a big fat spacer... took my die grinder and knurled both sides to get some "bite" in there. It looks and works great. THANKS for all the great suggestions.
Advanced
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnton NC
big fat spacer
you should have gotten this spacer (rectangular, about 3/8" thick) with the Hurst kit.
When the "gurus" (idiots) put my 4 speed in, they got the stick on backards (was offset on the lower end) and put the "big fat factory spacer (block) on the wrong side of the stick when mounting.
I fooled w/it for about a week, having the same experiences you 're having, before I looked at the Hurst instructions and saw these answers. When all else fails, read........ good luck , jim
When the "gurus" (idiots) put my 4 speed in, they got the stick on backards (was offset on the lower end) and put the "big fat factory spacer (block) on the wrong side of the stick when mounting.
I fooled w/it for about a week, having the same experiences you 're having, before I looked at the Hurst instructions and saw these answers. When all else fails, read........ good luck , jim
