I installed a Hurst Competition Plus shifter in my '74 during the restification project. I have been having some trouble with it getting stuck in second gear when shifting from second to third. I thought I had setup the shifter properly, using the little alignment tool, etc. After fooling around with this thing and getting stuck in second several times, I scheduled some time on a lift where a friend of mine works, for next Friday. So yesterday after mowing the grass I crawl under there to manually un-stick it so I can drive it over to the lift on Friday, and I FINALLY found the problem. The third/fourth gear actuator arm on the transmission was installed wrong. It is a dog-leg type lever that should be installed with the dog-leg towards the side of the car, not back towards the transmission, which gives plenty of clearance between the 1-2 and 3-4 shifter linkages. Flipped it over, reinstalled it (one nut) and everything seems to be great!
OK, so now for a quick adjustment tip...it's really hard to reach the fancy clips on the shift linkage down by the transmission, the cross member and exhaust system are pretty tight in there. Rather than loosening the linkage at that end, remove the one nut holding the lever arm in place on the tranny (described above), then you can lower the linkage for easy access. To adjust the length simply rotate the linkage arm, then reconnect.
Hope somebody can learn from my mistake!
Jeff

 

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I still have a new replacement sitting in my garage awaiting time for installation. I have an old one I'll be removing so that I can compare. Sounds like an important installation tip Hurst forgot to mention in the directions??

 

I went thru similar problems when I installed mine. My problem was jumping out of second. A little adjustment on the rod and it was fixed. I love my Hurst, it was the best improvement I have made to my car. :cheers: :cheers:

 

Oh yeah, I LOVE the shifter, I just feel like a dumbfoot for not figuring this out before...
Tonight I hope to get a chance to roll the '74 out and bang some gears, just to make sure everything's OK...and to get my pulse up!
Jeff

 

They are great! I added Eckler's shift Custom Shifter handle and it looks original. You then acn put the stock shifter in a box on a shelf where it should have been, all a long. Please post the part # for the shifter you installed. I have seen some that do not have a bent shifter handle.

 

Part #'s for the Hurst shifter are- shifter-3917992 and the installation kit is 3738611.