sloppy 4 spd shifter
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Saugus Massachusetts
sloppy 4 spd shifter
Hi,
The shifter on my 1980 w/ muncie feels a little sloppy. It hits the metal plate that the console bolts to if I push it too much. I can get it in all the gears without hitting the plate, but I'm not sure if this is normal. Is there anyway to fix this without going under the car? I currently have the center console out and I would like to address it if I can.
Also, do I have to work under the car to install a hurst shifter?
Thanks,
Rob
The shifter on my 1980 w/ muncie feels a little sloppy. It hits the metal plate that the console bolts to if I push it too much. I can get it in all the gears without hitting the plate, but I'm not sure if this is normal. Is there anyway to fix this without going under the car? I currently have the center console out and I would like to address it if I can.
Also, do I have to work under the car to install a hurst shifter?
Thanks,
Rob
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Sorry, I have to disagree with some of the previous posts. You might need an inspection mirror, but check the the E-clip at the left end of the shifter mechanism on the driver side. The clip on my 72 was bent to the point of almost falling off and the shifter was very loose. I lubed the shifter mechanisn and replaced the E-clip (~$0.24 IIRC) and the shifter mechanism tightened up very noticeably. You need a Vice Grip to squeeze the mechanism to get the clip on.
I can't guarantee that is your problem but it is worth checking before resorting to more drastic measures.
Rick B.
I can't guarantee that is your problem but it is worth checking before resorting to more drastic measures.
Rick B.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Sorry, I have to disagree with some of the previous posts. You might need an inspection mirror, but check the the E-clip at the left end of the shifter mechanism on the driver side. The clip on my 72 was bent to the point of almost falling off and the shifter was very loose. I lubed the shifter mechanisn and replaced the E-clip (~$0.24 IIRC) and the shifter mechanism tightened up very noticeably. You need a Vice Grip to squeeze the mechanism to get the clip on.
I can't guarantee that is your problem but it is worth checking before resorting to more drastic measures.
Rick B.
I can't guarantee that is your problem but it is worth checking before resorting to more drastic measures.
Rick B.
cc
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
You have to get under the car to remove any of those parts.
BTW, we never did establish whether this was a factory shifter or a Hurst. However, his second question leads me to believe it is factory.
You are assuming a Hurst since they have 2 bolts holding the shift handle to the shifter. However, once the shifter handle is off the shifter, how do you plan to adjust the linkage from above the trans?
As to his second question about installing the Hurst shifter, you still need to get under the car to hook up the linkage and bolt the transmission mounting plate and shifter to the transmission, that is, after you remove the factory shifter from under the car.
Now, which part did you not understand?
cc
Last edited by CCrane65; Apr 27, 2009 at 07:30 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Saugus Massachusetts
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Saugus Massachusetts
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
No, the OP isn't jokin'.
Its a valid concern. You've never seen what a floor jack does to the engine crossmember?
rdicarlo, do a search here, and you'll find the safe and correct way to lift your corvette. Good luck!
Its a valid concern. You've never seen what a floor jack does to the engine crossmember?
rdicarlo, do a search here, and you'll find the safe and correct way to lift your corvette. Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
here's what you do...get a 2 x 4 and put it on the jack so the 2 x 4 goes across the front cross member then put jack stands under the frame...do to the same diff and put jack stands under the frame...get it level and you won't have any problems...
I've jacked mine from both sides, course I don't have bird cage problems
I've jacked mine from both sides, course I don't have bird cage problems
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Use a 2 x 4 under the front cross member..sometimes you have to think a little before doing something...thinking goes a long way....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Saugus Massachusetts
I really didn't expect this post to get this much attention.
I've owned the car for 11 years, but I'm a newbie because I kept it in storage for 10 years while I moved around the US.
I'm not going to mess with the shifter at this time. I've got bigger fish to fry.
I'll need a clutch soon (or at least a clutch adjustment) and I need to either replace my busted hooker side pipe header or install under the car exhaust, so I'll deal with it then.
I always appreciate the education, so thank you for the info on the shifter and jacking up the car.
Thanks again,
Rob
I've owned the car for 11 years, but I'm a newbie because I kept it in storage for 10 years while I moved around the US.
I'm not going to mess with the shifter at this time. I've got bigger fish to fry.
I'll need a clutch soon (or at least a clutch adjustment) and I need to either replace my busted hooker side pipe header or install under the car exhaust, so I'll deal with it then.
I always appreciate the education, so thank you for the info on the shifter and jacking up the car.
Thanks again,
Rob
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
I rebuilt my factory shifter and there is no adjustment in the stick. All of the major rebuild parts go into the shifter body except the T-handle, the spring and the ball.
You can't rebuild the shifter while it's installed and you can't uninstall it from the passenger compartment.
To directly address the problem of hitting the console plate, he really needs to push the entire console forward more. I had the same problem and 1/4" does wonders for that issue.
cc
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick, I'm not sure I understand how removing the stick helps him fix his sloppy shifter problem.
I rebuilt my factory shifter and there is no adjustment in the stick. All of the major rebuild parts go into the shifter body except the T-handle, the spring and the ball.
You can't rebuild the shifter while it's installed and you can't uninstall it from the passenger compartment.
To directly address the problem of hitting the console plate, he really needs to push the entire console forward more. I had the same problem and 1/4" does wonders for that issue.
cc
I rebuilt my factory shifter and there is no adjustment in the stick. All of the major rebuild parts go into the shifter body except the T-handle, the spring and the ball.
You can't rebuild the shifter while it's installed and you can't uninstall it from the passenger compartment.
To directly address the problem of hitting the console plate, he really needs to push the entire console forward more. I had the same problem and 1/4" does wonders for that issue.
cc
I never said anything about removing the stick, and the original post wasn't asking about rebuilding the shifter, only asking for suggestions on how to fix a sloppy shifter without going under the car. Since I had a similar problem and found a solution without going under the car I related my personal experience. The E-clip that holds the stick and the plates together had bent to the point of almost falling off. This allowed excessive play in the stick and caused occasional difficulty finding gears. Installing a new E-clip removed the excessive play and the stick had noticeably less play and gear changes became more precise.
Will this fix the O.P.'s problem? Who knows? As I said before, it's an easy and inexpensive fix for the problem that I had and is something worth checking before tearing the whole shifter apart.
Rick B.