Greg Delfino

I have installed the shifter back into my 76 . I am now trying to establish true neutral. I am having great difficulty getting the link adjustment tool into the adjustment slot.-- No Room. Is there a technique that I can use to accurately perform this task..Desperate for some help.

Thank you in advance.

Greg

Wee

I used a long pair of hemostats to get the tool in place....Also pay close attention to the position of all 3 levers with the tool in place (search for a pic that shows this)....They have to be pretty darn close to get the tool to slip in.

Brian

Alan 71

Hi Greg,
I made the shifter alignment tool shown in the Chassis Service Manual from a plastic paint scraper.
This allows it to bend enough to help getting it in place.
I don't know if this might help you or not.
Regards,
Alan

resdoggie

I went through this ordeal just last week. Put a bend in your gauge so you have more manouverability and file the corners at a 45* angle. You can also access the slot from the top through the shifter console but I managed from below. Now would be a good time to convert to a short throw shifter, if so inclined, by putting the shifter rod end at the transmission in the lower hole. Well worth it as it really shortens the throw.

jnb5101

There are semi circular depressions on the bottom of the shifter plates. Align them and the result is the same as using the tool. I always painted them white because I could never seat the tool!

resdoggie

Hey 5101, found this older post of yours. Greg, see post #12 & 17. Lots of good info.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-diagram.html

jnb5101

That's a blast from the past!

croaker

I lucked up and found a piece of round stock the right size and, bend a 90 in it so I could guide it in. It was a tussle getting it out if I remember right. I wondered if it was possible to hook up the rods and bottom part of shifter and install then put it the handle and it looked like it would work. Hurst shifter here.

rebel542

I remove the bolts from the transmission mount and pry it to the right "passenger side" to allow clearance for the alignment tool. Which in my case is a broken 1/4" drill bit. Hope this helps.

Greg Delfino

Brian, Thank you for the recommendation. I was able to use a 26-100 mm duct clamp unraveled to slide along the crossmember into the slot. I was careful to observe the positions of all three levers and was able to successfully attach the shift rods. After I ran through the gears, I backed the car out of the garage and took a test drive after four years of sitting dormant.

Thank you again. Much appreciated.

Greg

Greg Delfino

Alan, Thank you for your help. Your idea of a flexible tool made me think of using a duct clamp 26-100 mm unraveled. It extends 13 inch. and I was able to slid it along the crossmember into the adjustment slot.
True neutral could not be established and I was able to drive the car today after 4 years of sitting dormant.

Thank you again,

Greg

Greg Delfino

resdoggie,

Thank you for your advise. I was able to use a duct clamp 26-100mm unraveled and from underneath the car slide the flexible gage along the crossmember into the adjustment slot and established true neutral.
I also took your advise and shorted the throw. Nice touch.

Thanks again,

Greg

[
QUOTE=resdoggie;1592780701]I went through this ordeal just last week. Put a bend in your gauge so you have more manouverability and file the corners at a 45* angle. You can also access the slot from the top through the shifter console but I managed from below. Now would be a good time to convert to a short throw shifter, if so inclined, by putting the shifter rod end at the transmission in the lower hole. Well worth it as it really shortens the throw.[/QUOTE]

Greg Delfino

Thank you for your advise. I did align and paint the semi circular depression before I put the shifter back into the car. I was able to use a duct clamp 26-100mm unraveled and moved it along the crossmember into the adjustment slot to establish true neutral. I used the aligned painted depressions to double check my work and drove the car out of the garage today after four years of being dormant.

Thanks again

resdoggie

Greg, glad to hear it all worked out fine.

0Willcox Corvette

Just posting this here in case someone hits this tread at a later date.. Here is the GM specs for making the tool.