4+3 shifter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Really can't help but I look forward to some of the possibilities because mine just seems really 'clunky' for a lack of a better word, Dad's 69 4 speed shifts like a hot knife through butter, smooth and quiet, just seems like the 4+3 is soooooo mechanical and rough feeling.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
One of the first modifications I did to my '85 when I bought it new was to add the short shift linkage that was carried by most of the vendors back then. It consisted of two new arms to replace the stock 1/2 and 3/4 arms on the transmission. The hardest part of the install was readjusting the linkages. The reverse arm is not replaced and every time you put it in reverse you can see just how much shorter the forward gears are.
I have found the shifter on these cars to be nearly identical to the Hurst Competition Plus on my '63 and '73. With the short shift kit it's as smooth also. Not very expensive and well worth the effort.
Good luck... GUSTO
I have found the shifter on these cars to be nearly identical to the Hurst Competition Plus on my '63 and '73. With the short shift kit it's as smooth also. Not very expensive and well worth the effort.
Good luck... GUSTO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
One of the first modifications I did to my '85 when I bought it new was to add the short shift linkage that was carried by most of the vendors back then. It consisted of two new arms to replace the stock 1/2 and 3/4 arms on the transmission. The hardest part of the install was readjusting the linkages. The reverse arm is not replaced and every time you put it in reverse you can see just how much shorter the forward gears are.
I have found the shifter on these cars to be nearly identical to the Hurst Competition Plus on my '63 and '73. With the short shift kit it's as smooth also. Not very expensive and well worth the effort.
Good luck... GUSTO
I have found the shifter on these cars to be nearly identical to the Hurst Competition Plus on my '63 and '73. With the short shift kit it's as smooth also. Not very expensive and well worth the effort.
Good luck... GUSTO
Also stops hitting your knuckles on the stereo
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
If you're shift rod grommets are in good shape, and your neutral alignment is spot on, and you have short shift links, and no excess play in the shifter, it shifts as smooth as margerine. I raced mine at the drag strip and shifted quickly with no missed shifts. Most that I've seen are in disrepair.
If you want to shift like butter though you'll need a ZF or something with internal shift rails.
If you want to shift like butter though you'll need a ZF or something with internal shift rails.
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Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Short Shifter Kit
I put a short shifter kit in my roadster a few years back and it has worked like a charm every since. You can pick the kit up at Exklers for $20 and view it at this link:
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1888
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1888
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Underneath.
You'll have to readjust your shifter alignment afterwards. But this can also be done by feel from underneath, so you don't have to tear the interior apart.
You'll have to readjust your shifter alignment afterwards. But this can also be done by feel from underneath, so you don't have to tear the interior apart.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster Lancashire
I found that different oils make a difference too. I tried Redline MTL and the trans grated horribly. ( this is not a slating of redline, I tried it because it worked well for me in other applications, so I thought it would in the DN, but it didn't) I used a fully synthetic GL5 75/80 and this proved to work fine for me. I further added a bottle of GM positraction additive as per the GM workshop manual recommendation and this also reduced shift effort a little more.
The 4+3 will never be 'world class' by any stretch of the imagination, but I like it, quirks and all With the short throw arm kit and the above, mine shifts better than it did when I bought it, but I wouldn't like to power shift it... ever...It doesn't shift that good for me to do that.
Dave
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 382
Likes: 2
I put a short shifter kit in my roadster a few years back and it has worked like a charm every since. You can pick the kit up at Exklers for $20 and view it at this link:
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1888
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1888
