Cutting stick shifter
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Cutting stick shifter
Has anyone completely disassembled the shaft on a stock shifter? Pix would be great. I've already successfully cut one when I had my Z, but I want to be sure there's not another way to do it.
I also respectfully ask that telling me to buy one is not what I want to do.
Thanks!
I also respectfully ask that telling me to buy one is not what I want to do.
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 332
Likes: 41
From: Mesa, AZ
Not the method you want to hear, but this is what I did. I used a plumbing pipe cutter, the one that is rotated around a piece of copper pipe, to create my guide line. I kept rotating the cutter applying very little pressure as I rotated the cutter until it bottomed out on it's frame. This gave a nice, clear line about 3/32" deep to use as my guide. Then I used a metal cutting blade in a battery operated jig saw. Cut through like butter. Use a die to recut threads if using a C5 style ****.
Chas
Chas
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I was a metal shop teacher and quite familiar with your strategy. Did you cut thru the 1/2" inner shaft as well? How did you reassemble it? How much overall length did you remove?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,893
Likes: 295
From: Buffalo NY
I cut up a stock C5 shifter recently. Sliced open the cone portion and removed it along with the threaded top shaft. cut off the polyurethane isolator inside until just the steel stub was showing. Then cut off the threaded shaft from the removed cone, and weld it back to the steel stub. I have some pictures, will have to get them up. Ended up removing exactly 2" from the overall shifter height. Shift feel is a lot more direct, less sloppy, but effort is still high and a bit notchy. Note that this is with a C6 upper shifter, and a C5 factory lower box.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I cut up a stock C5 shifter recently. Sliced open the cone portion and removed it along with the threaded top shaft. cut off the polyurethane isolator inside until just the steel stub was showing. Then cut off the threaded shaft from the removed cone, and weld it back to the steel stub. I have some pictures, will have to get them up. Ended up removing exactly 2" from the overall shifter height. Shift feel is a lot more direct, less sloppy, but effort is still high and a bit notchy. Note that this is with a C6 upper shifter, and a C5 factory lower box.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I think I have 2 choices:
1-cut X amount out of the lower cylinder area, remove it from the 1/2" thick inner shaft, then pull the inner shaft from the remaining cone section. Then cut the inner shaft X amount, and reinstall what's left of the top cone to the shortened inner shaft. Similar to what I did last time, and again would drill through the assembly and insert a pin so nothing can work loose. This method would leave some of the rubber insulation and allow me to use my 9/16 threaded shift *****.
2-remove entire cone area leaving the straight 1/2" shaft, cut it to the length I want, then either thread it with 1/2-13 or 1/2-20 threads. I would have to make some new shift ***** or adapt my current ones. The only variable that concerns me about this approach is the noise factor. I think this method might be easier and more satisfying in shifter action.
I appreciate any input!
1-cut X amount out of the lower cylinder area, remove it from the 1/2" thick inner shaft, then pull the inner shaft from the remaining cone section. Then cut the inner shaft X amount, and reinstall what's left of the top cone to the shortened inner shaft. Similar to what I did last time, and again would drill through the assembly and insert a pin so nothing can work loose. This method would leave some of the rubber insulation and allow me to use my 9/16 threaded shift *****.
2-remove entire cone area leaving the straight 1/2" shaft, cut it to the length I want, then either thread it with 1/2-13 or 1/2-20 threads. I would have to make some new shift ***** or adapt my current ones. The only variable that concerns me about this approach is the noise factor. I think this method might be easier and more satisfying in shifter action.
I appreciate any input!
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Worth the small investment and time IMO; buy a 9/16 NF (fine threads!) nut, run it down to where the top is where you want to cut to.
1. It's a nice guide for sawing
2. It provides an easy thread chase
P.S. Thanks.
Edit; I grabbed a plastic shopping bag, pressed it over the shaft before cutting, then taped it around the shaft and up around the edges to catch the metal dust/shaving from sawing...
1. It's a nice guide for sawing
2. It provides an easy thread chase
P.S. Thanks.
Edit; I grabbed a plastic shopping bag, pressed it over the shaft before cutting, then taped it around the shaft and up around the edges to catch the metal dust/shaving from sawing...
Last edited by grantv; Jun 21, 2016 at 12:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I have a few 9/16 nuts since I use a cutoff 9/16 bolt as a spindle to make my shift *****. I'll use them as a guide to where I cut. My shifter is on my workbench since since I have all my center console parts out to cover with the Redline Leather I got Monday.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
This is a partial collection.
http://s434.photobucket.com/user/Che...?sort=3&page=1
This is better:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjMZn2mC
http://s434.photobucket.com/user/Che...?sort=3&page=1
This is better:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjMZn2mC
Last edited by chasboy; Jun 22, 2016 at 06:35 AM.