c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

[Peter M.]

Have 71 LT1 4 spd. Found bolt on floor of garage that I believe is one of the bolts(the shorter one) that holds the shifter to the shift bracket? Did not find a washer. I have a kit from Dr. Rebuild that has the parts.

Problem is I can figure out how to gain the room to get the bolt back in and I am concerned that the shifter will eventually work itself loose with only 1 bolt.

I don't have a lift so getting under the car with a regular jack was hard with little clearance but once under, saw exhaust pipe and linkage , etc in way. Tried a million ways to work through but was unsuccessful. Friend was asking to try to go through from inside car by removing console but I don't want to waste time if that won't work.

So I figure many of you must have run into this before and have tricks that will enable me to get back running properly. Any tips or guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Terry M.]

Re: c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

Inside will not get you there, without a hole saw or the like.

If the exhaust system has been on the car for a while, your task will be more difficult. At the minimum you should support the car on four jack stands, for your own well being. You might be able to see the attaching point for the shift linkage from your back, to at least be sure that is where the bolt came from. No sense taking the exhaust down (you only need the driver's side header pipe out of the way) if that is not where the missing bolt goes.

[Peter M.]

Re: c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

Terri

Thanks for the feedback. Regarding the tip on not bothering with attempting it from the inside unless I have a hole saw - do you mean cutting a hole in the body to get to the shifter? If so, I don't want to do that - I assume when someone installs a new shifter, they don't need to do --is that a correct assumption?

It does look like the bolt is missing - I was hoping to not have to drop the exhaust, but it sounds like I must do that to get to it. Guess I was hoping for some trick to speed the process up.

Thanks

Peter

[mike mccagh]

Re: c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

i'm able to fasten the two bolts that attach the shifter on c-2'a(and i'd assume c-3's) with a snap on 1/4"drive ratchet, long extension(about 18") and a 9/16 flex ( u-joint socket). its a pita, but i've been doin it for years without removing the left header(exhaust) pipe. mike

[Terry M.]

Re: c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

Next time I am down there, Mike, I'll try that, but I could barely see where I was working, much less get anything in there.
The hole saw was supposed to be tongue in cheek -- hard to get that to come across, especially when I forget to put the smiley face in.

[Peter M.]

Re: c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

Mike,

Thanks for info. Dumb question - when you have put in the bolts many times in past, did you do it with linkage in place or did you have to drop the linkage first?

[Peter M.]

Re: c3-71 shifter bolt install-help

Terry/Mike,

One more question - the kit from Dr rebuild has the longer and shorter bolt and two washer. One is a regular washer and the other is a "star" looking washer. Do you know which bolt goes with which washer?

Thanks

peter

[Terry M.]