Install of 4-speed shifter control pin

[Ian G.]

Hi folks,

I'm working on restoring my 4-speed shifter for my '59. I've got the assembly cad plated, tower shield rechromed with an NOS tower & reverse backout handle and the whole thing reassembled per instructions on SoCal SACC here https://www.socalsacc.com/4-spd-shif...chip-werstein/

I find the tower control pin supplied by Vette products of Michigan is a slip fit dowel without a head. has anyone done one of these before and can give me very clever advise how to peen it efficiently before I try and figure this out for myself? I figure I'll need a bucking bar on one side and peen it from the other, but it's nearly flush on both sides. Maybe someone has a neat trick.

Thanks for any help. See pics.

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[Joseph L.]

Re: Install of 4-speed shifter control pin

Hi Ian
I have just swapped out the tower to the typical configuration on a 3-speed shifter, and am working on a 4-speed shifter. The pin on one of the shifters is a solid rod. The other pin is a roll pin. Both of the pins required pressing into the cross shaft. The tower is a slip fit as there is movement in the tower. You may need a larger pin to allow a press fit or get a roll pin that is designed to press fit.

Joe

[Ian G.]

Re: Install of 4-speed shifter control pin

Thanks Joe. I called Vette Products of Michigan. After I got through their brusque customer service, I've confirmed that they redesigned their reproduction shifter to fit the opposite of GM. The Tower holes are smaller than GM and the cross-shaft hole is larger than GM. In other words, on an original GM 4-speed shifter it would have a press-fit cross shaft and slip-fit tower, while theirs have slip-fit cross shaft hole and press-fit tower holes. They say this prevents the holes wallowing out in the tower over time. But their parts are not fully interchangeable with GM out of the box.

I have their repro tower also and can confirm this. I wanted an NOS one once I noticed their tower stem had a smaller diameter than the NOS tower, so the chrome shield would not fit well. I also noticed the repro tower machined cavity for the reverse lockout to slide in was not as deep or machined such that it would be retained (possibly loose).

So yeah. I need a bigger pin They don't offer one that fits GM.

[David M.]

Re: Install of 4-speed shifter control pin

Roll pins can be found in .001/.002 thou increments. Thats the easiest IMO. McMaster Carr is your friend. All types of pins.

If I understand the components correctly...Another option is to set screw the pin. A machinist can chuck this into a fixture and machine/thread a small set screw 1/2 into the pin 1/2 into the pawl. That makes it removable down the road.

Lastly a TIG tack weld might work too. Again I dont have a full understanding of this component but do have a metal & machine shop background.

Red dots are where I'd machine in the small set screws on both sides. With a dab of removable blue loctite.

[Ian G.]

Re: Install of 4-speed shifter control pin

Thanks for your suggestions david. Would a retaining pin with a head on one side and a groove on the other be a bad idea?
clevis.jpeg

[David M.]

Re: Install of 4-speed shifter control pin

If you can get it to fit properly and it doesn't interfere with the shifter operation then try it.