Manual shifter to console contact 71'

[Michael G.]

Shaking off some of the cobwebs today I started to feel the shifter making contact with the console plate on foward throws (1st & 3rd). I was hoping someone could share their magical solution before I start blindly searching for an adjustment in shifter or console. Low mileage original shifter & trans (40K). I wasn't able to find much from archives.Always appreciative, Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Manual shifter to console contact 71'

There is a page in the AIM that shows shims -- basically washers -- under the shift mechanism to adjust the "tilt" of the shifter. I found my 1970 contacted the console in reverse. 1 & 3 were OK. The shims are not in the 1970 AIM, but I found they apparently started it in 1971. That is another reason to have the AIMs for the year before and following your car, but then pretty soon you have a library. In your case all you need is the AIM for your year -- lucky you.

I would post the page of the AIM, but I am 300 miles from my AIMs at the moment. It is in the manual transmission section. UPC 4 if memory serves, but don't hold me to that.

[Michael G.]

Re: Manual shifter to console contact 71'

Got it. Good stuff, thanks Terry.

[Jack H.]

Re: Manual shifter to console contact 71'

Another approach is to convert the shift linkage to short throw operation. The shift lever won't come anywhere near the front/rear of the cut-out then. But, there are CAtch-22 issues to this change.

(1) Cars left the factory with their shifters in standard throw position. You could lose judging points or fail a PV test by converting to the optional short throw configuration.

(2) If you're used to the feel of standard thow, it'll take you a week or two to get used to the fast throw setup with a few 'blown' shift attempts in the learning process. What's the difference?

Well, with standard throw you can pretty much 'drift' through the center gates with a single 45-degree angle pass (say 2nd to 3rd gear change). The angle of entering/clearing the center gates becomes more critical when the linkage is in its short throw configuration. This requires you to learn to take a more H-shaped set of movements to clear the center gates.

But, once you blow a few shifts and get the 'feel' down, you just might find yourself hooked on the short vs. long throw setup!

[Michael G.]

Re: Manual shifter to console contact 71'

It's those CATCH-22s that have kept me from the transition. I don't know if it's me getting lazy, but that is a rather long throw for such a stubby shifter. I try to keep ever effort made to my ride geared towards the eventual "Judgement day" but I know I will have to sample that feeling somewhere down the line. Thanks Jack.