Question Re Muncie shifter.

[David K.]

About a year ago I bought this 65 coupe that had a Hurst shifter in it that shifted horribly. It was almost impossible to get into reverse. It had a stock lever adapted to it and looked stock but otherwise it sucked. The original shifter was MIA so I bought a repro Muncie shifter and put it in. I adjusted the shifter for a short throw. Now for my next problem. Once in a while the shifter gets hung up in between gears. Most recently reverse and I believe 1st gear. Thankfully it was in my driveway so all I had to do was jack it up and move some levers and had it fixed in a couple of minuets. This has been an off and on problem since I put this shifter in. I have adjusted this thing countless times using the locating gauge but the hangup still happens occasionally. I am aware the first problem is the fact that it IS a repro. My question is would I lesson the chance of this happening by adjusting it to a long throw rather than the current short throw? There was thread here awhile back discussing shifters with regard to PV I believe and I seem to remember someone saying a Muncie shifter was more forgiving if set up as long throw. I may have missed the point in that thread altogether, so if anyone has an opinion I would love to hear it.

Thanks everyone and Happy New Year!

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

About a year ago I bought this 65 coupe that had a Hurst shifter in it that shifted horribly. It was almost impossible to get into reverse. It had a stock lever adapted to it and looked stock but otherwise it sucked. The original shifter was MIA so I bought a repro Muncie shifter and put it in. I adjusted the shifter for a short throw. Now for my next problem. Once in a while the shifter gets hung up in between gears. Most recently reverse and I believe 1st gear. Thankfully it was in my driveway so all I had to do was jack it up and move some levers and had it fixed in a couple of minuets. This has been an off and on problem since I put this shifter in. I have adjusted this thing countless times using the locating gauge but the hangup still happens occasionally. I am aware the first problem is the fact that it IS a repro. My question is would I lesson the chance of this happening by adjusting it to a long throw rather than the current short throw? There was thread here awhile back discussing shifters with regard to PV I believe and I seem to remember someone saying a Muncie shifter was more forgiving if set up as long throw. I may have missed the point in that thread altogether, so if anyone has an opinion I would love to hear it.

Thanks everyone and Happy New Year!

Dave

Dave------


Others may have had a totally different experience but I've NEVER had any luck with having a proper and smoothly operating shifter when I converted to the "short throw" position. This includes Corvettes and other Chevrolets with stock Muncie shifters. Maybe I'm just a klutz at this operation, but I gave up on this a long time ago.

[Duke W.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

I've never been a fan of "short throw" shifters on any car. To me they are stiff, notchy, and lack feel. Besides it will always take longer to cycle the clutch.

Getting hung up between gears can be due to poor adjustment, wear, or in the case of a repro, out of tolerance parts. It seems you've tried everything to no avail, so I would also suggest resetting the linkage to the standard throw and carefully adjusting it. Use a dry graphite type lubricant on the linkage, and test, test, test the particular action that causes the linkage to jam.

Jams usually occur crossing the gate, and it's usually due to the rod not being fully retracted before the lever crosses the gate. If it is hanging going from reverse to first try this. As you bring the lever back to neutral keep force applied to the left and upward force on the reverse lockout until the lever reaches the neutral zone, then release the lockout and lever and move it completely to the right side of the neutral zone, then place it in first gear

I recall a friend in high school who installed a cheap floor shifter in his '53 Ford convertible. It frequently jammed going from first to second, but the car had enough ground clearance and we were skinny and agile enough to crawl under and unjam it in a flash.

Duke

[Ray K.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

Dave,

I repositioned my '65 shifter to the short throw position many, many years ago and there it stayed until approximately a year ago when I was preparing for a PV, which does require the standard long throw operation. The long throw now feels awkward to me when I was so used to the short throw.
Sounds like your reverse rod is a bit " long " and may need just a small adjustment to shorten it so that it fully returns the reverse gear to its neutral position inside the transmission. Just my thought.

Ray

[Michael H.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

I agree with others that have mentioned the adjustment as being the problem. It's a very common problem. If the shifter isn't adjusted properly, it will have issues pulling out of reverse.

I also agree with Dave. I never cared for the factory long throw. Any 65-67's that I've owned over the decades were switched to short throw.

[David K.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies. I have been absent for the last couple of days dealing with my very elderly parents. I think I will convert the shifter to "long throw" and adjust it as carefully as I can once again. Duke, I think you hit on it as I think the problem is the gate and me being to quick to go from one shift to the other.

Joe, I have to agree. I have a 66 Nova L79 with the original Muncie shifter and I tried a short throw years ago and that did not work at all. Should have learned that with this 65 Corvette, but mistakenly thought the repro shifter would be a little more forgiving. NOT!

Ray and Michael, Thanks for replies as well. I am going to take it to long throw and see what happens. I do like the short throw but we all know Muncie shifters don't always cooperate.

Dave

[Gene M.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

David,
Use a gauge key to set the shifter up (a bit over 5/8"wide). There are postings on the topic. And the short shift mode should be no different in function as the long shift mode. The position of the gates is the same for both. The long pattern just has more travel past the gates (which is the center finger position when in neutral). The original shifter pieces are hardened and if worn excessive will need replacement or restoration to function correctly. Proper set up yields proper function.....

[Timothy B.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

David,

When adjusting the shifter on my 67, I took a flashlight looking from the rear of the shifter and by eye adjusted the half moon notches in line. It's easy to do, I don't think you can get a tool and your hand in there anyway.

Taking care of your elderly parents is far more important than any shifter BUT any Corvette work will help restore sanity when you need to "let it out"..

[Walter F.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

I dont know if this means anything but when I was young (a long time ago) I bought a 67 SS 350 Camaro. It was a 4 spped car and I always had trouble with the shigter getting stuck between gears. I switch it to a Hurst shifter and never had a problem after that including power shifting. I dont know if the Corvette used the same linkage as the Camaro but in the Camaro it stunk. I think thats why in that era most muscle cars owners were quick to take out the factory shifter and replace it with a Hurst.

[Jim R.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

Dave take Gene Mannos tip use the gauge key I think is shows how to use it in the AIM, you can remove the linkages from the tranny side install the gauge key (you can make your own) once the gauge key is installed it takes all of the guess work out of it, do one linkage at a time by threading it in or out till it slides with ease back on the tranny end without having to move the rods back and forth, anyone who has trouble with the original shifter it most likely has an adjustment problem whether it is in long throw or short throw.

[David K.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

Hi all,

I do have the gauge key and used it to adjust the linkage. I have one I made years ago and also the repro shifter came with one in the kit. It is a pain in that the key is inserted into the shifter right above the crossmember. Not a lot of room to work with. I think instead of putting the car up on jack stands and crawling under it I will instead move some cars around and put it on my lift and take my time adjusting it til it is right once and for all.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: Question Re Muncie shifter.

I dont know if this means anything but when I was young (a long time ago) I bought a 67 SS 350 Camaro. It was a 4 spped car and I always had trouble with the shigter getting stuck between gears. I switch it to a Hurst shifter and never had a problem after that including power shifting. I dont know if the Corvette used the same linkage as the Camaro but in the Camaro it stunk. I think thats why in that era most muscle cars owners were quick to take out the factory shifter and replace it with a Hurst.

Walter------



Until early 1966 all Corvette shifters were transmission mounted. After that time, the shifters were mounted to the frame crossmember. As far as I know, all Hurst shifters are transmission-mounted.

I believe the reason for the change was to reduce vibration and rattling. However, some shifting precision was lost. For me, I greatly prefer a frame mounted shifter. I might feel differently for a car that I used for racing purposes but I don't have such a car and I have no plans to obtain one.

I'm not sure about Camaros but, if I recall correctly, they had a frame-mounted shifter.