I'm replacing my shifter with a Vintage Speed shifter and shift rod bushing in my pan based , mostly VS (as far as I know) speedster. I removed the shift rod to get rid of some "chicken sh!t" welds and generally just buff it up. I was surprised to see some slight bends in the shift rod. Is this normal ? ? I thought this was a pretty straight shot . I could straighten it if need be , but I'm done till tomorrow. Thanks.
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CMC directed folks to cut 11 3/4" inches out of center - insert rod in center and reweld. If I recall there was less than 1/2" bend in rod near back end. It was not much. Post picture.
Al Gallo posted:I'm replacing my shifter with a Vintage Speed shifter and shift rod bushing in my pan based , mostly VS (as far as I know) speedster. I removed the shift rod to get rid of some "chicken sh!t" welds and generally just buff it up. I was surprised to see some slight bends in the shift rod. Is this normal ? ? I thought this was a pretty straight shot . I could straighten it if need be , but I'm done till tomorrow. Thanks.
What shifter do you have now, Al ?
i think the bends are to clear the emergency brake lines. CMC also said you could cut off the couple end as alternative.
Mr Gallo, I usually make the cut a few inches from the back end of the rod this retains the bend.
Since you are shortening the rod, you might consider adding a weld on adjustable threaded bung at the back this fine tunes the length if needed.
David, it's a Vintage Speed shifter ,one supposedly made for replicas. I'm removing an Empi trigger shifter. Herst knock off or some such thing. Sloppy, probably due in part to perished plastic thingy mostly , but what the hell.
Alan , I wasn't planning on shortening or welding anything. I was just removing the rod so that I could clean up some ugly welding at the transmission end of the rod and replace the bearing. It would have never made it through that silly plastic bearing thingy.
As mentioned the bends are there to clear tubes in the tunnel.
Roger that. I buffed it up and it's going back in the way it came out, except greasy.
As I've owned and worked on this car for the last 9 years, I've found a few things along the way that may have been short cuts. Minor stuff but not the best craftsmanship that you might expect. I think I've replaced and corrected things to make it a better and more reliable vehicle. The madness continues...
But at least now you have a higher quality madness, right?
