Vintage Speed shifter

@Sacto Mitch wrote:

"I don't like to talk about it much, but one of the reasons for getting the five-speed is that reaching for fifth is a good toning exercise. It works the pecs and helps keep me lithe.

People just expect more of you when you have five forward speeds."

You know, since you got that 5-speed installed I've noticed that your typing font looked a little more "Buff".  I can only conclude that they're related.  Kind-a like learning how to cook better during Covid and watching your waistline expand.

Or something like that.......    

I bought the 10” quick shifter (with nylon bushing) that was only slightly longer than stock to minimize throw.  Glad I did.  The carpet was so flat beneath old shifter that I did not trim.  I put trans in neutral, dropped it in, snugged bolts slightly, shifted through gears, and tightened it. Done. Much less fore/aft and side-to-side adjustment with these making install a snap.

Isn't it amazing how people with 5 speeds seem to be just a little better looking?

@Bubbasev posted:

I bought the 10” quick shifter (with nylon bushing) that was only slightly longer than stock to minimize throw.  Glad I did.  The carpet was so flat beneath old shifter that I did not trim.  I put trans in neutral, dropped it in, snugged bolts slightly, shifted through gears, and tightened it. Done. Much less fore/aft and side-to-side adjustment with these making install a snap.

That's what I'm hoping for as far an install goes. I've never really found myself thinking I wish I had a taller shift lever when driving - a tighter, more precise shifter, for sure. That's why I'm kind of leaning toward getting the 10 inch one.

Bill

Yeah.......

And give them a 6-speed and they suddenly become TV actors:

I wonder what show Mitch is gonna be on?

Why.....   "Fifth Gear", of course!

@Sacto Mitch said "I don't like to talk about it much, but one of the reasons for getting the five-speed is that reaching for fifth is a good toning exercise. It works the pecs and helps keep me lithe."

But, it only develops the pecs on the right side resulting in a strange-looking chest. Maybe a falsie will be needed on the left side.

"And give them a 6-speed and they suddenly become TV actors:"

I wonder if I can get @chines1 to put a 6-speed in my Coupe?

@Michael McKelvey posted:

@Sacto Mitch said "I don't like to talk about it much, but one of the reasons for getting the five-speed is that reaching for fifth is a good toning exercise. It works the pecs and helps keep me lithe."

But, it only develops the pecs on the right side resulting in a strange-looking chest. Maybe a falsie will be needed on the left side.

Michael- did you ever get your shifting issue sorted out?

@ALB posted:

Isn't it amazing how people with 5 speeds seem to be just a little better looking?

Thanks, Al! 

@ALB, yes. I moved the bottom plate a bit.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

Thanks, Al! 

Very good Bob!  A quick wit as well as looks...

Hey!  You Canadians get a room!

That's really hurtful, Danny.

EDIT: Where did Danny's reply go?  I was only kidding.

@ALB posted:

Isn't it amazing how people with 5 speeds seem to be just a little better looking?

3, 4, 5,  7, 8,  9, 10, 13 & 18 speed shifters.... I'm center fold  material

Trouble-maker Lane wrote: “I wonder if I can get @chines1 to put a 6-speed in my Coupe?”

Sure, but you’ll need the TV actor job to pay for it and the only show I can think of that might take you is “Wheel of Fortune”.

You know my wife has been pushing me to try out for “Wheel of Fortune”.  We watch it after the news and I seem to be pretty good at it.

My lack of mechanical skill is legendary but I put a Vintage Speed Shifter in the wife's Thing. It's really nice and made me realize how bad mine is.

I just can't get the wife to understand you don't have to slam a short shifter into gear. I had to go back and tighten/adjust it a month or so later. All easy.

p.s. I read Stan's post and envisioned him in a log cabin, sipping a hot steaming cup of coffee. You know, if the commercial is made.

@Lane Anderson posted:

You know my wife has been pushing me to try out for “Wheel of Fortune”.  We watch it after the news and I seem to be pretty good at it.

Everyone is pretty good at it while they're sitting at home without any pressure on them and nothing at stake if you get it wrong. LOL

Tru dat!

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@slowshoes posted:

Thanks for those photos Mitch - as Marty said, it does look like a bit of a reach. I'm going to take a look at the standard shift in my car from those same angles and see how it compares.

I've read in an older thread that the carpet needs to be trimmed from under the base to keep the plate from moving out of position. Did you find this to be the case for you?

Bill

Bill, despite how it may look, it's not a long reach - I don't have to lean forward off the seat back. One of the things that's sometimes overlooked in placing a shifter is how close or far the knob ends up from the steering wheel - and this seems to be perfect.

Or, for me, at least. I'm only 5'10", so keep the seat a little more forward than if I were over six feet.

The Alfa's of the sixties had this really strange looking shifter that came out of the base of the dash and seemed too long - until you actually drove the car. Then it all made sense. The knob ended up just a few inches from the wheel and was just right. The same thing is true here.

Also, that old thread about trimming the carpet may have been mine - that's exactly what we had to do. We couldn't get the 1-2 and 3-4 gates to work at the same time until the carpet was trimmed and the base of the shifter sat directly on the metal of the tunnel.

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The Vintage Speed stuff is very good quality. I have one of their stainless steel exhaust systems. Those shifters look great and solid; I wish Gene Berg manufactured their unit but vintage styled with the knob and shape. That would be awesome. With respect to Vintage Speed I believe aircooled.net are dealers. If you like their Facebook page you used to get a really nice discount percentage on your first order (not sure if the offer is still on).

My JPS Speedster came with the chrome tube and black knob. Just ordered from VS a polished stainless knob.
Love the sporty feel of the shifter and the Speedster.