Can I change shifters without any issues..?

I would like to try a shorter shifter in the B, I have a spare from the old parts car that I can modify. Don't know if I'll do the countersunk knob routine or actually shorten the stick but one or the other.

Probably a silly question but I wonder if the shifters are easily swapped without any wear in problems were the shifting takes place, in the top of the box...?

Do they become bedded with the tranny that they are in or can I just swap them out...? :S

Thanks,
Rob

If the dimensions at the lower end are all the same - swap away!

There really isn't enough load, or frequency, for the ball to get bedded into the tower - how many times do you shift compared to how many cycles a tappet, lifter, rocker go through?

Limey Wrote:

It is an easy job, did it myself yesterday actually. Takes only 15 minutes. The only thing is (as Eric already pointed out) whether the dimensions are the same.

Take away the rubber cover and chrome ring. Below you will find a cover with three nuts (?), unbold and take away. You now see the lever completely free. Pull out with care. Check to see if the new one is the same. Position the plastic cap on the new lever so it will fit into the tiny hole. It should fit an a couple of attempts. Do not force or push too hard.

Good luck

I'll give the parts car spare a look see tonight and actually take mic readings and test fit it before I modify the one going in. I do not know if I will like a short stick, that is why I want to modify the spare first... ;)

Thanks,
Rob

One thing I will warn you on - don't cut it too short! If you cut it below the level of the rubber shift boot, you may have trouble getting the boot to work, and if you drive without the boot you will be horrified by the noise that comes up through that small hole!

One thing to note:
Some top remote housings have two set screws that fit slots on the shifter, some have only one and only one corresponding slot in the shifter ball. As a result a one slot shifter may appear not to fit an assembly that has two set screws. If you back off on the left hand set screw for those so equipped, a single slot shifter will fit.
I think it is the later year cars that have the two slots, don't know when the change was made.

John

My 69 came with a shortened shifter which looked very nice, but I found the gear change unpleasantly notchy. Eventually I replaced the shifter with a standard length one and now I enjoy changing gears a lot more because I have more 'feel'. It wasn't stiffness in the box as I ran a different gearbox and kept the shortened shifter for a while, and the change was the same. FB

Contact Twigworker (member of this message board).

He had plans to shorten the existing shifter so it was like a "light switch."