Changing bush set on gear shifter

[austspider]

Just wanted to know is it easy to change the bush set on the chrome shaft of the gear shifter. I have the new set but wanted any tips before I started.

Thanks

[ventura ace]

Here is a link to some imputs on this topic a while back:

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... ter#p13202

Alvon

[austspider]

Thanks Alvon

[rlux4]

You should definitely consider getting rid of that blinkety-blank bushing set and go with the Michigan Shorter Shifter by Mike Bouse. I got sooo tired of my knob spinning around, and the shorter shifter not only solved that irritation, but it is a much more appropriate length in our cars.
Ron

[mdrburchette]

Do you find the gearshifter vibrates more or makes noise without the bushings?

[mbouse]

depending on the linkage, Denise, they can vibrate like the dickins at certain RPM's once the rubber bushes are removed. i've had lots of help attempting to diagnose this mysterious rattle...all to no avail. Some cars have it, some don't. some at certain RPM's and some regardless of the engine speed.

i personally feel the rattle has something to do with the weight/geometry of the shifter assembly. remove certain pieces and the rattle will appear. replace those pieces with sufficient weighted items...sometimes the rattle leaves.

quite the aggrevating experience for some of us.

[baltobernie]

I agree with Ron, the Short Shifter is the way to go. One of my first repairs to my car was replacing the shifter bushing assembly, and the quality of the new set was inferior to the 40-year-old parts still on the car. Unless you're going for the concours look, upgrade.

[austspider]

THe only reason I want to change the bushes is to stop the spinning. It doesn't vibrate much.
I would appreciate if Mike could give me some details on the short shifter.

[ventura ace]

As others mentioned, the aftermarket rebuild kits may not stop it from spinning. I bought a kit, installed it, and my shifter was looser than before, so I put the original parts back in, with a little shimming to make it tighter. I actually prefer the knob to have a little bit of rotation to it when I shift.

I've tried the newer short shifter versions that attach rigidly to the lower gear shift member. They are nice, though they vibrate at higher rpms in my car and in some other cars that I've been in. Many people have the short shifter and don't have vibration noise (see Mike's post). And some people have vibration noise, but can't hear it (I'm not naming any names, RL ).

You can shorten the original style shift extension, but it's not a simple task. If you prefer a shorter shifter, you probably should try Mike's product, and see if it suits the ticket. If you are just trying to keep the original one from spinning, you may want to find some shim material to stack up with the internal parts, so when it is assembled, the rubber parts are forced to spread out and make for a tighter fit.

Alvon

[rlux4]

Eh? What??
Ron

[mdrburchette]

He could be talking about me too. I don't hear half the stuff he does when he's driving my car.

[mbouse]

Alvon is a gentlman and a scholar. He'd never purposefully mislead anyone... but then again, i haven't heard much he's had to say in a while either.

The rattle IS NOT a function of the chromed steel over-shifter handle, and if present, will NOT be driven away with a Michigan SHORTER SHIFTER. My unit was not designed to remove rattles, nor is its design responsible for the presence of any rattle if properly installed.

You could drill a hole, tap it and add a screw to the base of your stock unit. this will stop the twirling. You could attempt to cut out the middle of your stock unit and weld the shortened base to the threaded end and reinstall it with the existing or new rubber grommets.

or, you could simply send me an email (use the address in my signature), and i will be happy to hook you up with a brand new
Michigan SHORTER SHIFTER.

[ventura ace]

He could be talking about me too. I don't hear half the stuff he does when he's driving my car.

If the shoe fits . . .

This thread caused me to go back and look at my shifter again. My gearshift extension does have some tendency to turn on its own, so that 'Fiat' on the shift knob might rotate about 90° after driving for about 15 minutes. So, I decided to follow my own advice and adjust the bushings with shims to make it tighter. The fiber washers that seal off the valve cover screws are perfect for shims. I just put them between the plastic piece of the gearshift bushing kit that locks onto the inside shaft and the rubber bushing above it. 3 fiber washers is the right shim thickness to make my gear shift extension plenty tight so that it will turn in my hand as I shift gears, but has plenty of drag to stay in place when I let go of it. This fix should keep your shifter from spinning.

If you the look and feel of a shorter shifter, though, contact Mike Bouse. His product is very popular, does not spin, and is quite cost effective compared to other approaches to shorten the shift extension.

A

[mbouse]

If you the look and feel of a shorter shifter, though, contact Mike Bouse. His product is very popular, does not spin, and is quite cost effective compared to other approaches to shorten the shift extension.

A

Additionally, the Michigan SHORTER SHIFTER is 100% reversible should you some day change your mind and decide to revert back to stock. some other methods of shortening the lever travel do not reverse easily.