Chad Rebuck wrote: > Is there a piece I can use to extend or raise the shift knob a few inches? > I've got a baby seat in the back behind the passenger side so I need to > keep the seat more forward than I would prefer. The shift knob now rubs > the seat bolster when shift into 5th.
The suggestion for installing a short shift kit is a good one. There's virtually no negatives to going that way. You just have to make sure that your linkage is properly aligned, since the "error factor" is multiplied by the same amount as the shift throws are reduced (35-50% depending on which kit and the setting). If you don't want to go that route, you can cut the top 1 to 1.5" off the shift lever being cautious not to damage the shift knob threads (I used a pipe/tubing cutter, no mess!). The hole that runs down the center of the shift lever just happens to be VERY close to the tap drill size for 5/16-24 NF threads. Just tap the remaining shift lever down about 1.5", then tap the piece with the shift knob threads that you cut off all the way through. Now all you need is a piece of 5/16-24 all thread (threaded rod) cut to whatever length you choose to extend the shift lever plus another 2.5" or so to be screwed into the shift lever and the piece with the external shift knob threads. Now, if you're lucky, your shift boot has enough slack to allow it to be pulled up to the base of the shift knob, hiding the extension piece. I used this method to shorten my shift lever. Instead of just cutting a piece with the shift knob threads off, I cut another 1.5" piece off the lever, threaded the lever and the piece with the threads, and used a 2.5" piece of all thread (you can also cut a 5/16-24 bolt and use that) to connect the piece with the shift knob threads back onto the shift lever. I used some Loctite 271 (the blue stuff) to make sure the assembly stays together when removing the shift knob for any reason. I highly recommend this mod to anyone looking for shorter throws than just a shift kit will allow, or in my case, the 6 speed makes the shift linkage geometry a little on the tight side, so running the shift kit at full reduction makes some shifts too stiff. Shortening the shift lever really makes shifting a pleasure, much more so than just the shift kit. --Holland [email protected] San Jose, CA
