Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train T5 short throw shift?

Recently, I saw something on here where someone changed the shifter pivot point on a T5 five speed to get a short throw pattern while using a tall gear shift handle. Right now, 5th gear has me reaching over near the glove box. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Kinky6.

You would need to lengthen the part of the shifter below the pivot by cutting and splicing in an extra piece. Then make a spacer plate the same thickness for between the shifter mounting plate and the tranny housing. I don't know how much to lengthen it, or if there are any metalurgical consequenses as I haven't tried it yet. Or you could spend $165 and get a Hurst from Jegs or Summit.

Thanks for the info. I'll probably try 1/2" and see what that does.

I have a 56 Chevy PU with the same reach problem. I did something similar. I redrilled the pivot point up 1" on the stock shifter. I then went to a swap meet and bought a Hurst shifter shaft and had a flat piece welded to the T-5 shifter and bolted on the new shifter. I made a 1" extender plate, but I think I would go 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 to get a shorter throw. The 1" seems to make it about the same as a standard shifter or a bit shorter.

Gearhead, I am not nice to my T-5 set up, but it hasn't broken yet.

Good Luck

Luis

Kinky6, I did this to mine after i read the post you mentioned. You don't need to cut and splice. Take your shifter apart and drill a new hole for the pivot pin 1" above the old one. then put it back togrther. Now make a 1" spacer to go between the shifter and transmission. I used a piece of 1" thick plastic. It came from a divider in a school bathroom that they replaced. Look around-you can find something. The original post said he had a machine shop make one from aluminum,but that was probably expensive. You could even make one out of hardwood. Hope this helps. Joe

Cool! This job is gettin' easier by the minute!