Gear Shifting Adjustments After Side Shift Conversion, Who needs 5th gear anyway? Options

[BeatNavy]

Ok, got my 2056 and a refreshed side shifter into my '72. Managed to the get the Fuel Injection and Ignition bits sorted out (after dealing with a wonky CHT circuit (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ). After the 1.7L and a tail shifter I was pretty excited to try the 2056 and side shift. I used the Tangerine firewall bushing and installed the Tangerine shift adjuster up at the selector. Dr Evil refreshed my gear stack, but I assembled the tranny package.

After firing her up and taking her for a ride, I noticed I only had R, 2nd, and 4th. A quick review of Chris' always excellent notes/instructions for the firewall bushing show that if you don't have 1st, 3rd, and 5th the shift coupler at the firewall may be hitting the firewall and require some grinding and moving the shift rod forward (or in extreme cases moving the tranny forward). Well, I did some grinding with it still hooked up using a dremel. After a couple of tries I could sort of get 1st and 3rd, although they wanted to pop out. I think I've gone about as far as I can. In the process, I managed to find 1st gear somewhat reliably, and after working with the selector adjustment tool I managed to find 3rd. Still no 5th nor hint of it.

Everything seems REALLY biased toward the driver's side, and it takes real effort (muscle force) pushing the selector to the left to get the gears. If I move it the 1/R combo more toward center I lose 3rd gear.

I love how the side shifter feels solid (much less slop), but it would be swell to have 5th gear and not have to force everything as much as I do. What are your thoughts in terms of issues or next steps?

1. I assembled the tranny -- did I not get the gear stack in neutral when assembling the console? That was my initial thought when I couldn't find so many gears, but now I have 5 out of 6. Is this still a possibility?

2. Do I need to grind the coupler down even MORE or move the tranny forward (not sure exactly how to do that)? There is probably room, but I thought I was actually starting to run out of shift rod.

3. Could this be related to the fact that I still feel the front of my engine is low by about an inch (I've confirmed that I have late-style engine mounts at this point)? I know the linkage is moving freely through the engine bar and not hitting anything.

4. Another variable is the clutch tube -- when I repaired it last year after it broke off, I often felt like it was sometimes or somehow interfering with the shift selector. Could that be messing me up?

Thanks for any and all help.

[slivel]

I went through problems like this two weeks ago at the track. Had re-installed the transmission after a freshen and had tested on jack stands. All gears appeared to be accessible but in the first session at the track 4th gear was popping out of the detent so I adjusted the position on the splined rod at the shifter. I intended to only move the shifter less deep onto the spline to give me more throw in one direction and less in the other, but I inadvertently loosened the pinch bolt too much and the shifter slipped one or two splines rotation-ally so I lost center of my pattern and got what you describe - loss of 4 and 5.
So, bottom line is get both the throw adjustment AND the center adjustment and you should be good to go.

[ChrisFoley]

...
but I inadvertently loosened the pinch bolt too much and the shifter slipped one or two splines rotation-ally so I lost center of my pattern and got what you describe - loss of 4 and 5.

My precision shift adjuster completely eliminates that issue.

[slivel]

...
but I inadvertently loosened the pinch bolt too much and the shifter slipped one or two splines rotation-ally so I lost center of my pattern and got what you describe - loss of 4 and 5.

My precision shift adjuster completely eliminates that issue.

Chris, I have been using your full shift linkage kit for a couple of years and am a big fan - great product. Looks like your new precision shift adjuster is now on my shopping list to eliminate the crap that I just went through.

Question.... the nylon worm gear is strictly for adjusting center right? The pinch bolt still maintains center on the splines when tightened??