side-shifter v. tailshifter, crow doesn't taste so good... Options

[lapuwali]

I take back everything I ever said about how a well-set-up tailshifter is "just as good" as a side-shifter. The side-shifter in my car now after my driveline swap is WAY better than the perfectly set up tailshifter I pulled out, and the firewall bushing isn't even installed (it popped out, need to try again). If it got better still after replacing that bushing, it will be Honda quality. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif)

Anyone still using a tailshifter should ignore all of my previous advice and get a side-shifter ASAP. I'm amazed at the difference between this gearbox and the side-shifter in my old '73.

[mikey]

QUOTE

I think the trick is to actually boil the bushing itself. I, too, put mine in boiling water, but AFTER I'd boiled the water. No luck. SirAndy says to put it in the water and boil the water in a microwave.

That's the method I used. I boiled it for about 5 minutes. It didn't seem to soften the bushing much. I ended up burning my fingers, spilling boiling water on myself, etc. The thing kept falling back out once I got it into the hole. There's a little recessed area where it fits on the -6 (maybe the same on the -4) that prevents you from getting a good surface to push against. Steady pressure with a flat object worked for me.

Now I'm about to put the shaft into the bushing. It feels really tight but I'm pretty sure it will slide in with enough force. What kind of lube do you use betwen the bushing and the shaft? White lithium grease ok?

QUOTE

i did once have an issue upshifting from 2nd that wound up in 5th instead of 3rd

I've only driven 2 914s so far but in both I had this same trouble. The sloppy shifting was the only thing I didn't like much about the 914 (356s can be worse!). I suppose you could get used to the slop after a while. Hopefully once I get mine together I won't have this problem.