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My experience with improving stiff shifter movement is different
than the honorable and well intentioned Mr. Drew.<br>
<br>
1) It is easy to remove the shifter assembly from the car. Do so,
disassemble it, clean and reassemble with lightweight engine
assembly lube. 00 weight I think. I disagree with Mike regarding
removal of the centering spring as it presents no problem to
shifting when properly lubricated. You will be surprised at how
much dirt has collected in the rather protected area. That and
hardened grease are the enemy, not the spring and centering detent.
On many cars, the dirt acting as a grit has grooved the surface that
the detent is supposed to glide upon. If you are handy, you can
repair this surface with sanding and polishing. If you are
incapable of the task, this is a circumstance where removing the
spring and detent may be a better solution. <br>
<br>
2) The biggest obstacle to smooth shaft movement is the collection
of hardened grease and dirt in the accordion gasket and on the shaft
where the shaft passes through the firewall. If you can clean that
gasket out as well as the area of the shaft that passes through it,
you will be amazed at the improvement. Any permanent lubrication
added here will work for a limited time as it is such a dirty
environment. I recommend no lubrication or the occasional spray of
WD40 which will help keep the surface clean. This is my first go to
spot when someone complains of stiff shifting and it corrects most
of the problem almost every time.<br>
<br>
3) Same approach with the trunion. No grease, keep shifter shaft
clean with occasional spray of WD40. Any lube will attract dirt on
the first drive and that will behave as sandpaper wearing the
bushing even faster. The WD40 acts as a cleaning agent before it
evaporates away and is not longer a dirt magnet.<br>
<br>
Happy Thanksgiving<br>
J, happy shifter, T<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/28/2013 3:09 AM,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:MikeLDrew@aol.com">MikeLDrew@aol.com</a> wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:65044.1f643a79.3fc86239@aol.com" type="cite"><font
face="arial,helvetica"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
In a message dated 11/27/13 10 41 3, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:dan@excaliburre.com">dan@excaliburre.com</a>
writes:<br>
<br>
<br>
</font>
<blockquote cite="" style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid;
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
type="CITE"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Arial" size="2">At the track Sunday we removed the
snap ring, the cover plate and an extremely rusty and crusty
spring. I thought that was the whole assembly but now I see
there's a cylinder at the bottom of the shaft. I'll try and
pry this up and out.</font><font family="SANSSERIF"
color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
</font></blockquote>
<font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
>>>It's probably not acting much on the system, but
you might as well ditch it too.<br>
<br>
<br>
</font>
<blockquote cite="" style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid;
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
type="CITE"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Arial" size="2">> Between removing the spring and
spraying WD 40 on the trunnion bearing The Beast shifter
much better, for about ten laps, then went back to the stage
where I'm having to force it into gear (mainly 2nd and 3rd).</font><font
family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
</font></blockquote>
<font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
>>>WD40 is way, way too light for this task. It
wasn't even originally designed to be a lubricant; it's a
water displacement fluid (WD). Only secondarily did they
discover that it was pretty good at eliminating squeaks in
door hinges and the like.<br>
<br>
But what you need is grease, not WD.<br>
<br>
</font>
<blockquote cite="" style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid;
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
type="CITE"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Arial" size="2">> I was wondering if the gear oil
was breaking down due to heat. My next planned post was to
ask for advice on gear oil.</font><font family="SANSSERIF"
color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
</font></blockquote>
<font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
>>>Not a chance. :>)<br>
<br>
</font>
<blockquote cite="" style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid;
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
type="CITE"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Arial" size="2">> I suppose it's also possible the
WD-40 wore out.</font><font family="SANSSERIF"
color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
</font></blockquote>
<font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
>>>Really, it's the wrong tool for the job. I use
aerosol lithium grease, and it needs redoing every now and
again.<br>
<br>
</font>
<blockquote cite="" style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid;
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
type="CITE"><font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000"
face="Arial" size="2">> By the way, the "roval" at
California Speedway is perfect for Panteras. It consists of
an infield course with all kinds of turns and 1/2 the banked
oval the NASCAR boys use. What a blast it was running up
that bank at 160+!</font><font family="SANSSERIF"
color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2"><br>
<br>
</font></blockquote>
<font family="SANSSERIF" color="#000000" face="Geneva" size="2">>>>I've
had a ride there as a passenger--awesome!<br>
<br>
Mike<br>
<br>
</font>
<br>
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