Not shifting well Options

[vin man]

The 71 that I just purchased with Subaru EJ25 and sideshifter trans is not shifting properly. Won't stay in 4th or 5th gear. I suspect the shifter linkage between the firewall and the transmission as what is installed now looks like hillbilly engineering.

I've reached out to Renegade Hybrids to see what they offer for a linkage since the conversion is using Renegade's cradle and adapters. But I'm also considering a new shifter.

What does this group recommend for a decent shifter that has a shorter throw than the original?

[Dave_Darling]

You're right, that does look somewhat "hillbilly engineered". It's not the stock piece, that's for sure!

The stock part would only fit on the rear shift rod in one location and one orientation. The end of the set-screw would seat into a hole in the side of the rod, and that's where the piece would be. If there is any way to move it in your setup, that is a definite difference--and not an improvement from stock!

I don't see how sliding the coupling seen there to the rear would make the thing tilt, unless the end of the rod is cut away somehow.

My best guess at this point is that you will need to replace the rear shift rod, or that rear section at the very least.

Remember that side-to-side motion of the gear shift lever means in-and-out motion of the selector, which is the part at the lower-right of your picture that goes inside the trans case. Fore-and-aft motion of the gear shift lever translates into the selector rotating fore and aft.


Have you considered fabricating a cable shift setup?

--DD