Chasing my tail-shifter (no more?), Please, some a-d-v-i-c-e Options

[Prospectfarms]

I don't expect crisp shifting and I understand how my linkage operates. But I have "phantom gear" syndrome. Sometimes the are there, more often not.

 parts_diagram_tail_shift.pdf ( 36.62k ) Number of downloads: 167


I spent at least 12 hours last few evenings and Sunday "adjusting" the shift linkage. I finally settled on a side to side gear shift adjustment where it's hard to get the gears on the far right and on the far left of the shifter throw. But I'm golden on 2'nd, and 3'rd. As far as I can tell the for/aft position is correct.

(When I say "hard," I mean that 25% of the time it goes right into the gear I want, 25% it takes two or more tries to get it in to the gear, and 50% of the time I have to select a different gear.

Shift plate: check. All bushings are new. Mounts are OK. Clutch is new and adjusted to spec. Everything is slippery where it should be and clean otherwise. Nevertheless my stick shift flops around like a rag doll.

Folks have given me advice on potential internal problems. For instance:

//www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=134934&st=0&gopid=1507802&#entry1507802

The external linkages (ball and cage) and the internal linkages wear out and they are NLA and used replacements are likely to be worn-out too. That seems like a problem.

Months ago, one of the first things that Toni Proassi, an excellent mechanic and owner of Stuttgart Specialists in Louisviile, told me was to get rid of the tail shift. He's never seen my car, and gave me that advice as a general rule of thumb. I wanted to fix it instead. Maybe what he was trying to tell me is that you can't.

So after 20 hours of work and $100 in bushings and other hardware the shifting is simply terrible and I'm starting to think it can't be repaired without unreasonable efforts. Am I missing the obvious? Does a side shift transmission suffer worn parts better, at least in terms of being able to actually locate a gear?

Many folks on this board seem to be happily shifting along, so I must be missing something. Please tell me what you think it is. I'm sure your right.