Customized Stock Shifter for '01 5speed?

[camusmuse]

Ok, I did some searching and didnt find anything close to what I am thinking of/wanting/needing to do in my 2001 Ranger with a 5speed M5OD(I think its stock at least) and a 2.3l motor. I have an Extended cab and well...the Steering wheel is non tilt... So I have to slide the seat pretty far back to fit my "hefty" self in the truck, as well as lean the seat back some. Now this is alright for me, yeah I know I need to lose weight...but my belly still rubs the steering wheel some.

Here is my question, is there any STOCK gear shifters that are already bent back that will bolt directly in my transmission? Right now, mine is just a bit hard to put into 1st, 3rd, and 5th, with out having to lean just a bit forward). If there are no stock ones, am I stuck pulling mine out, taking it apart, heating it and bending it back a few degrees? I really dont want to do that, but will if I have to. I would really like to keep the stock appearance as much as possible. If this has already been asked and done...sorry for the repeat, if you could just point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated, OR, if someone has already done this to one I might be willing to swap, or I could just buy out right. I really only need it to be back about another two inches tops to make it comfortable.

And for what its worth, I plan on getting either Explorers buckets or Mustang buckets....or if I can find some good ones and am feeling frisky, some Lincoln MKVIII seats and see if they fit(I used to have a MKVIII and those were the most comfortable seats I have been in..lol). But not sure if the non stock seats will be lower or higher...would prefer lower honestly...

Thanks...

Nathan

 

[07nhbpsi]

U might be able to find a level 2 shifter? , but they are hard to find & when u do people get good money for them.....If u want stock appearance u may just wanna try heating your up and bending it? U could always go with a hurst with an extend shift arm....or there is a guy on eBay core shifters , that has his version which uses Hurst components , handle ,lever, boot with his mechanism ...I went this route and am more than happy with it..... I now have a nice short throw....however u will expect to pay close to $300 for this or a hurst assy.....

 

[camusmuse]

U might be able to find a level 2 shifter? , but they are hard to find & when u do people get good money for them.....If u want stock appearance u may just wanna try heating your up and bending it? U could always go with a hurst with an extend shift arm....or there is a guy on eBay core shifters , that has his version which uses Hurst components , handle ,lever, boot with his mechanism ...I went this route and am more than happy with it..... I now have a nice short throw....however u will expect to pay close to $300 for this or a hurst assy.....

Thanks for the info...yeah...I looked at hurst. Not going to spend that much on this truck yet....might just have to go find some heat and DIY...lol..sigh....

 

[camusmuse]

So if I do go ahead and pull the stock one out...where should I "bend" it?

Has anyone done this before? I have modified the stick on an old Nissan, I cant imagine that it would be that different...

Thanks....

 

[camusmuse]

Solution!!!Sorta....

Found a $20 ebay special "bent extension" designed for other vehicles, BUT the threads are wrong of course...we have no threads, but the hole in the stock shifter is nearly a perfect fit for the m10X1.25 threading on the one end of the extension(slides right in). I would of liked to thread it in a perfect world....but I believe that JB Weld will work fine if cleaned well. Plus if I can find the right ID stock I will sleeve it as well. The other side of the extension has inside threads so I *could* just put the stock shifter on it, but it is broken...like every other older Ranger I have had, so I am gonna thread the outside for a B&M T-shifter, again used Ebay special...again about 20 bucks.

Waiting on the die(1/2 20) to fit the T-handle(dont hate..I know the T handle is not really meant for a 2.3l manual trans shifter, but I have had one before and I loved it...plus its quite comfortable...). I will try to post some pics up, but it is pretty straight forward.

The bent shifter was "SickSpeed" or something, advertised as anodized black brass, but it looks like painted steel..lol...havent scratched it deep yet..lol, oh well should be easy to "die". Not my first "rodeo" so to speak, I just gave it "loose" test with the old broken stock handle and the length and bend is perfect for me. Just have to stretch the rubber boot up to cover the "joint" between the stock and the extension....dont want it to look completely "rigged"...lol. Will powder coat the aluminum black eventually and fill in the B&M logo with the same color as the truck as opposed to just black or the red that it came with.

Anyway....hope this isnt too "jenky"...everytime JBWeld comes out things get kinda weird...lol...but I think it should work just fine... Wish I still had my metal lathe to make that 1" sleeve to go over the top.... that would help hold the boot too.... sigh. We will see. Might have one made...but this is still suppposed to be a "budget" mod. I could get tricky and JBWeld it THEN drill from the side and pin it....but thats alot of work...lol....(Its HOT in Missouri right now)...heheh... More concerned about stretching the rubber boot...have to figure out some zip tie concoction or something....ideas welcome!!!..

Again, will post some finished pics if it isnt too hot outside of the install and the finished mod for anyone that needs/wants the same thing. Here are the pretty parts....