stick-shift modification for B2 tranny swap

[johnnybronco]

I am swapping trannys in my 2-wd B2 and it looks like the one I am going to put in has the stick-shift too close to the dash. I'm looking for a way to take the stick apart and put some kind of elbow or dog-leg into it so the stick gets moved back a few inches. It looks like the stick may be in 3 parts that screw together maybe - the base where it goes into the tranny, the middle and the part that you actually hold with your hand.
Anyone ever tried to take a stick apart? Does it really screw together and can it be taken apart?

 

[adsm08]

What trans are you putting in?

 

[johnnybronco]

putting in the Mazda 5-speed tranny - taking out the Mitsubishi 5-speed with the dummy t-case

 

[adsm08]

So you are replacing an FM-146 (flat square pan and removable bellhousing) with an M5OD (rounded belly with no pan and an integral bell), correct?

If so, read this:

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/January2011/FM146_to_M5OD.shtml

But the M5OD shifter is kinda "3-part". There is a little stub held to the trans by 3 torx screws, a solid shift shaft that is held to the stub by the screwiest bolt I've ever seen, and the knob, but none of it "screws apart" like I think you are thinking.

 

[johnnybronco]

That's right.
I just skimmed through the link you sent - I've removed the tranny a few times before, so unless there is some trick to swapping trannys I think I'm good.

you're right on the 3 parts -I'm just looking at the "solid shift shaft" which appears to to have threads down at the bottom by the stub - in other words the stub looks like it could be a separate piece from the shaft.

 

[adsm08]

If you take the 17mm nut off the front of the screw-ball bolt, put it on the back and tighten it up it will pull the bolt out and then the shifter just comes right off the stub.

 

[johnnybronco]

OK, I think I used the wrong word - let me re-phrase this - I already took the 17mm bolt off and pulled the stick off the stub that has the 3 torx screws and goes down into the tranny. So at the bottom of the stick it's got the "piece" that is set at an angle to the stick and fits over the stub and also holds the screw-ball bolt. It looks like this is a separate piece that attaches to the stick, but maybe it just looks that way to me.

 

[adsm08]

Looking at the one I have here it seems like it is more of a rubber cast with a metal sheath pressed over it than something threaded in.

I never really tried to take one apart though.

 

[johnnybronco]

OK - you try to take yours apart and let me know how it goes

 

[Snoranger]

OK - you try to take yours apart and let me know how it goes

Adsm is right. The shifter handle is a 2 piece design with a rubber vibration damper inbetween. It doesn't unscrew. You can burn the rubber out to separate it.

 

[johnnybronco]

Look again guys - the knob at least has to screw, bolt or press on - no other way to get the rubber and metal sleeves onto the shaft. It also has that plastic cap where the position indicator is (1-2-3-4-OD and R). - which I guess is there to provide access to the nut that holds it on. You look at the other end of the stick and I can see grooves on the shaft where the rubber and metal sheaths come to an end. I'm saying that right there it is two pieces that are screwed together - the end of the shaft and the angled, rounded piece that fits over the stub. I'll be taking it to a machine shop to see if they can get it apart - I tried with a vise and my own hands but it wouldn't budge.

 

[adsm08]

I tried with a vise and my own hands but it wouldn't budge.

And that isn't an indication to you that it isn't supposed to come apart?

 

[AllanD]

Uhhhh... I think the issue here is that toe OP wants the shifter in the same location
as was the case on the FM146.

What NEEDS to be done is to swap out the removeable shifter "Floor plate"
and relocate a postcard sized piece of carpet from in front of the "old" shifter
position to behind the "new" shifter position.

RATHER than create an abortion

 

[johnnybronco]

OK, are y'all ready for this? The joke's on me - the M50 stick is actually angled back further than the FM146 so it is pretty close to where my old one was so I don't need to modify it - although I might anyway if I get around to it.

 

[johnnybronco]

So of course now I have an FM146 with dummy transfer case for sale - real cheep!