I put the transmission back into my car today, and the shifter would not fit back in. The round ball on the bottom of the shifter would not fit into the hole/end of the control rod.

This is a Miata gearset in a first gen case, could it be the Miata control rod end got put in by accident?

Is the round ball at the end of the shifter different sizes for different models? I'm using the Mazdatrix short shifter 81-83. As seen here http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

I really don't want to pull this thing back out again. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

It takes some effort let me tell ya. I pushed the spring to the driver side and used a rubber mallet to tap the shifter back into place, then bolted it on before it could come out again. Just don't have the **** on, i cracked the plastic on mine

But if the ball will not go into the rod at all, then I don't know how to help you.

 

I saw your post when I searched. I'll try again tomorrow but I swear its made for a smaller sized shifter end. I had another transmission on the floor side by side with my new one, it would go into the stock transmission just fine, but not in my new one. I'll get the calipers out and measure.

 

Ooh you might have a problem.

My problem was mostly that the housing was filled with gear oil because i read on here that you can fill the trans from the shifter...and ya can't. So the fluid was creating hydraulic pressure in the rod/hole not allowing the shifter to go in. It was a mess, literally.

 

Do you have the plastic ring lined up with the notch on the end of the shifter?

 

Problem solved, upon closer review there is a bushing inside used to adapt a smaller shifter end I suppose. Picture of strange bushing attached. I guess I was too focused on installing the transmission and got tired head.

 

That's not a GM part, right?

 

Ha! I just used that for the white background. I have no idea where the bushing came from. I've been trying to rack my brain as to where the tailshaft came from. I go thru so much stuff.

I can't believe I didn't notice it yesterday. Here's another pic - Goodyear ad