I just got finished installing new shifter bushings for a 87 NA. Everything went great until I was tightening the three screws that secure the shifter. With not very much force the last screw's head broke off leaving the shaft in the threads. How big of a deal is this? Will this cause any leaks from that area?

 

Thoes are the only bolts keeping the shifter in place while you shift through the gears. Espicially if you plan on slamming it through the gears you need to replace the bolt. Shouldn't be too hard since you broke it putting it in so it hasn't had mutiple years to seize in place. Just drill the centre of the bolt, get a small EZ out, and it should turn out pretty easily... at least one can hope.

 

Probably it's not tight, unless the bolt seized in the hole before the head tightened on the shifter. Usually when they break right after getting snug, they aren't tight in the hole. Take the shifter back out and grab what's left w/ some Vice Grips or something and it'll probably spin right out.

 

Definitely fix this. Use an easy out or whatever. The PO of my vert did this and never fixed it. I thought it was just bad bushings, because my shifter was sloppy, but it turned out that he had broken off the head of one of the bolts. It had been in there long enough that I had a very bad time of it trying to get it out. Eventually, I had to drill it and retap it with a larger bolt. Not what I wanted to do, but it is working for now. I have sworn to myself when ever I have to pull the tranny next that I will replace the complete tailshaft. But, what a pain for one little bolt.

 

Alright guys thanks. There isn't anything sticking out to grab with a vice grip. But I will get the EZ out and try that. If not....drill and tap time.

The ironic part is, later that night after I did this, I saw an infomercial for the EZ out kit.

 

yeah you might want to lube the blots before you tighten them next time since your putting steel bolts into aluminum. I've seen those bolts break a few times, two tranny's i've had have had that problem one i got with a snapped off bolt and the other had been drilled an tapped and one bolt was larger and not factory