Hello all,

I just bought a completely stock '93 Touring with 31k miles about a month ago, and I've quickly come to realize why everyone here loves these cars so much. I already can't imagine being without it!

I'm going to come right out and state that up until the other day, I have never done anything more involved with a car than changing the oil and spark plugs. However, after purchasing the B&M Short Shift kit and looking at the instructions, it looked like something even a neophyte like myself could handle. Well, I guess I was wrong, but based on all the posts I could find regarding the subject, it seems I am working within abnormal circumstances.

Everything was going fine until I removed the final part of the boot and exposed the base of the stock shifter and the four bolts holding it on. After removing three of the four bolts, I found that I could not easily remove the last one, which was the upper-right bolt as viewed from sitting in the driver seat. The whole assembly is off-center, and the upper-right bolt is situated slightly underneath the edge of the metal tunnel, so I was unable to get a socket to fit over it. I also fumbled around with a wrench for awhile, but I found it impossible to find an angle where I could both get a good grip on the bolt and have clearance to turn the wrench. Determined to get it off, I wound up fully inserting a wrench into the housing, snugged it on to the bolt, and then used a second wrench as a lever against the first wrench to loosen and eventually remove the bolt.

Having thought I overcame my obstacle, I was quickly stymied again when I realized that due to the greater thickness of the new shifter's base, I was unable to get the new upper-right bolt to fit in the hole at all. There just isn't a way to get it in.

Additionally, from what I read in the other posts I found regarding shifter installs, I gathered that the inner area where the ball and bushing at the bottom of the shifter fits into the cup is supposed to be filled up to the cup with oil. I saw nothing but a tiny pool of oil at the very bottom of that inner area, and in my ignorance, I actually figured it had leaked from somewhere and wasn't suppose to be there at all. I don't blame you if you're laughing right now, I kind of am too.

So, to make a long story short, I have two questions. First, why would my whole shifter/transmission assembly be misaligned so much, and is this potentially a problem in and of itself, and what can I do about it? Secondly, I just want to verify that I do need to fill the inner area at the base of the shifter with oil, and if so, what kind is best to use?

Many thanks in advance to any advice any of you can provide. This is why I usually pay people to do these seemingly basic things for me.

 

Fill the inner area with gear oil before you reinstall. Without a picture or better description it's hard to comment on the alignment. The upper right bolt is a little hard to get to, but nothing a universal joint with socket can't handle (at least on mine). If you do get it back together, watch out for rubbing against the transmission tunnel on the passenger side. Sometimes a slight "adjustment" is necessary. Also. . .I hope it doens't rattle when you're finished. It's a great car and I'm sure you will love it and also learn alot as you go! Good luck

 

Could always trim out the metal tunnel with some snips, or a cutoff wheel.

 

I had to trim away some of the tunnel when I installed my shifter. It's allmost impossible to get a wrench down there if you dont.

 

I also had the same problem on the same bolt. I was able to get it out but could not get the new one in without trimming

 

I can't help you with installation, but you're going to love that thing when it's done; I had one.

 

I had the same problem. I used a dremel to grind some of the edge away. Then I put a crow bar into the opening and was able to pry/move the tranny over an inch and the bolt dropped right in.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I had thought of trimming away some of the tunnel, but was unsure whether or not that would be wise. I will give it a try, thanks again!

 

I don't mean to bring back an old thread, but I figured it would be better than starting a new one over something so small.

I bought my car with a B&M short shifter already installed...It grinds like hell. My question is can I fit the stock rubber insulator that's held on with bolts over the B&M shifter? (PO must've thrown it away, not sure if it's because it wouldn't fit.)

Maybe this will help get rid of some of the grinding...

Thanks
Max

 

Yes.

 

You're the man! Thanks!

 

If you put a small crow bar in there you can move the tranny a little to reach the that bolt. I also used a dremel to grind about 1/4 inch away from the opening. Between the two things that I did I was able to reach this last bolt easily.