Gearshift linkage, real pictures??? • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **rockanimal** » 23 Jun 2009 22:44

Hi! My slapstick shifter felt a bit "loose" and I found that at the bottom on the torque shaft assembly (through the bigger hole in the flat metal piece...) there is nothing to keep it tight. How is it kept there? I have checked a lot of the linkage links (ha!) but haven't found anything about this so if someone could post a picture I would be very greateful, thanks!

/Robert

by **Goldenblack440** » 24 Jun 2009 11:33

the slapsticks have a weird looking spring on the linkage under the console, which helps keep out the slop i think. thats the only external spring on the setup.

BTW, these springs are always getting lost or falling off, and if yousee how they attach you will understand. I drilled a hole and put a cable tie around it

by **burdar** » 24 Jun 2009 14:52

Goldenblack440 wrote:the slapsticks have a weird looking spring on the linkage under the console, which helps keep out the slop i think. thats the only external spring on the setup.

BTW, these springs are always getting lost or falling off, and if yousee how they attach you will understand. I drilled a hole and put a cable tie around it

THat's a good picture. I have a different picture of that set-up in my "reference pictures" folder on my home computer. It's amazing how the little things like that slip your mind when you took the car apart 10+ years ago.

by **Goldenblack440** » 24 Jun 2009 15:03

Thanks Burdar, yes i compile picture for my reference as well. I just remembered, there is that small spring on the slapstick itself - is that there? It would have to be, otherwise it woudn't work properly.

by **rockanimal** » 24 Jun 2009 22:34

Thanks for your answers! Yeah, after looking at some old posts here at the forum I found out that the spring you posted a picture of was missing. A friend of mine helped me find an original one and now everything under the console is complete and fine. And as you say it helped a bit against slop but: underneath the car, the torque shaft (I believe it's called that?) that goes through the floor. How does it look at the lower end of it?

/Robert

by **Goldenblack440** » 25 Jun 2009 10:03

There is no spring down there. It is all very simple, and that torque shaft (yes, correct name) just sits in a nylon bushing which is pressed into that bent plate that screws on to the trans body just forward of the speedo cable. It does not bottom out on it because it is held up by the same style bushing inside the car (under the console). The lower bushings do wear down and teh torque shafts are often worn too. You can reduce slop by fitting a new bushing (about $2.80 ON eBAY) and making sure the shaft is not worn. If it is, it will be a pain in the a$$ to remove and you will have to weld it up and file or grind down carefully so it is round again.

Or you can cheat, like i did, and move the shaft up a bit so the worn bit is out of the bushing (that you have just replaced!) and a fresh bit of torque shaft is there instead.

by **rockanimal** » 25 Jun 2009 22:10

Thanks Goldenblack, just the info I needed! I'm getting one from e-bay. One question remains though. Is the bushing you're mentioning pressed into the bent plate from above or under?

/Robert

by **Goldenblack440** » 26 Jun 2009 6:45

Umm, not sure! But its only two 1/2 in head bolts and you can remove that plate as easy as pie. (about 45 seconds). Its best to remove it anyway to remove the old one, then you will see how it goes in. If the old one is not there, it will be easy to work out. Also, you are going to clean and paint it as well arn't you....!?!? Might be a good idea to buy two and do the top bush as well (under the console)

by **Goldenblack440** » 26 Jun 2009 11:40

Here's a pic of mine. looking up at it from slightly passeneger side. The bushing seems to push in from TOP. Also, they are 1/2 inch head nuts, not bolts like i said previously

by **rockanimal** » 04 Jul 2009 22:50

Great, thanks! It should be no problems now!