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Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:45 pm

This is my first post although I have been coming to these forums and using the search method for a while. I have a 64 coupe and the shifting is really bad. I have tried adjusting the top plate at the bottom of the shifter but I was wondering if there was something maybe back by the transmission that could need adjustment. Does the ghia have the access plate under the back seat like the bug?

Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:48 pm

Sure does. Pull out the lower section of your rear seat, and you'll be looking right at the cover over the shift coupling. The other canditate for bad shifting is the shift rod bushing. Take out your shifter and shine a flashlight back into the tunnel, and you'll see the bracket where the bushing mounts to support/guide the shift rod. It's not a bad job, but you have to disconnect the shift rod at the rear and pull the rod out through the access plate in the front of the car. Pop in a new bushing, grease up the rod, thread it back through, put on a new coupler, and you'll be on your way. Be sure to mark your shifter position before you take it out, though. They can be tricky to readjust. Good Luck!

Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:48 pm

Sure does. Pull out the lower section of your rear seat, and you'll be looking right at the cover over the shift coupling. The other canditate for bad shifting is the shift rod bushing. Take out your shifter and shine a flashlight back into the tunnel, and you'll see the bracket where the bushing mounts to support/guide the shift rod. It's not a bad job, but you have to disconnect the shift rod at the rear and pull the rod out through the access plate in the front of the car. Pop in a new bushing, grease up the rod, thread it back through, put on a new coupler, and you'll be on your way. Be sure to mark your shifter position before you take it out, though. They can be tricky to readjust. Good Luck!

Fri Mar 19, 2004 2:15 pm

I just replaced the shift rod bushing on my '71 and what a difference it made. No more clankity clank and much smoother shifting! Patty

Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:43 pm

Thanks a lot for the input! I was reading in the Haynes manual that pre-67 pans had a straight stick shift and the ones after had a bend to it. Are the shift arms interchangeable? Does this mean I have a newer pan?

Sat Mar 20, 2004 7:33 am

I don't know...mine's a 67 and the shift rod had a bend in it. Almost threw it away. Luckily I put up a post and asked first. I know mine was supposed to have the bend, but I'm unsure of yours. You may want to enter another post with that as a title to get some more info.