I Dropped my Shifter

[67ctbug]

Okay... I was being an idiot. I don't really deal with engines and transmissions. I bought a Formula Vee wood shift knob the other day and I went to replace it and the threads were to big. Being myself, I though I could just swap the whole assembly. Well I took my shifter off today and dropped whatever the part that holds the ball at the end of the stick into the tunnel. How do fix this?
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'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[Pruneman99]

The hanger should be welded to the top inside of the tunnel. Are you saying the hanger and shift rod both fell to the bottom?

My hanger is broken too. The shifter bolts actually hold it up. Found this out when I pulled the shifter to replace a worn shift rod bushing. My welder was broken, so I just put it back the way it was. Maybe I'll weld the hanger next time I'm in there .

[67ctbug]

[calvinater]

Try a magnet on a stick
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"Albatross"!

[Pruneman99]

Diamond looking thing? I guess the hanger base is kinda diamond shaped.
This?

If so you probably have the same situation I have. I just used the bolts that go through the shifter into the hanger to hold it up. Kinda fiddlely do do it that way. You kinda need to start one bolt at a time. Maybe use a coat hanger to help pull the rod and hanger up.

[67ctbug]

[Pruneman99]

If the circle is gone, there is nothing to hold up the shift rod. There is a bushing that clips in the circle, and the rod passes through it.

Maybe a few pictures would help us see what your dealing with.

[67ctbug]

[Dale M.]

This is what you are dealing with....

Shift rod bracket should be spot welded to top of tunnel... IF bracket had dropped loose, spot welds probable let go...

An easy fix would be to bring bracket up and put bolts in (less shifter) and then drill a couple of holes in tunnel (old spot weld marks) and do a couple of pop rivets to keep bracket secure forever ...It only has to be held in place with rivets till shifter fully assembled with proper bolts... Easier than trying some coat hanger wire fix...

I hesitate to mention this but other option may be to drill a couple of holes in tunnel and do rosette welds BUT that is more complex and a danger to interior by sparks and potential fire.... And should be done by someone that can weld and has welding blankets and such to protect interior....The welding fix sort of falls into "don't try this at home" disclaimer you see on a lot of TV drama shows...

Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Cusser]

[67rustavenger]

CT this is what Dale is describing for getting the shift rod bushing support welded in place.

This should be an easy repair since you know how to weld.

Good Luck.
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[67ctbug]

Yup dropped the shift plate and the shift rod. I'll have to grab a magnet and weld it on. No interior, so no worries. Thanks for all of the help guys!
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[Pruneman99]

I wasn't recommending he fix it with a coat hanger. I said use a coat hanger to hold the rod and bracket up against the top of the tunnel so you can get the bolts through the shifter, and into the bracket. No way I can get my fingers in there to grab it off the tunnel floor. Once you start both bolts, you can sandwich the holder, tunnel, reverse lock out plate, and shifter all with the two shifter bolts.

Rivets would be a solution as well. Welding is probably best. But just using the bolts to hold it all has worked for me for years. Many of which I didn't even know it was installed like that.

[67ctbug]

Fixed it with no welding. Got a magnet stick and pulled the thing up. It does have the circle. Got my new shifter all set and then found out the little tab is too short so the thing spins around Back to the drawing board on the shift knob. Any 12mm-7mm adapters?
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[APPLEGREENVW]

[67ctbug]