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Angus Dowrie Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 341 Location: Kangaroo Point, Australia
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:50 pm Post subject: 356C gear shift lever |
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Hi,
I own a Karmann built SC Coupe which was an Italian delivery car, converted to RHD some years ago by a previous owner.
I'm quite a tall guy, 188cm or roughly 6 foot two. Being RHD the 3-4 shift line is up against my left leg, and combined with the large 420mm standard wheel it gets a bit tight.
My gear shift lever has the big bend rear fore-aft, but has no transverse bend or left/right bend. My question is should there be a bend to the left with the gear shift lever? I'll have to have a look at another when I get a chance, but they are not plentiful around here. I was googling the issue of big guys in a 356 and it was never explicitly stated but I got the impression there should be a bend to the left. My car was in Italy and the USA until the 2000s and a tall guy there may have moved it over to get more room for LHD.
I'm not aware if there is a difference in the factory shift lever between RHD and LHD. The photo shows an aerial view with the lever in 4th gear.
I am getting a smaller diameter steering wheel which will help also, depending on how that is I'd be looking at possibly bending the lever back to the left and/or a short shift kit.
Any help appreciated!
_________________ 1963 Australian Delivery RHD Coupe
Build thread;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=610414 |
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wheel607 Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2004 Posts: 1845
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Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: 356C gear shift lever |
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No bend side to side.....fore and aft, as you say, only. |
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Angus Dowrie Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 341 Location: Kangaroo Point, Australia
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Starbucket Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007 Posts: 4006 Location: WA
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Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:43 am Post subject: Re: 356C gear shift lever |
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Have you tried loosening the hold down bolts just e`nuff to move it straight across to the left side. A small amount at the bottom equals a larger amount at the top. |
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kneeslider Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2016 Posts: 3 Location: UK
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: 356C gear shift lever |
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If you put the car into 4th gear, then remove the inspection cover on the tunnel in front of the back seat.
You will find the shift rod in there, with a clamp connecting the hockey stick lever to the front nose of the gearbox.
Mark up the existing position of all components with a dab of paint, so if it all goes wrong, you can return it to the original position.
Loosen the clamp connecting the two rods together, then, with the gearbox still selected to 4th gear, and while sitting in the driver's seat, move the gearshift a little to your left to improve the leg room.
Without touching anything else, do up the clamp on the horizontal shift rods under the inspection cover.
Test, and see if it works! |
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Angus Dowrie Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 341 Location: Kangaroo Point, Australia
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:25 am Post subject: Re: 356C gear shift lever |
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I will give that a try. The Mota Lita wheel is turning up tomorrow, about five weeks earlier than expected, plus I bought some new shocks as the old ones were pretty bad, probably from from lack of use.
So I have some tool time ahead of me but hopefully a better car for me at the end of it! _________________ 1963 Australian Delivery RHD Coupe
Build thread;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=610414 |
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