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vwpilotbob
Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2014
Posts: 30
Location: Tucson, AZ.
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 Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 9:37 am Post subject: Solid shift coupler?? |
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Hey guys. The last dune buggy/rail I built was 25 years ago, and I've been out of the loop besides being 70 now, so old and forgetful. Please forgive any ignorance...
So, I am working at finishing up a vintage rail I started many years ago, and got side tracked and it got put on hold. Time flies. It is a Berrien Buggy frame and it's getting to the later stages of the project, finally!
Simple question. Everything is solid mounted and well braced. Pretty bulletproof. I purely hate any sloppiness in the shifting. If the alignment is right from trans to shifter and with the solid mounting with bracing, would there be any reason why I couldn't just fab up a solid shift coupler?? It's a bus trans and I added quite strong top mounting like the bus had in addition to the solid bottom front mount plus tunnel brace. (I've battled with trannys getting loose before!!)
I see Empi offers a solid shift coupler, but even that has a sliding crossbar, plus it's a hefty 65 bucks.
Any problem I'm not thinking of to just machine/fab up a solid coupler??
Sorry for being so "wordy", but explaining things well eliminates a lot of back and forth, and confusion...
Thanks!
Vwpilotbob |
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jsturtlebuggy
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2005
Posts: 4578
Location: Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Solid shift coupler?? |
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No reason not to use one. Go ahead and Fabricate your own.
It also common to use a U-joint coupler, Sweet makes one that fits the VW 15mm hockey stick.
Empi has one too.
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Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Motorsports
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960 |
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vwpilotbob
Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2014
Posts: 30
Location: Tucson, AZ.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Solid shift coupler?? |
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Well, a U-joint would be kinda cool in case anything went out of alignment, and they wouldn't have any slop. However, those things are pricey too!
What I don't understand is people using the Chinese "Urethane" (ha ha) couplers. I have seen those go bad in a month! Actually, I have seen them fall apart in the package!!
Vwpilotbob |
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Mikedrevguy
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2008
Posts: 2278
Location: No. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: Solid shift coupler?? |
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I’ve run a CNC’d shift coupler and really appreciate how tight it makes the shift linkage feel.
Have run in daily, drag bug, and Baja.
I got mine from someone in the samba classifieds but have seen a vendor put picked it up as well.
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74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato
Illigitimi non-Carborundum!! |
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