C2 Hurst Shifter removal

[Tom D.]

Taking the trans out of my 66 and I can't figure out how to get the shifter handle off. (When I did this on a 63, the handle was held on by two bolts at the bottom of the "stick".)

This one is different. I removed the bolt that runs parallel to the drive train, and there seems to be a nylon insert on the front.

I'm afraid to pry on the nylon insert until after getting some advice.

Thanks for whatever is offered here.
Tom Dingman
Michigan Chapter Web-guy




www.MichiganNCRS.org

[Mike M.]

Re: C2 Hurst Shifter removal

early Hurst Comp plus 4 speed shifts had shafts that weren't detachable from the main body of the shifter. you'll have to remove the shifter from the car in one piece. if you intent is to replace a hurst shifter shaft with an original appearing vette shaft, you'll need to find a hurst with detachable shaft. mike

[Tom D.]

Thanks Mike - I was afraid of that...

The Hurst is a nice tight shifter, but my intend it to go back to the original shifter.

The bolts holding it to the tailshaft look like a pain to remove...

Thanks again.
Tom D.

[Mike G.]

Re: Thanks Mike - I was afraid of that...

Tom: Some might call me a butcher, but I cut a small access panel in the tunnel to get at those screws on my '65. What a great timesaver, not to mention sparing these old bones any more aches/pains. I took the cutout piece, glassed on a nice overlapping lip, and reapplied it with foil tape. So from underneath --it's flush.

This panel should have been OEM, IMHO. Worth considering by those with shifter or tranny changes confronting them.

[Mike M.]

Re: Thanks Mike - I was afraid of that...

snap on makes a 1/4" drive swivel socket(u-joint socket) that will get in there and remove the two bolts that hold the shifter on the hurst mounting block. think the bolts take a 9/16" swivel socket. use a long extension, about 18 to 24" in length. glad to hear you're intention wasn't to buy the repo vette handle/shaft and replace it with the detachable Hurst handle/shaft as the judges will pick up on the bulky Hurst shifter body under the rubber boot. mike

[Mike M.]

Re: Thanks Mike - I was afraid of that...

PS: those old hurst shifters were light years ahead of the c- and c-2 stock shifters. i recently installed a hurst shifter handle/shaft on the ZF6 in the 41 Willys and its superior to the stock ZF6 shifter(which was no slouch to begin with). mike

[Tom D.]

Re: Thanks Mike - for the "extra mile".

Sounds like a nice Willys. I appreciate the second and third follow up.

Tom Dingman

[Mike M.]

Re: Thanks Mike - for the "extra mile".

I took the exhaust and tranny mount out and lowered the tranny onto the crossmember. That couple inches sure helps in getting to the bolts. Mike

[Tom D.]

Re: Thanks Mike - I did move the Muncie.

True - I just got it out without much trouble, by moving the Muncie a bit to the right. The engine mounts didn't seem to hinder that move.

By the way, the top bolt has a 5/8" head, while the bottom one is 5/16".

Thanks again to all.
Tom