C3 shifter wear - what to do?

[Mark Trent]

I have a '70 4speed. I've bought a shifter rebuild kit and reassembled the shifter. However, it has not fixed my original complaint with the shifter: That the shifter feels loose. The reason it is loose feeling is the hole that is drilled into the chrome shift handle lever, has become enlarged from 40 years of the pivot pin wearing down in it. The new pivot pin that came with the kit feels just as loose.

The only options I can think of are: find a new chrome shifter lever - I don't want to buy a whole new shifter, just the chrome stick. I can't find anyone that sells a new one.

Or, somehow make the hole smaller on the pivot hole, or find a larger sized pivot pin and drill the hole accordingly.

If there's an easy fix to this, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks -

Mark

ps - I tack welded the spot where my finger is pointing, to fix the looseness between the two pieces of the stick. The hole I'm talking about, is pictured below where I'm pointing.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 shifter wear - what to do?

Mark-----

I have never had any success rebuilding a shifter such that its performance after rebuild was as-new. Basically, to get as-new performance you need to replace virtually every part of the shifter. If one has to do that, why not just purchase a brand new shifter assembly and be done with it?

GM used to sell the shifter lever separately but I don't think its available in reproduction that way. The shifter lever wears in several areas. The clevis pin hole is usually the least problem. The greater problem is the blade at the bottom of the lever.

[Michael G.]

Re: C3 shifter wear - what to do?

Mark,

Your picture didn't come through. Might be at my set-up. Check it.
Wait to see if you get some responses from the other guys as my solution was not actually peformed on a Corvette shift stick. See if you can find a pair of collared nylon bushings that fit snugly on the pivot pin. Drill the chrome stick to the outer dimension of the bushing and insert. using a heated blade, you can "mushroom" over the uncollared end to keep in place. Worked for me, but in a different aplication.

Mike

[Mark Trent]

Re: C3 shifter wear - what to do?

The photo shows up on my post, so it must be on your end. Thanks for the idea on the bushing. I may kick that around and give it a try. I'm surpised no aftermarket is making just the chrome shift piece, because, they make the shift linkages, and all the parts in the rebuild kit, which comprise most of the rest of the shifter. Thanks all!

[William C.]

No Photo o n my computer either. Red X *NM*

[Michael G.]

Re: Thanks Bill-Same Red X *NM*

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 shifter wear - what to do?

Mark the shifter stick you want is available as a separate part from www.volvette.com. They also have all the other parts as individual pieces that can be ordered, even an adjustment guage.