Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

[Keith R.]

I'm getting around to fixing the buzzing noise in my 4 speed shifter and need to remove it to work it on the bench. I can get to the lower center bolt but not the top two. I am begin to think that I may have to drop the drive shaft and transmission but there's got to be an easier way. Do I need something like an offset or ratcheting wrench to get to these? Anyone have a technique or procedure?

[Joseph L.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

Hi Keith
With my 1957 with Muncie and Hurst shifter, I have to remove the driveshaft and transmission crossmember, then lower the transmission as far as it can go. It is still a tight fit and there is little room to get the bolts loosened. It would be easier with a stock shifter without the adaptor plate.

Joe

[Richard M.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

When my wife got me a shifter for Christmas 34 years ago, I discovered a real easy way.

Someone cut a hole in the tunnel to access the top bolt. When done I made a cover from sheet fiberglass and screwed it to the tunnel to cover the hole.

Came in handy a few years later to fix the rattle. A Restorer article explained how. I forget who wrote it but it worked.

Rich

[Don H.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

I have changed the shifter by loosening the front engine mounts and removing the transmission bolts. Then you can move the transmission on the crossmember toward the right side of the tunnel enough to change it. It is not a lot of fun but can be done. Don H.

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

That's funny Rich! I am following the old Restorer article currently.

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

That is a brilliant idea Don! I imagine that you wouldn't move the engine much as the shifter is on the long end of the "lever"

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

Just to update everyone - after some persistence and patience, I was able to remove it without messing with the transmission or driveshaft (or cutting a hole in the tunnel). I disconnected the speedometer cable to the transmission and moved it out of the way. Then I moved the shift levers so that they fell on top of the transmission cross mount and out of the way. I then was able to use a 1/2" breaker bar and socket to get to the upper bolts and out it came. I didn't remove the clevis pins, spring washers and cotter pins as I found it easier to remove the three transmission nuts and lock washers that held the clevis pins. Isn't it amazing how inanimate objects conspire against you yet, when you take a break and do something else before resuming the project, they give in and decide to cooperate.

[Richard M.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

Nicely done!

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

For the good of the group, in re-installing the shifter, I found that it was way easier to access the upper rear mounting bolt by removing the driveshaft. Takes five minutes or less and would have been much easier in removing the shifter had I dropped the driveshaft to begin with.

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

C-1 Shifter Removal Procedure:

1. Remove the shift lever ball.
2. Remove the shift pattern plate.
3. Remove the shift plate.
4. Remove the rubber shift cover.
5. Remove drive shaft
6. Remove clevis cotter pins, clevis pins and spring washers.
7. Remove speedometer cable and move out of the way.
8. Lower shift arms to the transmission crossmember.
9. Take a 1/2" breaker bar with 9/16" socket and loosen the front upper mounting bolt.
10. Take a 9/16" open end wrench and reach through the transmission tunnel to loosen the rear upper bolt.
11. Reach up through the transmission crossmembers to access the lower bolt with a closed end 9/16" wrench and remove.
12. Remove the front and rear upper mounting bolts.
12. Lower the shift lever assembly down and forward out of the car.

Install in reverse order

[Jim L.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

30+ years ago I replaced the worn out, original shifter in my '60 with one of the excellent repro shifters. I did not remove the drive shaft and I'm having trouble visualizing how doing so would help. Someone please explain.

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

Jim, I've pulled this three times now to try and correct a buzzing shifter. The first time, I had a heck of a time getting to the upper rear mounting bolt as it is in a tight spot with the driveshaft in place. I figured out that it is much easier to pull the driveshaft so that you can reach in through the driveshaft tunnel to access the bolt easily. Takes me about ten minutes doing that way. The photos demonstrate me reaching through the tunnel to the threaded bolt hole.

30+ years ago I replaced the worn out, original shifter in my '60 with one of the excellent repro shifters. I did not remove the drive shaft and I'm having trouble visualizing how doing so would help. Someone please explain.

Shift removal two.jpgshift removal one.jpg

[Jim L.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

Thanks, Keith. I see now how removing the driveshaft helps. I wish I had thought to do that....

[Christopher R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

The shift plate screws into 2 special nuts attached to the underside of the tunnel.

However they attached when the car was made, on my car, that was long gone. When I did this job, I had a helper snake his hand up there and hold the nut while I inserted and tightened the screws from above and inside the car.

What's a good way to attach those nuts underneath to make this a 1 person job again?

[Keith R.]

Re: Anyone have a C1 Four-speed shifter removal procedure?

I don't have anything on my '60 that attaches to the tunnel itself. What year are you referring to?