<VV> shift tube mods

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/30/2007 6:44:15 AM Pacific Standard Time,  
ron67ran at hotmail.com writes:

need to  replace my shifttube on 66 4 speed--prior owner found used shaft and 
 
besides cleaning up before install any things to do to ensure good  
operation?





Ron - Since this is such a common occurance, you will get a lot of replies.  
The brass inserts were one of Clark's first products and they can be made to  
work well. The plastic pieces are easier to install, and more like the stock  
pieces - which were likely fine for the first 20 years of their life! There 
are  really two areas you need to address. The bushings at the ends and the 
liner  inside. The liner is a cardboard tube. It prevents bouncing of the inner 
tube  during operation, letting the tube move forward and aft, and rotate, thus  
allowing shifts! but retaining it from jounce. Often this inner cardboard 
tube  has gotten wet and has swollen up, restricting the fore-aft and rotational  
movement. If the tube moves fine when the new bushings are installed, just 
oil  or light grease the inner tube, install it and you will be fine. If you 
need to  replace the liner it is a bit of work. There is some size of PVC tubing 
which  will slide into the outer tube and do a credible job of retaining the 
inner tube  during operation. AS for the bushings, I actually used flanged 
bronze bushings  from a bearing hose and small screws to retain them. I also 
properly shimmed the  shift housing to/from the floor. The housing should not be 
bolted down tight to  the floor, it should be free to move with the 
transmission. Doing all that  gave me a solid feeling shifter. Not quite a Hurst 
Competition Plus level, but  very nice.