• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.

    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Stick shift throw

AUSMHLY

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Hi all.
My friend Randy drove my car today. He owns a 66 bj8.
He commented that my stick shift throw is farther forward than his. Mine comes to a rest, angles, closer to the dash.

I've attached a photo of mine in first gear. It rests about 1 1/2 inchs from the dash.

Curious about others. Are most where Randy's are, farther back or where mine is?
 
Dunno Roger, mine sets at 3 1/2" away.---Keoke-?
 
all I can offer are useless comments like - maybe dash is too far back, or try wearing a knuckle protector. but on a more serious note, does the lever appear to be in the "correct" position when in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th?
 
All 4 of Roger's forward gears seem to land out of place (reverse too), at least relative to mine. Maybe there were differences in the gearbox location between the '64 BJ8 and the later cars? It does feel odd to my hand to push the shift lever so far forward on Roger's car. However, I couldn't detect any otherwise unusual "feel" to the shifting, it just appears to be noticeably in the wrong place.
Randy '66 BJ8
 
There is a difference in BJ7 and BJ8 shifters. I think the BJ7 shifter rests a little further foreword.

Alan T
 
Knuckle protector, nice one...lol
Not to far from the truth though.

By the way, when in neutral, it's straight up.

Just waiting for someone to say, Mine is like yours.
Anyone. Anyone at all.

Tell them Randy. Once I find something a little off, I just say, who cares, what-the-heck, good enough. Surprized I even posted this concern.

Just when you think you have everything right, What's up with this? Roger
 
All is well, Roger. My 64, phase 1, is similar to yours. The shift knob, wood, the same as yours, rests about 1 7/8 inches from the center counsel in first gear. Somewhat farther away in third, though. Anyway, I don't think you have a problem at all.
 
If I remember you were having trouble with getting into third form second?? If that was you, you might look into the rod that is connected to the shift lever. These two things are probably related.
 
Could it be the wood knob is taller, thus leans further forward for the same angle of the gear lever? I have to occupy my mind somehow; I don’t like crossword puzzles particularly. Thanks Roger. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
OK here is one for you. Perhaps your gearbox does not have the rubber buffer pads in the bell housing and OD adapter plate. These keep the selector shafts from over traveling. However, the detent balls and springs should make the selector shafts stop when the respective gear is engaged.
Perhaps you have a mismatch in selector forks or some other parts from original.
The only way to tell is to pull it and do a detailed check on part numbers. Or you could bend the lever.
Perhaps your just being paranoid. Do you listen to alot of Ozzie Osborn?
 
BH, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif But if the rubber buffer pad is missing the little balls an springs in the syncro hub gonna jump out too pretty soon.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I have a shift knob like yours and it is 3 5/8 " from the rear of the emblem to the dash when in 1st gear. Mine is an early 65.
 
I do not own a big healey...but a Bugeye. After traveling to various shows and events I find many Bugeyes have a short shifter....the throw in 1st and 3rd brings my hand very close to the ignition switch. I'm thinking about taking about 4 inches off the shifter...did they come with a long or short shifter. (1959 Bugeye)
 
Hi XBimmer;

Dunno,about Bugeye. However, why not bend it to get the clearance desired and then replate if its plated? The guys on the Sprigits forum probably can answer the question for you.--Keoke
 
Perhaps a better measurement would be from the rear bulkhead to the lever, in neutral. Have other's make the same measurement, then compare. If yours is drastically different you may have to take other measurements as to motor/transmission placement. There is a rod holding the transmission to the X frame member at the rear that is adjustable. You might want to measure the motor fan blade to radiator also. More than likely you just have the console mounted to far rearwards.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Hi AUSMHLY, I'll measure the throw on my BJ7 tonight, and let you know what I find. Of course I don't have a console like yours so I will have to use another reference point. Could it be that for some reason you have a longer shifter. I believe my shifter is about straight up when in nuetral.
 
Roger,

With the shifter straight up out of all gears, it is exactly 7" from the back of the emblem on the shift knob to the surface of the ignition switch, ( key removed ).
 
Back
Top