engine and drivetrain 5-speed shift plate support

[Redtail]

Hey guys,

 

I'm working on refreshing the shift platform on a '73 that has a Getrag 245 5-speed swapped in by the previous owner. The shift plate on here is the stock '73 shortened to fit the 5-speed. I have run into an issue where I can't remove the bolt securing the end of the support rod to the transmission because it fouls on the tunnel (see photo). I assume when this plate was fabbed up  it was done out of the car, and nobody has tried to remove it with the tranny in the car still.

 

So it's clear I'm going to need to cut the support rod out and fit something together that can be removed with the transmission still in the car. My question is whether or not there is an accepted method for this? I can definitely make something work (I have a welder) but if there is a standard way to get this done I'd love to hear a description or see a couple photos.

 

Thanks a million,

Zack

 

[rms_sandiego]

Use the rear bracket and rubber buffer from a e21 shift plate and support it from the rear.

[Redtail]

I think I'ld need to get a whole new shift plate for that to work? There is not really any overhang at the rear I could bolt that rubber buffer too...

[Simeon]

It looks like you could get a reciprocating saw or hacksaw blade in to cut the head off the bolt.  You can then remove the bracket and refit with the nut up next to the body and the bolt pushed through from the inside.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Simeon

[Redtail]

It looks like you could get a reciprocating saw or hacksaw blade in to cut the head off the bolt.  You can then remove the bracket and refit with the nut up next to the body and the bolt pushed through from the inside.

 

Yea I'm going to have to cut that bolt off to get it out. No big deal there. I've been looking at all the photos I can find and it seems they mounted the support bracket up too high - it's on the third bolt from the bottom and it should be on the second bolt from the bottom. 

 

I'm pretty sure I can move the bracket down without much problem, but the top end of the support has been cut and welded to the shift plate. So I'm either going to need to find a new rod or fab something up with what I have around the shop...

[peterschop]

Looks like they mounted the support arm too high. I mounted mine below the speedometer takeoff. 

[Redtail]

Looks like they mounted the support arm too high. I mounted mine below the speedometer takeoff. 

Perfect, exactly what I needed. I'm going to get a piece of angle steel and just cut it to length and make a new support bracket. Many thanks all, I'll post pictures when I get it finished.

[peterschop]

They mounted the arm upside down too high. Maybe you could reuse the arm if you cut the head off the bolt and slide it out. Weld a piece of angle iron on to increase the length of the arm and put in a new bushing if needed. Then move the bracket below the speedo takeoff. 

[Redtail]

They mounted the arm upside down too high. Maybe you could reuse the arm if you cut the head off the bolt and slide it out. Weld a piece of angle iron on to increase the length of the arm and put in a new bushing if needed. Then move the bracket below the speedo takeoff. 

That's my plan. Since the PO already cut the arm for this location it's going to be too short. 

 

Thanks for all the help. I had started reading up on how to drop the transmission! Thankfully it looks like I can avoid that job. for now...

[kaptanoglu]

 

On Sputter, the brace was attached to the trans support rather than the trans itself.  As a result if fatigued and broke.  I replaced it with a nice L and R threaded bit of suspension stuff with heim joints at the end.  A bit of overkill, but I can pretty precisely adjust the length of the brace to taste, and it won't break again.

[Redtail]

New platform brace.jpg

 

 

Now that's pretty! Is that just a part you had laying around or did you order it specifically for this application?

[chargin]

I actually went to the Transmission support bracket mount with a piece of 3/4" angle steel

I installed a 242/5 speed (318is) without the support hardpoint

[TobyB]

The 3 I've done, I've backed out a lower case bolt, and made a tab out of 1/4" steel that attaches to that bolt and has a threaded hole in it.  Then I bolt the stock U shaped bracket to that.

 

Worked so far...

 

t

[kaptanoglu]

Now that's pretty! Is that just a part you had laying around or did you order it specifically for this application?

I ordered it for the application, and am really happy how it turned out. The folks that did my 4 - 5 conversion moved the trans brace, making the bolt approach a little tougher. When they attached the old support to the brace, it wasn't able to handle the rotation. This fix allows for that movement (necessary for my sub optimal mounting) and also made it easy to adjust its length.