harrisonrick

When you've got the right tools, the "unscrewing" is easy. However, if the PO of your car snaps off the 10 mm nut that connects the shifter shaft to the shifter linkage...your day gets tougher.

ASSHATS!!! Why can't people work on cars with the right tools???

Good thing my neighbour was home. He helped me yank the tranny with the shifter shaft still attached. No easy feat under your car on the garage floor. Now I have to straighten the freakin thing.

Oh well, now to crack her open and have a look see...pics to follow.

Rant off.

V2Rocket

so what was the linkage attached with?

drift a 944

hah I just did a tranny swap yesterday too. This is the 4th one in my car though, if I were to come across a broken bolt I know it would be my fault!

special tool

The broken bolt will continue to hold it because the threads are in the shift rod itself.

Rock

Legoland951

You may want to get another shifter rod because its gonna be hard to get it straight enough since theres not much room in the tunnel. It may hit the sheet metal of the chassis creating all kinds of rattle if its not very straight so you may be better off getting another used one.

V2Rocket

oh so you had to unthread the bolt instead of just a nut gotcha.

harrisonrick

My thought was to straighten it, but methinks a used one would be smarter to grab. Yea, when I finally got it out it had like a 25 degree bend to it.

I think while its out, I may do that drilling trick with the end that the shifter handle goes into...when you drill it out bigger, then get the 924 plastic bushings...no more rattles EVER. There's a thread on the list with a very good write up.

My wife wondered what I was doing yesterday, 'cuz the top of my head has 3 big red scrapes from me banging my noggin off the shock ends, and the ramps. I will definitely take the exhaust off from the cat back for reassembly.

Stay tuned!

Scootin159

If you do decide to get one... I'm pretty sure I have a spare.

MPD47

Buy a new (used) one. Plenty of them kicking around. Why didnt you just drill it out though? Much easier.

Scootin159

btw... just to make sure you're not making more work for yourself... it does have a slight bend in it stock. About a 30* bend up for the last few inches before the shifter.

harrisonrick

I was unable to drill it out. I was so tired of having my arms over my head I could barely hold a drill, so I gave up trying.

That's what we office guys get when we go wrenching. Man, I'm outta shape.

I'll get a good used one from Whaletail in Waterloo. $50 tops.

Thanks for the offer Scott.

theedge

Same thing happened to me, even drilling it was a huge PITA.

Waterguy

I have been involved in only four or five tranny removal/swaps on these cars, and have snapped that bolt (or seen that bolt snap) twice now. I broke the bolt during a tranny removal from a parts car in someone's driveway 200 miles from home; didn't have the tools to drill it out even if there was room. There is enough room to cut the shift rod with a small angle grinder and cut-off wheel; ask me how I know! My brother broke that same bolt on a tranny install when he tried to torque to spec. It is holding so far, so that one will still have to be dealt with some day.

It seems like this bolt should be replaced as a routine replacement item on any transmission removal. Is it still available from the dealer or aftermarket? Should we add that recommendation to Clark's Garage?

harrisonrick

Well....I cracked open the side panel. There's a 1 inch chunk of the pinion gear stuck to the magnet, and bits of it in the ring's tooth grooves in there. No wonder I've got some "whining".

The diff carrier bearing cups show some wear too. Now to decide whether I find a good used R & P set or just buy a used tranny.

Pics to follow after I download them tonight.

Have a better day than me!