Originally Posted by Michaelc

I experienced the same unusual slop when I installed my FDM Golden Rod/Short shift kit. I purchased the FDM kit to tighten up my shifter/linkage, etc... as my 95 cab now has 95k on the clock and the shifter was clunky, notchy, etc... After buying the kit I put the car up on stands and began my Golden Rod/Short Shift mod. Much to my surprise after removing the trans tunnel I found a B&M short shifter installed and being held on to the forward rod only by the rubber boot around the shifter, rod, linkage, and so on. I removed the B&M shifter, it is a nice piece, very stout, but mine was loose becuase the previous owner did not remove the bushings, clips, washers, etc... from the original shifter and install the on the B&M as needed. This is why my shifter was loose and imprecise, that and the fact the dust boot was holding the whole thing together. i installed the FDM setup, but without the bushings, washers, clips, and so on becuase I didn't have them and it was actually worse than when I started. Beyond that, my guide tube bushings were falling apart as well.

FDM to the rescue. I traded many emails with Mark at FDM and it took awhile because some of these small pieces came from Germany, but he got me all the rubber pieces, clips, bushings, washers, guide tube bushings and so on I needed to rebuild the sifter properly. I'm happy to say I finished the job this morning with the parts FDM supplied. I thought it felt good on the stands and it was obvious all the slop was out of the shifter, but I was amazed at how the gear shift, trans linkage, and shifting action was transformed when I drove the car for the first time. I'm certain it feels better than when it was new. Hats off to FDM for such wonderfull pieces for our cars.

I post this because having read the problems with the slop I'm not sure what pieces were transferred to the Rothsport sifter, but like mine, if the small stuff wasn't transferred or simply wasn't available to be transferred you will have a tremendous amount of slop in the shifter. All those little rubber washers, bushinges, washers, clip, etc... are what make the whole thing tight. Best of luck in diagnosing the cause of the slop. Call Mark or Darin at FDM and they will set you up with what you need to tighten the shifter up.

Originally Posted by simpsoap

Sorry for the delay, been a little busy.....After speaking with MarkD and checking the original parts I had in the basement, it appears as though I was a dumbass! I completely left out the white bushings and the two flat washers as well as the wavy washer. Going through the box in the basement, I was only able to come across two white bushings and assumed I left the other two on the core I sent back to FDM. MarkD was kind enough to put two of them in the mail to mail on Saturday, and they arrived yesterday.

Originally Posted by ande5000

Question Darin: Can the stock leather shift boot be used w/ a Rothsport shifter, or is a different one needed?