Son Of A...

BITCH!

Ok, so I'm driving my crapmaro, running good, looking good, feeling good. :smokin: All of a sudden the shifter feels a little mushy. :confused: I stop at a light, go to shift into first... and the goddamned shifter drops like 6 inches so that the ball is like at the bottom of the shifter's boot. :eek: Tranny's in neutral and obviuosly can't grab a gear... gotta push the bastard (in traffic no less) in to a parking lot and call (and cry) for some assistance. :mad:

I just had a new clutch in it like less than 150 miles ago, and the mechanprick told me had to drop the tranny etc to do it, I am assuming he left the shifter in the console. Is it possible that he failed to tighten the shifter mounting bolts and they worked loose? (The shifter was SOLID before) Can I get new bolts and put the shifter back on while the trans is in the car? :cya:

Anyone have any ideas on what happened and how to fix? (also if i need to buy new shifter mounting bolts, how do I find out what type etc I need?)

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck, I already have no money to spend to fix this thing again. :banghead: Out of the last 7 times out, she's been towed back 3! :swear: I'm losing faith in this car. :disappoin

Thanks

woah, thats wierd, so just your shifter dropped down? is it not sitting right on top of the transmission?

Shotgun to your mechanic. He'll fix it. Or threaten to sue because he didn't install it properly. I say shotgun

Earlsfat, you're startin to sound like me. Everytime i get something fixed on my car, something breaks. Don't loose faith, i just the way of the camaro. I feel real agrivated most of the time aswell. Like Xeno said, but i perfer a sawd off 12 gauge double barrel.

LT: Yeah the damn thing just is hanging there, like you can move it around (up, down, left right) and it feels/sounds like it's hitting crossmembers, etc b/c you can hear like a ringing sound when it hits something metal, sort of like ringing al the way up front. Haven't had a chance to get under it to look, but there's no fluid spills, that I can see.

Guys, don't tempt me on the shotgun thing. I've really had enough of these pricks. I'm almost tempted to run a wire from the ignition into the gas tank, have it towed to his shop and just tell him it ain't running right...

just look at your sig. I drive a 92 rs with a 305. just be happy, you have one of the nicest camaros I have ever seen

what trans does it have?
you might be able to get the bolts at the auto parts store to put it back in. Or they are probally still in the shifter. your mechanic forgot to tighten them more than likley

What is it with these damn mechanics anyway? I mean it's like they just let anybody into the damn shop and do whatever thye want just cuz they know how to change the oil? I don't know what's going on, i figured all of these guys are certified mechanics with a license to do so. It's almost like we have nowhere to turn to when something happens to our cars... don't know whos gonna be workin on your car... for all i now it could George Forman...

Thanks Kpot, but uh, It's better looking when you're not pushing it. I understand it's 35 years old, but Christ... How this thing didn't fall into a billion pieces when I test drove it 200 miles ago (when I bought it) totally blows me away.

Rebel: M22 4 speed aka "rock crusher". Hurst shifter.

Linx: Mechanics? All I know is that I've paid over 2,000 for repairs that should have cost about 800 - 1000... that weren't even done right.

All I can figure is it's a side mount shifter??? or do I have my head totally up my ass? I'm gonna look at it tonight, let you know what I see tomorrow.

Samething happened to me too. I bought my car and drove it about 80 miles straight all the way home in the snow. Soon as i get it home and try to start the damn thing it dies completely. Alternator gave out. Sparks, were fouled out. Don't know how the damn thing ran in the first place. Everything is falling off of it now, suspension(everything, stab. links, shocks and struts, tie rods and control arms) all look like there about to give. 2000 grand and still no go? That sucks dude. One of my dads friends took is car the DEALERSHIP to get it repaired, supposely it was the feul pumps, paid 1200 after everything, 2weeks later, truck doesn't run at all.

I am used to working on M-22's in my father's Corvette's, but it is the same thing. On the M-22 there are 3-4 bolts that hold the shifter on the left side of the transmission, and the shifter is connected to three linkage rods that actually make the car go in and out of gear. When you move the shifter, it moves the rods, and the rods are what actually shift the transmission. Those bolts could have possibly wrked themselves out. If that is the case this is a VERY easy fix, just remount the shifter with new bolts.

And if your gonna blow it up, sell it to me first :biggrin:.

With an old car it is ALWAYS problems man. I spent over a year putting a 454 in my 71 Nova.. put about 300 EASY miles on the car, but it was too much motor and the transmission tore apart. Car stayed sidelined for about a month while about 800 bucks worth of tranny work was done to make the new one bullet proof. Put another 200? miles on the car and the rear-end gave way in the car. The car has been sitting a little more then a month as it is now while I buy parts for the new 12 bolt... it's always something, and is always going to be something.

Rob

I am used to working on M-22's in my father's Corvette's, but it is the same thing. On the M-22 there are 3-4 bolts that hold the shifter on the left side of the transmission, and the shifter is connected to three linkage rods that actually make the car go in and out of gear. When you move the shifter, it moves the rods, and the rods are what actually shift the transmission. Those bolts could have possibly wrked themselves out. If that is the case this is a VERY easy fix, just remount the shifter with new bolts.

And if your gonna blow it up, sell it to me first :biggrin:.

With an old car it is ALWAYS problems man. I spent over a year putting a 454 in my 71 Nova.. put about 300 EASY miles on the car, but it was too much motor and the transmission tore apart. Car stayed sidelined for about a month while about 800 bucks worth of tranny work was done to make the new one bullet proof. Put another 200? miles on the car and the rear-end gave way in the car. The car has been sitting a little more then a month as it is now while I buy parts for the new 12 bolt... it's always something, and is always going to be something.
Rob

Thats just the way it is...

Hello ROB! Hey can I do this with the trans still in the car, or is it a bitch to get to?

Also do you know what bolts I need or do I call Richmond or the Dealer????

All I have to say for you is that problems come with any car, especially if its older, but hey once you're riding in it and enjoying it, I think its worth it.

there are 3 , 3/8 by 1 course thread bolts if you drive up on a curb with two tires you can fix it red LOktite

Man, you've got a beautiful car! Get into working on it yourself. Changing the clutch would have been a fun experience. It's not that hard and you can do the job with common hand tools. Now this problem with the shifter..... Have you even looked under the car? It should appear similiar to an erector set. Don't laugh, it's just a few rods and a mount plate and once you stare at for a few minutes it should all make sense. You can buy any bolts you need at any hardware store. Just make sure they fit width-wise and be just long enough to give you at least 3 full turns after they start, then cinch them down. I don't want to sound like I'm putting you down, but if you buy a 35 yr old beauty like that, you should at least try to work on it yourself.
PS If you got charged 2000 for a clutch, you got ripped off bigtime.

old cars are great

I just re-read my reply and I apologize if I came across a bit too strong. It's just that a shifter is pretty easy to trouble shoot and you shouldn't let something like that keep you from driving the car for days on end. It should be a quick fix. I'd love to take that beauty of yours for a spin! Even changing the clutch isn't that bad if you get a halfway decent repair manual to guide you. The mechanic you hired did something wrong or you hit something on the road to break your shifter linkage setup. If it was the mechanic, you should get a new mech, or as I prefer, start doing your own work. You'll lose time doing your own work (and your wife might complain about garage space) but you'll save money and you'll really get a sense of satisfaction from doing it yourself. Not to mention all the knowledge you'll gain about your car. Best of luck in the future!

OK! I got up under there and you guys are right! Two bolts still there, one missing a lock washer and nut, ther other just there not grabbing anything. Is that right though, only 2? Couldn't find any other holes, but wasn't entirely sure... Had one at the top and one at the rear on the bottom.


The heads of the bolts were 5/8, so not sure if I've got something a little different or what, but get this... I was just kinda messing around under there and almost ALL of the damn things are loose, all the way around! Looks like I'll be going through this thing front to back tightening stuff up this weekend.

You guys really are a big help. Thank you very much.

Jim

Line, yeah I know... I'm trying to get into it myself, but know next to nothing about motors, etc. I bought an old one figuring that there isn't much advanced technology to really screw me up, but uh... I need an education on the whole thing. I do think it needs new seals, valve spring seals or whatever. I was under there last night and noticed oil all over the place... mainly below the oil pan, but some above it too. Not sure if oil could blow all over the place, with no flywheel cover, etc, I just don't know. Anyway, all future repairs are mine to do, or she gets a sticker on the window.

That $2k was for several different things, but still... $850 for a clutch job, Jegs sells the clutch etc for $400, the guy had it for 1.5 months, and didn't even put the shifter back on right! I need to do this myself, or I'll be selling it this fall. Got another kid coming, can't be wasting money.

I would just like to say thanks to all of you guys, got under there last night and fixed it, 2 bolts, lock washers and red locktite.Perfect... better than the mechaniprick.

One question though, new post: "Shifter Question".