bending transmission shifting column...how to or make a new one?

[slickrock]

(1973 fj40) With my non factory seats and the most comfortable position for driving, my tranny shifter touched the corner of the seat in 1st and does not leave a lot of room in 3rd for my center console (small cooler with beverage holders). I want to bend the shifter to have less of an angle on it.

Can I bend my shifter arm to a better angle with a lot of heat or will it simply break if I try that? Would it be better to get some round stock, thread it and make a new one by welding it to the bottom of the original arm?

What are my best options?

 

[blueflame]

MIne was the same way when I put in new seats, I just put it in first and put my foot on it and bent where I wanted it. Probably better to heat it and bend it, but worked great and got it where i wanted it.

 

[bigassbike]

I heated mine to bend it. Only negative was that it messed up the crome finish. No big deal to me but thought you should know.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I think Poser has heated an bent one with success also.

 

[Trollhole]

Heat and bend. They will bend. Note one on very right.

 

[Downey]

You can heat and bend without even removing from tranny. Good idea to bend away from seat, but also bend closer towards drivers hand!!!!!

 

[slickrock]

Get it red hot but before it melts or right when it turns red hot bend it? Good point on bending it closer to me.

Side note, wat about extending the t-case? Cut and weld on an extension?

 

[xjnation]

HEat it up to cherry red, slide a piece of tube over it and bend away. You can weld on an extension to the -tcase shifter. Might sleeve it instead of just butt welding it to be safe.

 

[JohnnyC]

my tcase shifter i bend ..."heat and bend" ....not an issue at all...just all the paint was gone

 

[slickrock]

HEat it up to cherry red, slide a piece of tube over it and bend away. You can weld on an extension to the -tcase shifter. Might sleeve it instead of just butt welding it to be safe.

That is an easy precaution to do.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. My pops has my acet. tourch right now until Xmas so after that, I'll bend away. I'll give my little propane handheld a try first, but it may not get hot enough.