Seeking advice or recommendations-
I have recently acquired a '78 40. The PO knew almost nothing about the truck but it has a 5spd transmission- has to be an H55F.
The shift lever that came with it appears to be the original 4spd. It did fit right and had ~3 inches of play/wobble when in gear. Pictured:
I bought an H55F shift lever, which is clearly for a different vehicle (60/62?). It fits the trans like it was made to and feels 1000% better. Zero play and shifts easier, but I have an angle problem:
Seems like I have three options:
1- Heat/bend shifter. I doubt I will be able to pull this off without melting the rubber liner on this two-piece lever. I would also prefer original tall shift lever.
2- Cut both shifters, splice together. Ruins two perfectly good assemblies.
3- Cut H55F shifter, weld and thread on rod to imitate original. Preferred.
Thoughts?
Also, the truck:
Lot going on with this (H55F conversion, power steering, OME dakar lift, A/C, on-board air, rear locker, speakers and 12" sub, tuffy box, spare carrier gone, interior bedlined, some bondo'd body panel pitting, EMPI weber knock off carb, cut for flares) but does have a low miles 2F and is cleaner than most. Runs great... drove it several hours back from purchase. I'd like to "resto-mod" it eventually and get it back to original color from the data plate (olive green).
Thanks
I have recently acquired a '78 40. The PO knew almost nothing about the truck but it has a 5spd transmission- has to be an H55F.
The shift lever that came with it appears to be the original 4spd. It did fit right and had ~3 inches of play/wobble when in gear. Pictured:
I bought an H55F shift lever, which is clearly for a different vehicle (60/62?). It fits the trans like it was made to and feels 1000% better. Zero play and shifts easier, but I have an angle problem:
Seems like I have three options:
1- Heat/bend shifter. I doubt I will be able to pull this off without melting the rubber liner on this two-piece lever. I would also prefer original tall shift lever.
2- Cut both shifters, splice together. Ruins two perfectly good assemblies.
3- Cut H55F shifter, weld and thread on rod to imitate original. Preferred.
Thoughts?
Also, the truck:
Lot going on with this (H55F conversion, power steering, OME dakar lift, A/C, on-board air, rear locker, speakers and 12" sub, tuffy box, spare carrier gone, interior bedlined, some bondo'd body panel pitting, EMPI weber knock off carb, cut for flares) but does have a low miles 2F and is cleaner than most. Runs great... drove it several hours back from purchase. I'd like to "resto-mod" it eventually and get it back to original color from the data plate (olive green).
Thanks