Dang--1, 3, and 5 Gone... and I'm out in Bumf***

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Looks like it was a job for the ultimate multipurpose tool...Vice Grips.

Except that second bolt was gone, gone, gone. Now had I not been absolutely sure that it was the Tremec internals that had gone awry I could have simply removed the shifter trim ring and put the screwdriver through the hole where the missing bolt went and that would have provided enough stability to have gotten all five forward gears. Maybe even of used a little duct tape to hold it in place. But I've been bitc_in' and moaning about Tremec's "stuck in gear" problems and their deafening silence on the issue for so long that I immediatly jumped to the conclusion that the Tremec was at fault.

[madmaxx]

If your car would have been powered by a stroked small block the issue would have never happened. That old POS 428FE vibrated the screw loose, the whole car is about to self destruct.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

If your car would have been powered by a stroked small block the issue would have never happened. That old POS 428FE vibrated the screw loose, the whole car is about to self destruct.

You know as acerbic a comment as that is, there is some truth to it. The FE shakes the car a good bit and there is constant vibration that undoubtedly has led to my last two "don't let this happen to you" threads.

[RICK LAKE]

patrickt Hey Pat longer bolts work better. If you don't have safety wire use a couple of cotterpins on the far side. Drill holes through the other side of the bolts. They may come loose but will not come out. If those screws are loose, how many others are falling out???? Sounds like a good time for a wrench tighening around the car. Gald you are OK and car is in one piece. In your spare kit, 1 roll of 200 mph tape, 1 roll of electric tape and 4 cotter pins with clips, (different sizes) Make sure one will work on the throttle linkage. Rick

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

If those screws are loose, how many others are falling out???? Sounds like a good time for a wrench tighening around the car.

What's irritating is that I had her up and went over her pretty well just last week. It's those pesky bolts and screws that I can't see that keep biting me in the a$$.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Drill holes through the other side of the bolts. They may come loose but will not come out.

Well I fixed it this morning. On your advice, I used a pretty serious nut on the back of the bolt. Take a look...

[HI Cobra]

I had a similar experience on my Classic Roadster which has a T-5Z
transmission. The throw in shifting got very long and sloppy while on the
way to a cruise-in. It worked ok until I made it home. the two bolts went
through the post and were screwed into the lever which was threaded. One
had worked free and the other was lose. I got longer bolts and put nuts with
lock washers on the other side and no more problems. No interference with
the added length.

[madmaxx]

Wow, now I have been taught 3 things on this thread. Dont use a big block, check my gear shifter bolts and what acerbic means. I like the word so much I am going to use it at work.

a⋅cer⋅bic  /əˈsɜrbɪk/ Show Spelled [uh-sur-bik] Show IPA
Use acerbic in a Sentence
–adjective
1.sour or astringent in taste: Lemon juice is acerbic.
2.harsh or severe, as of temper or expression: acerbic criticism.

Originally Posted by patrickt

You know as acerbic a comment as that is, there is some truth to it. The FE shakes the car a good bit and there is constant vibration that undoubtedly has led to my last two "don't let this happen to you" threads.

[Xavier]

I have a 54 mile commute to work, and while leaving work (and of course with everyone watching me pull away...or try too) my Finishline shift handle snaps at the weld where the bent handle attaches to the 2-hole portion as shown in your photo. Really bad weld...
So in So Cal traffic I drove 54 miles with a glove on my hand (hotter than hell) and shifting with a screw driver through the hole to gain some grip, yet with no leverage. I since then purchased a solid billet shifter, and swore never to use the other one again. I missed the look so much though, I rewelded it with a great weld and put it back in.

I am looking at this post though, and am thinking if I should put the short billet back in....man, that was a rough one. Good to know this stuff just does not happen to me.

[Buzz]

Now if only we can get the bolts holding that passenger side roll bar to vibrate loose...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Now if only we can get the bolts holding that passenger side roll bar to vibrate loose...

This evening I've vowed to simply ignore caustic comments and take the high road... as difficult as that may be.

[Buzz]

Ok buddy, I'm with you. As for the loose shifter bolts - been there twice. The first time it was the top bolt that worked its way out and I used some wire to tie it up and continue to the nearest hardware store. The second time, the shift handle actually broke across the bolt hole. I had shortened the handle by grinding a flat section above the old top hole and drilling a new one. There wasn't enough meat left and the darn thing broke right off in the middle of an upshift. Luckily I had visegrips in the toolbag and that became my shifter for the rest of the afternoon. Looked pretty trick actually - if you squinted and tilted your head just right, it kinda looked like a lenco or some other fancy drag setup.

[elmariachi]

This could have been avoided had you installed your head gaskets and set your timing correctly.

[RodKnock]

Patrick doles out an occasional acerbic comment from time to time, especially when speaking about FFR's. I'm sure it was just late at night and he was tired. We all have our moments.

[Jim Holden]

Gee, I thought that acerbic was a guy from one of those eastern European countries that you can't quite find on the map.

Jim

[Buzz]

I always thought a cerbic was one of those bits inside a woman's private parts. And he also called me 'caustic'. That has something to do with white people of European descent, right??

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I'm sure it was just late at night and he was tired. We all have our moments.

Indeed. That, coupled with the fact that we also have houseguests.

[ng8264723]

Jeez the Kirkham has a quality shifter that comes with the car for a tremec. Too bad ERA doesn't. It's funny that FFR has a quality shifter as well
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[blykins]

Now that's funny.

Considering that TKOs don't come with the shifter handle already bolted to them, I would call this a user error.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by ng8264723

Jeez the Kirkham has a quality shifter that comes with the car for a tremec. Too bad ERA doesn't. It's funny that FFR has a quality shifter as well
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Well, doesn't come with the car, but they do have one.

Patrick, get rid of that backward Mustang shifter Jerry-rig and relocate the shifter to the correct location. (not to be confused with the "original" location)

If you'd keep a coat hanger in your tool kit (like your supposed to, along with duct tape and epoxy putty) you'd have been able to get this fixed in a jiffy.

If all else fails the passenger harness also serves as a tow harness (passenger=propulsion), although you need to make sure the cattle prod has fresh batteries.