Shift carrier mis-alignment

[Beej '86 325es]

Got the engine sitting in there pretty solid now. Doug's modified tranny brace for the 260 transmission helped out a lot. Now I've got an issue that others have had as well, but I haven't seen any real resolution. Sounds like some people bent the shifter...but how?

Is your shifter carrier this far off when using the 260 tranny? The 2nd picture shows how far it can go before it will hit the console (not far).





Couple of preview pictures of the engine mounted...

[Jordan]

You've done something wrong.

[BigD]

Hey anyone with this setup try using the E36 carrier installed upside down? I know in the E30 chassis, it places the shifter a bit to the right (since I have one). So if you install it upside down, it should put the shifter a bit to the left, which would help you Getrag guys...

[gazellebeigem3]

I havent the foggiest. I am using the same setup and the only thing i had to bend was the selector rod. Even at that, it was only about 10 degrees. Id look over everything again, just make sure you didnt miss something.

[Beej '86 325es]

I havent the foggiest. I am using the same setup and the only thing i had to bend was the selector rod. Even at that, it was only about 10 degrees. Id look over everything again, just make sure you didnt miss something.

I read someone else "twisted" the selector rod also instead of cutting and welding. How'd you do it? Just a vise and vise grips?

[Beej '86 325es]

Ok, think I got it working. I raised and dropped the engine several times trying to get it to set differently, but really with the alignment tabs on the motor mounts, and the way the transmission brace is designed, it's going to fall where it's going to fall. No change any time I lifted and dropped it.

I think that the rubber bushing that connects the shift carrier to the transmission gives people the slop needed to make it work. I've got some of the UUC delrin carrier bushings and they're REALLY friggin' tight. With a little muscle I've got it positioned about where it should be. You can see how far the rear bushing-mount is deflected.

[matt]

Wrong transmission...

[Jordan]

Yeah... looking at the rear picture its obvious you have the engine mounted at the wrong angle, thus throwing the tranny off, or you are using the wrong transmission. Judging by the remains of a vibration dampener I can see (why didnt you remove that?) I'm guessing its a Getrag 260...

You should use a e36 transmission.

[EtaSport]

Thats about where mine sits. Those trans bushings definitely wont give, it may be difficult to get it into 5th gear. Thats pretty much where the trans sits when you use the g260. It also makes it hard to get to the top bolt on the right side to remove the transmission. I may switch to an e36 trans, but i dunno yet.

*edit.. which carrier are you using? looks like the e36. I assume it came with the shift kit. It positions it too far to the right.

[gazellebeigem3]

I read someone else "twisted" the selector rod also instead of cutting and welding. How'd you do it? Just a vise and vise grips?

yeah. just bend to fit, but iirc it was 10 degrees or so.

[PiercedE30]

Flip your shifter carrier over.

[e30_kid89]

^^X2...Looks that that'll do the trick.

[BDSax]

thats really weird. when i installed my shift linkage i put the shift arm in backwards and i couldnt shift into 5th but it was still alligned right. i flipped it over and it is still the same.

what tranny mounts are you using?

welding the selector rod is really easy.

[Beej '86 325es]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses.

To answer some questions on what it is I'm running:

260 transmission, E30 carrier, IE urethane tranny bushings

Looking at the picture BigD posted, I don't think flipping over the carrier or using an E36 carrier would help the situation.

I've still got to bend the selector rod the 10 degrees so I can get it into 5th, I'm just not liking the amount of preload on the carrier.

[BDSax]

im using the same setup as you and mine lines up fine. doesnt make sense. what year tranny is that?