Very important shifter question

[bastianshaw]

So a couple years ago fight after I bought my car I bought a z3 1.9 shift lever and shifter rebuild kit from BMA. I think i just replaced the shifter and cup. I know I had at least a bushing left over. I would like to refresh my shifter but I want it GATED. Stock rubber bushings are not going to work for me. does anyone make metal bushings? Or can anyone explain how to? is delrin good enough and should I get a DSSR

[Wanganstyle]

GATED SHIFTER? pick up a ferrari, it feels great.

only place I have driven a OEM gated shifter (550M).

[scottinAZ]

the problem with putting a gated shifter in the E30 is that as it wears, it will not fit the gates. there is also enough slop in the mounting system that a gated shifter is impractical at best, and impossible at worst.


Metal bushings can be made, all you need are the proper machine tools to do it (lathe and reamers for the trans end bit and the shift lever) A DSSR would also be almost mandatory, because as the pins wear, you can replace them easily, unlike with a standard shift rod (can be done, just more expensive than a couple pins). you will still run into problems with the mounting system however, because one end is captured on the transmission, and the other mounted to the body, unless you went with full solid mounts, there would be a measure of slop there as well.

as I said before, possible, but impracticalto make, and possibly impossible to maintain over time

[bastianshaw]

I wasnt saying literally gated just zero slop, as in all bushings replaced with metal, I feel stupid, and am sure once i get in there I will see what I need to do but i cant remember the design of the shifter. The DSSR just replaces the rod from the bottom of the shift lever to the selector on the tranny right? wouldnt replacing the bushings at those points be cheaper and have the same effect?

[scottinAZ]

ok then, yes all bushings can be replaced with (preferably oilite) bronze or another hard wearing material, you will need to have the knuckle on the trans reamed and a new bushing installed, as there are no aftermarket ones that I know of that are pre-bushed.

If I were to do this procedure, I would take the trans knuckle, and shift lever, ream them out to a known diameter (removing the plastic inside them) and then make new oilite (self lubricating) bushings to go inside the knuckle and lever with the appropriate inside diameter for the DSSR pins to go throug with a very tight clearance to minimize wear and slop in the assembly

the DSSR would be preferable as it will withstand the forces better than the offset shaft with the pins that is stock, bending and binding is less likely with that style of linkage rod, with the added benefit that it doesnt have 30 years of wear already on the linkage pins. also you do not rely on a shitty set of o-rings, plastic washers and e-clips to secure and support the linkage.