My shifter and driveline

[MonthOLDpickle]

So a few months back I covnerted my 1991 325i from an automatic to a 5 speed. Haven't been driving it since it needs a new air flow meter. But one problem that has occured.

The bottom of the shifter where its horizontal but than goes vertical, hits the driveline barely.

Is there a way that I can somehow drop the tranny down a little? Or will that cause stress up in the tranny area? I only need like an inch. I'd like to get ym car drive-able soon so all the help I can get is needed.

Thanks

[erik325i]

Exactly what part is hitting the driveshaft? The horizontal piece, right? That is probably the selector rod. Hust jack up the car, have somebody shift through all of the gears and find out exactly where it hits. Then remove it, and bend it so it clears the driveshaft.
Also, do you have the vibration damper on the driveshaft? If it is hitting that, you could try removing that. I wouldn't recommend lowering the tranny.
-Erik

[MonthOLDpickle]

I tookt he vibratrion damper off. It hits in almost all the gears except for reverse and 5th. I thinks its right where the vertical piece meets the horizontal piece.

[blunttech]

what shift lever are you running??? you should be able to bend the selector rod like stated earlier to clear. if you cant you have some freak lever in there

[MonthOLDpickle]

lol the funny thing is its a short shifter. Anyways I'll bring this up to my father. Thank guys!

[Erick]

I tookt he vibratrion damper off. It hits in almost all the gears except for reverse and 5th. I thinks its right where the vertical piece meets the horizontal piece.

You took the harmonic balancer off and you still rub? You're touching the flex disc then? :shock:

[nickmp0wer]

lol the funny thing is its a short shifter. Anyways I'll bring this up to my father. Thank guys!

yeah they ussually need to be bent

[AdamF 88iS]

lol the funny thing is its a short shifter. Anyways I'll bring this up to my father. Thank guys!

Short shifter is short on top but longer on the bottom.

[erik325i]

lol the funny thing is its a short shifter. Anyways I'll bring this up to my father. Thank guys!

Short shifter is short on top but longer on the bottom.

This is correct. You may have to put your stock shifter back in to clear your driveshaft.

[MonthOLDpickle]

Thing is I don't have a stock shifter. I may check into that.

[e30evolution]

your shift pattern must be pretty small

[erik325i]

Thing is I don't have a stock shifter. I may check into that.

thais is exactly why you should put the stock shift lever in. A "short throw shifter" will be longer below the ball, thus causing it to hit the driveshaft. Putting in a lever closer to stock length will raise the bottom of all the shift linkage and help clear the driveshaft.
-Erik

[MonthOLDpickle]

Also may I ask how to remove my sunroof? Its a power glass. I need ot clean the inside of for rust and replace seals. Also the little sliding cover on the inside..its riped. How do I take that out? (so I can fix it) How logn does it all take?

(btw I bought that book awhile back and it fell aprt in three days)

If you don't understand, ask. I can try to explain again.

[MonthOLDpickle]

why is every crew differen yeesh. I need to buy frickin tools all the time. I need like an 8 start screw driver to unfasten the sunroooooof

[e30Matt]

Slightly off topic, but how do you bend the selector rod (in what direction) to clear the balancer? Do you bend it "vertically" (with the two pins sticking out horizontally) or "horizontally" (with the pins up or down)?