Hi Jim, Here's what I did. I removed the "can" and traced around the
bottom flange for a pattern and made a new flange out of 20 ga. sheet
metal using a recip. saw and tin snips (very neatly, of course) and
painted it gloss black (I have black carpets). I used the same hole
positions for the mounting screws. I bought some heavy black vinyl at
WalMart, cut it into five triangular strips such that they resembled a
cone with a base to approximate the flange I just made, sewed them
together from the inside on wife's Singer leaving some at the bottom
edge to be squished under the flange. Just double over the top edge of
the cone to fit your gear lever. I keep the hot air out with about an
8" square of egg-crate foam rubber about 2" thick impaled on the lever
and stuffed down under the driveshaft tunnel before attaching the vinyl
cone and flange. All this looks great and has worked very well since
1991 when the 5-speed went in. Your off center problems will go away.
I'll send you a photo if you'd like...or better yet, drive up to Little
Rock and see for yourself. Oh yes, I later had the flange chrome plated
so it looks even better...
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net] On Behalf Of James Pickard
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 9:17 PM
To: Spridgets
Subject: 5-speed conversion question
Maybe someone with a Datsun 5-speed conversion can answer this one for
me.
I'm almost done. In fact, after we bleed the clutch tomorrow it is time
to
fire it up and do a road test. The problem is the Datsun shift
mechanism is
right in the center of the transmission, yet the bug-eye shift cover is
offset to the right. So the shifter bangs into the side of the hole in
the
top of the shift cover. The transmission is centered - I can't move it
any
to the right. What is the solution? Or am I the only one to ever
encounter
this problem? Thanks.
Jim Pickard
B9473298 ('65 Tiger)
AN5L/12109 ('59 Sprite)
2003 Mini Cooper
Lafayette, LA
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