Thread: Bolting shifter directly to tranny

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Please excuse my ignorance. I'll try to ask for advice on this subject using terms I know but in a way hopefully you guys can understand. Also, I come from the BMW world of shadetree mechanics where this is unheard of.

Long story short, I was reading in a "how to book" on building hotrods and in the section on transmissions, they mentioned how you can (basically) bolt a shifter directly onto a transmission. Of course, this was in the context of American muscle, a subject which is ironically foriegn to me. Anyway, I lightbulb went off in my head because this is exactly what I need to do with my transmission and shifter setup on the project track car I'm building. I'm mating an S50 motor (inline 6 from a '95 BMW M3) to a Getrag 260 (5-speed from a 90 325is) and stuffing it into my '76 BMW 2002. Unlike swapping engines on many American hotrod projects, there is nothing fitting or alike about anything in the drivetrain that's going into my 2002, nor is there a large aftermarket of products for something this crazy. As far as I can tell, this was done by one other individual, however, he replaced the hole floor and subframe (that's right, no frames on these puppies) with one from a '90s 3 series BMW, so the engine bolted right up. Anyway, back on topic. Due to the length and weight of the engine, I had to back it up about 2 inches past the firewall, which sets the end of my tranny right where the shifter hole in the transmission tunnel is. Before I realized you could bolt the shifter right up to the tranny, I was imagining having to figure out how to make the shift arm and shift linkage extremely short so I wouldn't have to reach back too unnaturally far to shift. This is a track (read Saloon, GT, road racing) car, so ergonomics is important here. Can anyone help me determine if its possible to integrate the shifter right into my Getrag tranny using the direct attachment method. Sorry, I don't know the correct term for that. I'm so immersed in the BMW world and we never ever do anything like that. Thanks for any help you guys can give. I've attached a few pictures for reference to what I've got on my hands here, and yes, in this configuration the tranny is supposed to tilt 10 degrees toward the passenger side. I can explain later if needed.

".....Unlike swapping engines on many American hotrod projects, there is nothing fitting or alike about anything in the drivetrain that's going into my 2002, nor is there a large aftermarket of products for something this crazy...."


Yeah thats what I like about hotroding American iron everything just bolts together, just walk into your local aftermarket store. You betcha

Your pictures can't be pulled up, but it seems to me the simple solution would be to use your stock shifter and linkage, then siimply build/bend a shift handle to locate the handle in the most comfortable position.

I agree with Mike. On the American transmissions where the shifter bolts to the transmission, there are bosses cast into the housing to bolt the shifter to and the shift arms are on the outside. I am not familiar with your trans, but most European trans I have seen have the shifter integral to the transmission, that is the shift arms are actually inside and the shifter attaches through the case. You should be able to build or modify a shift lever that puts the shift knob in the right position. Good luck and I would like to see your pictures.

Pat

The pictures should post. I'll try to fix that.

The problem with using the stock shifter and linkage is that it would put the shifter about where the e-brake handle is. Yeah, too far back for comfort. Even severely shortening it, and I'm not sure that would even work because of the severe change in geometry and I don't have one here to test it out with, would put the shifter about midway between the e-brake and stock shift position.

In response to Stu, if I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that as far as you know, european transmissions (like my Getrag) don't have an external shift arm and shift linkage. That's exactly wrong. That external linkage and arm are my problems because its causing me to debate bypassing that stuff and install the shifter directly to the tranny.

Michael

Originally posted by Mike P
".....Unlike swapping engines on many American hotrod projects, there is nothing fitting or alike about anything in the drivetrain that's going into my 2002, nor is there a large aftermarket of products for something this crazy...."


Yeah thats what I like about hotroding American iron everything just bolts together, just walk into your local aftermarket store. You betcha

Your pictures can't be pulled up, but it seems to me the simple solution would be to use your stock shifter and linkage, then siimply build/bend a shift handle to locate the handle in the most comfortable position.

Sorry, just saw your reply that I guess you edited. I didn't know there was a helpful response until now. Thanks for fixing the dumb mistake with the links.

Actually, there is no linkage in these pictures. Maybe that's why you thought I was talking about internal linkage - because you don't see it in the pictures. I don't want to buy it yet because I need to determine if I need to buy and modify the stock linkage to be extremely short or if I can get it custom made to connect right on top of where it attaches to the tranny.

I have a feeling I'm going to go with the modification method. I just talked to a guy at Pikes Peak Motor Company here in Colorado Springs and he said for his Detomaso Pantera project he essentially modified a shift lever to fit right in the horizontal connector at the end of the tranny, virtually eliminating all linkage. Of course he had linkage, but it basically consisted of the extremely short shift arm that holds the nylon cup that holds the shift lever and the supporting hardware that keeps the hole contraption from moving around. That's basically what the stock external shift linkage does, except it sits back past the rear of the tranny about 8 to 10 inches.

Originally posted by DennyW


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/100_0078.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/100_0081.jpg

In picture 2, if that's what you are calling external linkage, that's not what we meant. That looks like internal to me. Just to the right of your E brake ?

I understand that money is an option. But it sounds to me like your going to have to use the ole trial and error method here. You can always put it together like you think it should work and if it does then run with it. If it dont then back to the old drawing board. Also i just love what was said about everything fitting just correctly and bolts right up in american iron......I am building a 38 desoto (dodge) that has chev suspension atm. and will run a chev motor.....however it looks at though i am going to have to go with a ford suspension because the 78 firebird sus. is too wide for the body. (we think, have to do some measuring) So basicly my Desoto will be a bit of all the big 3.....so here we go cut and weld, cut and weld some more fabricate this fabricate that. But then again this is why we do what we do in this way of life.