Canary94GT

I've got a 3-speed manual in my 65 and primarily when I accelerate, but also when I am cruising, I get a rattling noise from the shifter. The noise stops when the shifter is held. It sounds like loose vibration of metal on metal.

Is this fixable? Is it a common issue and I should just ignore it?

Starfury

Very fixable. Get yourself a 4sp (yes, the 4sp, not the 3sp) shifter repair kit from some place like Glazier's. You'll have to get under the car to unbolt the shifter and remove it, but it's fairly simple to take apart once it's out. The shifter kit comes with new shift handle bushings and shifter bushings and springs. I rebuilt mine a few years ago and it tightened up well.

Canary94GT

Ok, so one of these?

Starfury

Exactly

Canary94GT

Hmm that's pretty cheap, so it's also pretty easy to install? (i'm a real beginner and afraid to hurt the car lol)

Starfury

You'll need to put the front of the car on jack stands, although the rear wouldn't hurt as well. Put the shifter in neutral, unscrew the shift ****. Go under the car, disconnect the shifter linkages from the shifter (small pin clips through the rods), unbolt the shifter from the tranny, drop it out of the car.

Unbolt the shift handle from the shifter assembly (two bolts at the base of the handle) and replace all necessary hardware. Use moly grease on the metal side bushings. Put everything back together in reverse order.

kalli

wow. in my car's original 3 speed it was just the case of the shifter stick being loose. 2 bolts tightened and it was good for another 1000 miles. then loctite and never heard back. 5 speed now anyway, but might wanna check on those 2 bolts that hold the shifter

2+2GT

I like to attack from above, but it's basically a toss-up. If you have a console, you can cheat, because it won't be a problem if you cut outward on the corners of the shifter hole in the carpet to access the boot screws. That way, all you need to do is remove the shifter bezel from the console, unscrew the boot, lift it, unbolt the handle, and remove it. Usually the old grommets have melted all over the holes, so you'll have to scrape them off. Make sure you use new special washers with the kit, ordinary washers are too thin and too soft. Use the 4-speed kit as Starfury suggests.

If you don't have a console, remove the RH door sill, RH kick panel, and RH seat. Lift the carpet and access the screws.

One advantage to working from underneath is you can remove the shifter, give it a good bath in parts cleaner, grease it, and put it back.

66 and later shifters were enclosed in a rubber lower boot, to prevent dirt from getting into the shifter. The first mechanic who worked on the car cut it off. It's a great piece, also reduces noise and heat coming into the car.

A properly set up stock shifter works very well.

Canary94GT

Alright, thank you guys. When I get the chance to put it on ramps, I'll check out the situation.

I do have a console, but its all original carpet so I think I'll just try to work from underneath, though from above it would be really neat... and I have to take out the console someday to repaint or clean it anyways.

Kind of strange that I need a 4-speed kit lol