Has anyone done any work on fixing the "slop" in their shifter play. This is in a 1978 4X4 wagon. It has the standard 4 speed manual transmission. On the top end shifter play you can engage 1st gear and make a circle about the size of a dinner plate! And it is still in gear! I have replaced the nylon bushings before in a previous shifter. I know this will help, but has anyone REALLY fixed the shifter play. If so, any tips? It would be so nice to eliminate most of the un-needed movement. Thanks...Dennis...

There is definatly a fix for this.It involves cutting the shaft on the transmission that goes to the connector to the stick shift itself.Cut a slot lengthwise in it and use a bolt to go through the hole in the top were the pin used to be and it will compress together.I am sure someone has pics of this.

Several people have done this fix. I had to do it to my wagon. It helped soo much. Plus it only takes like half hour or so. Heres a link to the procedure.http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/article.php?a=49

how easy is that mod to do without taking the trans out?

how easy is that mod to do without taking the trans out?

 

You don't need to take trans out. You can look under the car and see where the stick meets up with metal piece that shifts the trans. Hold on to that piece and have someone move the shifter in and out of gears and see how much moving the stick is doing compared to how much its actually moving the trans. Take that piece off and cut a line out of it so that you can clamp it together so that its a tighter fit. I think McBrat did the write up on it. He should have a better explanation on how to do it.

 

Heres the link with diagrams.http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/USRM2/mick-usrm/transmission/shift-linkage/shift-linkage-slop-fix.html