Bending grearshift lever..!

bobpo

bobpo

Well-known member
I have asked this before, but when I tried the "Big Wrench" trick, I still couldn't get it to bend. It is hitting the Dash in Second & Reverse. I don't want to heat it due to discoloration and it IS NOT CHROME.

Just thought there may be another way.............:confused::o:rolleyes::cool::mad:
 
try a piece of pipe over the shaft, and a brace wedged from the bend back to the seat riser, and old fashion brute force. Bob
 
Brentwood Bob said:
try a piece of pipe over the shaft, and a brace wedged from the bend back to the seat riser, and old fashion brute force. Bob
Click to expand...

My Dad tried this on his car (to bend the shift lever to the right, away from his right leg and the steering wheel) and the lever broke. He applied heat to another one and it bent to the exact spot he wanted.

YMMV.

:-)
 
Re: Bending gearshift lever..!

I have heated and bent several . Yes they do discolor from the heat.
 
bobpo said:
I have asked this before, but when I tried the "Big Wrench" trick, I still couldn't get it to bend. It is hitting the Dash in Second & Reverse. I don't want to heat it due to discoloration and it IS NOT CHROME.

Just thought there may be another way.............:confused::o:rolleyes::cool::mad:
Click to expand...

As was said above, put the correct lever on the car. The correct lever with it's corresponding top does not require any bending!
 
bobpo said:
I have asked this before, but when I tried the "Big Wrench" trick, I still couldn't get it to bend. It is hitting the Dash in Second & Reverse. I don't want to heat it due to discoloration and it IS NOT CHROME.

Just thought there may be another way.............:confused::o:rolleyes::cool::mad:
Click to expand...

What are you working with? A stock Model A transmission in a stock Model A vehicle or a SBC with a "Hurst" shifter? If it is stock have you tried replacing it with another lever to solve the problem? I wouldn't think a stock lever would be that hard to bend as I have done it with the later ones.

Charlie Stephens
 
I am 6'4" and my shifter was too close to my leg. It was dangerous because my leg would actually wedge in so it was sometimes almost impossible to get to the brake. I first moved the seat back about 3 inches then just took ahold of the shifter and bent it to the right. Not a problem at all, it bent evenly and really quite easily. This is on a 29 Fordor sedan. Its a pleasure to drive now, I fit very comfortably. I had to make some new brackets and do a little upholstery work on the seat-to-door-post fastenings but it looks good and more importantly, feels good!
 
Bent mine with a 1ton press.

Was not chromed. Just a little smooth bend to the right for leg room.
 
To clear my leg braces on my '30 coupe, I heated it with a propane torch in the bend barely above the shifter cap. Didn't screw up the finish, except for some blueing, which polished out with 2,000 grit wet sandpaper. Had to heat and bend it 3 times to get it just right.
 
Are we talking a "large" problem removing the lever? My lever is straight and really tough. Standard ******, stock, etc..

Plus, I'm assuming that to heat it, It Must Be Removed........? Like not to burn the coupe up.
 
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ok guy, if you want it bent to where you want it, just heat it and bend it, then like was stated earlier, polish out the blueing with wet or dry 2000 sand paper, its a ten minute job, not rocket sciencebut be aware your going to have to make two bends, one to get it where its out of the way, and then another bend to get it back in line so its not off to one side
 
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