I just replaced the smaller (diameter) of the 2 shift cables in my 86 GT (shift select cable) and am looking for advice on how to adjust and the routing of it. I did route it the same way from the factory, but it certainly does not move as freely as the other cable. Maybe that is the way they are as I d have not had a chance to drive it yet. any advice is appreciated. Thanks
It should be a similar adjustment procedure to the 4 speed, which I have, put the transmission in 1st gear, put some drill bits or Alan Keys or nails or other stiff thin metal piece, into two holes in the shifter assembly in the car, then on the transmission side, loosen the cables (making sure the parts on the trans stay in 1st gear) then tighten the cables again making sure that the arms on the trans are centered in that gear. There are many other threads on this forum with more details on the 5 speed specifically, with pictures, but that is the general process, and is the same on the 4 and 5 speed.
Did you compare the motion of the new and old cable individually when they were uninstalled, to see whether the new one was stiffer to start with, as new cables should be much less stiff (my shifter was so stiff with the 84 shorter shifter that the garage I took it to get an alignment at couldn't figure out how to put it in reverse, or take the handbrake off) now with new cables, it is smoother with the shorter shifter then other Fieros with the long shifter (and much more precise). Another thing did you end up removing and disassembling the entire shifter assembly, as if the pivot bolt for side to side movement is overtightened, or over shimmed, it will make it much stiffer, when you move it between 1st/2nd, does it still spring over to its resting position (3rd/4th)?
Did you buy TFS or rodney dickman? i bought the rodney dickman select cable and it doesnt need adjustment.
I did route it the best I could and it still doesn't select great, but better than my old cable. Not sure if I give it the optimal routing.
I have a recent thread with pictures on how i ran it.
There is 2 different types of adjustment, the factory adjustment used to negate the effects of stretched cables over time, which is the elongated mounting holes on the transmission, then there are other ones, like WCF, etc. where the cable end is also adjustable, because they didn't make it exactly to OEM spec, so you need to both adjust the cable end/mount and the factory adjustments provided on the transmission to get it to shift properly. Either way whatever cable you get, you need to adjust it correctly, if you don't, the shift forks can wear or the car can pop out of gear because the shifter is misaligned with the transmission. Also to provide good feedback to the driver. It might be really sloppy forward/backward in first, then go down to second and it is jammed up against the stop, with no free play. It needs to be aligned to a happy medium, with a small amount of free play in all directions equally. That free play will decrease with the shifter length. I have both Rodney Dickman's cables, along with all the shims and bushings all along the shifter linkages, and it is really really good feeling, very smooth, and very little play. When I first installed it, I over shimmed and over tightened the through bolt on the bushing for the shifter select movement, which gave me a really tight side to side motion, where it wouldn't return to 3/4 neutral when wiggled into 1/2 neutral, and it took a while to find out I had overtightened it, fixed that and it was smooth as butter.
There is 2 different types of adjustment, the factory adjustment used to negate the effects of stretched cables over time, which is the elongated mounting holes on the transmission
where exactly are these elongated holes? Are you talking about the select and shift levers on the transmission?
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:
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I have both Rodney Dickman's cables, along with all the shims and bushings all along the shifter linkages, and it is really really good feeling, very smooth, and very little play. When I first installed it, I over shimmed and over tightened the through bolt on the bushing for the shifter select movement, which gave me a really tight side to side motion, where it wouldn't return to 3/4 neutral when wiggled into 1/2 neutral, and it took a while to find out I had overtightened it, fixed that and it was smooth as butter.
Ok I thought buying a RD select cable was install and forget it. I didn't realize there were adjustments that could be made for the select cable. I have the 87 service manual where it details inserting the drill bit at the shifter and shimming procedure, but its only for the shift cable action as far as I can see, not select. I still have the original shifter hardware. Can you elaborate on the adjustment procedure for improving select action? Again reading the service manual where it tells you insert the drill bit, and find the neutral point, etc seems to help shift action, not select action as far as I can see.
Also did your select cable run above or below the coolant crossover pipe? ------------------ 87 GT Stock 2.8L
[This message has been edited by gregr75 (edited 02-09-2024).]
can anyone detail or point to the select-action adjustment procedure? is it at the shifter end or the transmission end. RD select cable is non adjustable, and its still tough with side to side movement after installing this new cable.
