The red 4.6 four-valve-powered '67 GT500 convertible clone on our Oct. '07 cover gives a pretty good idea of what our friend Pete Waydo and his Reenmachine shop are capable of doing. Not only is Reenmachine adept at building ultra-cool restomod Mustangs, but the shop also has a line of intriguing bits and pieces you can install on your own car.
These decidedly modern billet-aluminum shift handles are but one of those components. They also couldn't be easier to install on any Mustang (vintage or late-model) that's equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, such as a T5, a T45, a TR3650, a Tremec TKO, or a T56 six-speed.
Our '67 Mustang subject car is already equipped with a T5 five-speed that was expertly installed by the five-speed swap specialists at Modern Driveline (www.moderndriveline.com). Our car was therefore a good excuse for us to stop in at Reenmachine one afternoon and have a look at the line of shift handles the company has available.
Here's Reenmachine's modern-look...
Here's Reenmachine's modern-look tall shift handle installed in a '67 Mustang. Stock five-speed handles, such as those used in Fox and SN-95 Mustangs, come almost straight up from the shifter, placing them out of reach in an early Mustang. The Reenmachine handle brings the knob back so you can quickly and easily get to it-no more leaning forward to reach for Third and Fifth gears. CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and polished to a mirror finish (also available in a black-anodized finish), the shift handle definitely adds a modern touch to a restomod-type Mustang. The handles have 12x1.75mm threads, the same as '83-'04 five-speed Mustangs. There are numerous knob choices, including a couple from Reenmachine.
The handles are available...
The handles are available in short or tall versions, with either a polished or glossy black-anodized finish. The Reenmachine logo is engraved in the top side of the handles.
Lying on their sides, from...
Lying on their sides, from top to bottom, are the tall and short polished handles and the tall and short black-anodized versions. The taller versions provide console clearance or added leverage. Metal polish formulated for use on aluminum can be used on the polished handles to restore the finish if it dulls over time.
Installation is typical of...
Installation is typical of any five-speed shift handle, requiring only about 10 minutes. Remove the four screws that hold the shift boot in place to access the two bolts that hold the handle in place.
Carefully pull up the boot...
Carefully pull up the boot to expose the bolts.
The handle fastens to the...
The handle fastens to the five-speed shifter just like any other handle. Two bolts pass through the holes in the handle base and thread into the shifter stem. Using an Allen wrench (or whatever appropriate tool for the fasteners you have), loosen and remove the bolts.
The old handle comes right...
The old handle comes right off when the bolts are removed.
The Reenmachine handle puts...
The Reenmachine handle puts the shift knob in a similar location as a stock four-speed-style handle. The factory-style shift handle shown at left is also a nice option for more stock-appearing Mustangs equipped with a five-speed transmission. It's available from California Pony Cars (www.calponycars.com).
With the Reen handle stacked...
With the Reen handle stacked on top of the Cal Pony Cars handle, you can see how close the knob locations are with either one installed in a car. Both are high-quality pieces; it's only a matter of which style you prefer.
The Reenmachine handle fits...
The Reenmachine handle fits nearly any five-speed shifter that might be used in a vintage or late-model Mustang. Use existing fasteners to secure it into place. The holes in the Reenmachine handle are also elongated to allow for some adjustment in handle placement.