Forty-five years ago, Ford brought us some mighty hardy manual transmissions. The Top Loader three- and four-speed transmissions were tough and durable, and they remain the standard today in all-out competition because they don't break.
But what were Ford engineers thinking when they designed Mustang floor shifters? They were terrible right off the assembly line and only got worse with time and use. We'd have to ask the same question of Chrysler engineers, who came up with the same broomstick-in-a-barrel floor-shifter for Plymouth and Dodge performance cars before switching to the Hurst units in its muscle cars. Ford did the same thing in its muscle cars starting in 1970.
If you're not inclined to install an aftermarket shifter, there is hope for factory shifters by rebuilding with a Scott Drake Enterprises Shift Repair Kit from Virginia Classic Mustang. Three- and four-speed shifters are basically the same except for reverse lockout on four-speeds.
For our four-speed shifter...
For our four-speed shifter bushing replacement project, we called Virginia Classic Mustang to order a Scott Drake Super Shift Repair Kit, #C5ZZ-7208-AK, which includes super-hard shouldered bolts, rubber grommets, cups, and springs. Don't forget wavy washers and cotter pins for the shifter linkage underneath for smooth operation. Visit your local AutoZone store for white lithium grease and a can of brake cleaner.
If your Mustang is like most...
If your Mustang is like most from '65-'70, you will be able to simply lift the chrome escutcheon and boot to get to the shifter because, more than likely, someone in the car's past has removed the boot and not bothered to reattach it . However, if the boot is secured to the tunnel, you will have to remove the seats, rocker sill plates, and kick panels to pull the carpet aside to get to the boot. Think about ordering a new boot and shifter dust shield while you're at it.
Two bolts secure the shifter...
Two bolts secure the shifter handle. You will need a 1/2-inch socket to break them loose.
You're likely to find old...
You're likely to find old grease with a mountain of embedded dirt. Here, we have cups and springs that are shot, which leads to sloppy operation.
Remove and dispose of the...
Remove and dispose of the old cups and springs.
Use brake cleaner or a good...
Use brake cleaner or a good parts washer to remove grease and grime from the bores.
Work surfaces with a wire...
Work surfaces with a wire brush or wire wheel to remove any corrosion or hard debris.
On four-speed shifters, clean...
On four-speed shifters, clean the reverse lockout with solvent, then check for proper operation.
Fill the bores with white...
Fill the bores with white lithium grease and install the cup/spring assembly as shown on each side. The grease will retain the cups and springs. Spray-lubricate the reverse lockout with a lighter weight lubricant that will flow into the mechanism.
Replace the rubber bolt grommets,...
Replace the rubber bolt grommets, which help isolate vibration and noise.
Our shifter handle gets new...
Our shifter handle gets new bolts with lock washers. Lock washers are not included in the kit; however, we strongly suggest their use.
Reinstall the shifter handle,...
Reinstall the shifter handle, making sure both cups and springs are intact. Start the bolts by hand after lubricating the threads with WD-40 or other penetrating compound. Tighten the shifter-handle bolts.