94 mtx rod shifter fix

[Boatnik]

This is one for the books. Everybody has a story about how their rod shifter assembly broke. Some up toward the tranny and some at the shifter. I was going to work today and all of a sudden all I had was first and the shifter was all over the place. I've only had this car since Friday and I've already replaced the voltage regulator and now I can't shift. Had to limp home in first gear.
Rolled into the garage and got it up on jacks and sure enough my stabilizer rod was hangin' down with no bolt in sight. I got on here and searched for pics to see what it was supposed to look like hooked up,but they seem to not exist.
My wife took up the internet search while I rummaged thru the garage looking for bolts. Tried six or seven and all were either the wrong size and thread or too short. Major frustration and now 5 hours of trying to get this thing back on.
I finally came across an old box of Fiat parts from my really stupid days. There lying on top was one of the head bolts from my Brava. It fit perfect and the threads were correct. So I guess what I am trying to say in a long winded way is...If you ever have this problem and you need a replacement bolt then a head bolt from a 1978 Fiat Brava 131 will work just fine and dandy. My hoarding finally paid off.:woo-hoo:

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

So Im not the only guy that has boxes and boxes weird parts that eventually, just might.... serve a purpose again?

Sweet. Ill tell the wife. :laugh_ti:

 

[moshman1205]

the same thing happened to me. bold for the "stabilizer bar?" just kinda fell out an the shifter dropped almost a foot down into the car about an hour away from my house. jacked it up. used a head stud i beleive in its place and now its good to go. and get used to this weird little crap happening. part of owning an sho.......

 

[StAnGbAnGeR]

My shifter seems to be all over the place too. I was told it was a bushing in the bottom of the shifter. Hope a group buy happens soon, I want a Jose Short Shifter!

 

[lincster2]

Smooth shifting

Hey there... If you want really smooth shifting check out a pin & bushing kit made by a member on this forum, goes by the name "rktmn" Jose from Miami. Basically its 2 parts ..the factory set-up was loose crap to begin with. The Jose parts really firm every thing up. I'm not saying that it's Toyota/Honda buttery smooth but it's the best that it could be.
On a final note.... it's best to use a thread locker such as loc-tite. Had some bolts come loose and at $3 a tube it's cheap insurance.

 

[Boatnik]

So in the meantime...my fix has worked loose because the threads are stripped in the hole in the tranny. Can't tell if original bolt broke and left a little as I only have ramps and not a lift to get a good look at it. There is a thru hole above stabilizer bar hole so I am going to try and rig up some kind of bracket to attach it there. What a pain in the butt. Why can't the stabililzer bar hole go all the way thru so I could just drill it out and start over.

 

[St Louis SHO]

12x1.75 helicoil. I've done it a bunch...