Cable shifter into Gen2: few questions

[Mike93]

Before I go digging too deep into this endeavor I thought I'd ask a few questions.

I'm putting a cable shifter into my '93 once-atx-now-mtx. It was rod shifted ever since I did the mtx swap but I've never like the rod shifter. I suppose I've been spoiled by my 5.0 Mustang with a shifter that has that raw, mechanical feel to it. The rod shifter felt like a cheap imitation of that...believe it or not but I want to 'downgrade' to the cable

I've noticed that there are 2 holes; one in the firewall, in on the floor for the cables. It appears the floor hole has been cleverly covered in the Gen2 and can be easily remedied, how about the firewall one??? I haven't yet pulled the carpet up and dismantled other components to see for myself...I was hoping someone had some insight they could share

 

[St Louis SHO]

Its behind the heaterbox and there is a bracket that is near impossible to mount with the heaterbox in the car...

 

[Mike93]

Its behind the heaterbox and there is a bracket that is near impossible to mount with the heaterbox in the car...

SO how much disassembly is needed? What bracket gets mounted??? It looks as if the hose goes through a hole and the grommet seals it off.

Thanks, Mike

 

[St Louis SHO]

I'd almost have to say the heater box needs to come out. There isn't very much room for error drilling the hole for the top cable. Then you're going to need to find a cable shifter and all the brackets and hardware. If you need it I have it.

James

 

[Mike93]

I'd almost have to say the heater box needs to come out. There isn't very much room for error drilling the hole for the top cable. Then you're going to need to find a cable shifter and all the brackets and hardware. If you need it I have it.

James

I have all parts from an '89 for the cable shifter, but thanks for the offer. I'll dig a bit this evening to see what's going on with that hole.

 

[cfkull]

Cable shifter opinion

I know opinions are like belly buttons, almost everyone has one.
I just replaced the cable shifter in my 90 SHO with and e-bay rod shifter and I am really pleased with the change. The rod shifter is more positive and solid feeling and has a shorter throw (feels like it anyhow) than the cable shifter. The problem with the cable is the little nickel size rubber piece that locks the cable end onto the ball pin on the bottom side of the shifter. The rubber piece breaks in half and the cable falls off of the shifter. They are not a service item, to get one you have to be a $100 + new cable from Ford. After 4 new cables I decided to make the change, glad I did. If you want my advice, stick with the rod shifter.

 

[Mike93]

I know opinions are like belly buttons, almost everyone has one.
I just replaced the cable shifter in my 90 SHO with and e-bay rod shifter and I am really pleased with the change. The rod shifter is more positive and solid feeling and has a shorter throw (feels like it anyhow) than the cable shifter. The problem with the cable is the little nickel size rubber piece that locks the cable end onto the ball pin on the bottom side of the shifter. The rubber piece breaks in half and the cable falls off of the shifter. They are not a service item, to get one you have to be a $100 + new cable from Ford. After 4 new cables I decided to make the change, glad I did. If you want my advice, stick with the rod shifter.

I appreciate opinons

However, I never liked the feeling of the rod shifter. Felt clunky...especially compared to my Mustang with Pro5.0 Shifter. I liked how the cable shifter felt. Also, I drive this car quite lightly so performance isn't a concern, afterall it's not like this car is fast and I'm shifting fast at 7000 rpms. My car rarely sees anything north of 6000rpm! Also, I get dealer discounts through Ford should I ever need to replace anythign

 

[Mike93]

Any more insight? Anyone have a detailed pic of the firwall on a Gen1? I'd like to get a better idea of where this hole needs to be.

 

[93rev2sev]

I'd be surprised if the hole wasn't already there ... maybe with a rubber grommet in it's place.

 

[Mike93]

I'd be surprised if the hole wasn't already there ... maybe with a rubber grommet in it's place.

The one one the floor definitley is not there, however there appears to be a spot where you can see they patched it somehow. Perhaps the same at the firewall...but there's the heavy sound deadening looking material on the firewall that makes it difficult to see. I was really hoping someone out there with an empty engine bay can confirm.

 

[Brook24v]

Edit - Nevermind.