[OldTee]

Charlie, thank you. The shifter works much better.

For those who don't know what the Dickins I am talking about:

Charlie had shifter coupling bushings made for us Dorkiphiles and he installed mine today at Kurts Taj emporium. When we removed my shifter coupler one of the busings was gone, like as, not there. For a moment I thought the PO had not installed it but after some poking around we found the bits and pieces. The replacement bushings made a big difference in the how the car shifted. More precise, absent of slop.

[Ken Robinson]

Let me second Old Tee's thoughts and appreciation to Charlie for the manufacturing and installation help. While the old bushings weren't as bad as Old Tee's there was a noticeable difference (a nice crispness) driving home from Kurt's. Thanks again Charlie!

Kurt, thanks for hospitality - we all should have a garage set up like yours! My apologies for cutting out around 11 but I had a christening to attend.

It was good to meet a few other Dorki's as I don't get out as often as I'd like to

Ken

[GeorgeW]

Charlie,

What an improvement! It feels like a totally different transmission. Perhaps the fact that the existing connecting pin/cyclider was loose and half out of its housing also had something to do with it. In anycase, I am very happy with the investment.

Thanks to you and to Kurt for the time and effort !

George

[Parenn911]

Originally Posted by OldTee

Charlie, thank you. The shifter works much better.

For those who don't know what the Dickins I am talking about:

Charlie had shifter coupling bushings made for us Dorkiphiles and he installed mine today at Kurts Taj emporium. When we removed my shifter coupler one of the busings was gone, like as, not there. For a moment I thought the PO had not installed it but after some poking around we found the bits and pieces. The replacement bushings made a big difference in the how the car shifted. More precise, absent of slop.

John, I was shocked to see your shift coupler missing one of it's bushings. Here's a photo of what OldTee's shift coupler looked like after Charlie removed it:


Indeed, what a difference a little bush makes!
The brass bushings are great ! After installing them in my 911, I have noticed the shifting improved alot. It is much smoother, and the brass eliminated a ton of slop in the shift coupler. Thanks again for getting these made up for us Charlie!!

[Dave O]

I also had my bushings literally fall apart, both of them! I actually drove it for a while with one gone, with two gone it was all but impossible to find a gear. I replaced the bushings with the OEM ones but they still have play. Any chance there is another set of Charlies bushings still available?

I also want to install a short shifter. Any advice on what to go with?

Thanks.

[Charlie Stylianos]

Dave,

Pelican Parts is now selling the Brass Coupler Bushings. I have a few sets left, but want to hold on to them as promotional samples for other possible vendors.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...pg4.htm#item19

Unfortunately, the OEM Short Shift Kit which reduces throw by about 20% is NLA......may be able to find new or used if you search hard enough. The next least expensive stock looking kit is the Weltmiester kit which reduces throw about by 30%. The Rennshift kit (www.rennhift.com) is very nice which is both a short shift and also spring loaded to help prevent the horrible 5th-->2nd or 3rd-->2nd misshifts. Think the Rennshift is under renovation with a new version coming out shortly.

Hope this helps.

[Jazzbass]

Wow - the factory SS is NLA, huh. A quick internet seach seems to confirm that, too. I wonder when that happened? The wierd thing is, I'm almost never on the good end of buying something before it becomes unavailable.

BTW, Charlie, I hope you're seeing your fair share of that $42.50 for those bushings.

[William Miller]

Thanks Charlie for the bushings!

I was going to wait on the install, but I ended up pulling everything I could from the tunnel, including the wiring harness to weld in my seat brackets.

BTW, the shaft was in there pretty tight so instead of taking a chance at beating the coupler up, I used FIRE!
Simular to the spring plate method, I burnt / melted the plastic bushing till it would come out the end. I then inserted a deep socket over the shaft and directly against the steel center section. This allowed the shock from the hammer blow to act directly on it without the isolation of the plastic bushing. It took only 2 blows to loosen it to the point that it would easily drive out. I think this was the second bushing replacement because the 3 serrated splines were worn.

Everything is back together and smooth as silk!

Another tribute to Charlie: I dyed my heater knobs scarlett red using the rit dye on the stove. Charlie, how's the long term test on that working out? It's been about 2 years right? are they still red?


Is there a thread on PP about the bushings? I'd like to post my sucess there and hopefully drive some sales your way!


Also thanks to VaSteve for helping me get my harness back in the tunnel.
Definately the hardest part of the operation!

[Charlie Stylianos]

Another tribute to Charlie: I dyed my heater knobs scarlett red using the rit dye on the stove. Charlie, how's the long term test on that working out? It's been about 2 years right? are they still red?

Yep, still as red as the day they were died, although the die has seeped into the white paint a bit and the lettering is a little pink now. Probably just needs a little freshening up with another coat of white paint.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...hreadid=129890

Is there a thread on PP about the bushings? I'd like to post my sucess there and hopefully drive some sales your way!

Awesome! Glad they worked out for you. I'm actually curious to hear other's feedback as well. Resurrect that thread!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...hreadid=196912

[William Miller]

I'll post something there when I get a chance.
On the dye, I used my dog's Stainless water bowl on the stove.
It was a late-night / covert operation. 8)
Held my breath untill I got the bowl cleaned out.
Slinkey (The Pug) is still with us so no harm done. I think!

I hate to admit it but the "white-out" bottle was on the counter crying my name. I ended up using a black permanent marker on the defrost symbol. Not perfect, but better than faded pink!