Thread: 51 MG restoration.

I can’t pull the tranny top cover off in car with the tunnel support or I might consider extending the main fork shift rods, but really, I’m very Leary of cutting apart main tranny members. Way to precise that would need be and if I fouled it up,, 59 shift linkages would be difficult to source I think.
The tie rod extension, if built well, will allow me to drop the new shifter lower by an inch or so and the linkage will still work 1:1 with the stroke, sitting just above the new u joint location and about 1“ in front of the e brake.
Once the actual link arrives I’ll be better able to tell if it’ll work, and how to build it.
Cheers. And thanks for the ideas folks..

I wonder if it is one shaft going forward under the lever? Seems like a nice solution.
Is the actual gate for the shifts up front?
I reckon the tie rod thing would do no harm. Would be worth trying first.

Pictures help,

And yes the horseshoes are up front and seem to extend down about 4 “. Plus the fore and aft bolts are extra long.the outer arms look forgiving, but that mid, 3,4 shifter looks way tight. There are guide ways either end and just an awful lot of poker straight geometry with radial accuracy required to deal with.
The tie rod is way less exacting or impactive if slightly off.

Ah, so the gate is actually under the lever. 3 rods to lengthen plus the extension itself.
A definite wacky bench job.
Carry-on!

Boy, sure looks to me like extending those rods would be the cleanest looking end product but dropping the tranny back out is a big pain in the @$$. I know it wouldn't look original but I always liked the shifter on my '69 Mustang.

Of course that exact thing wouldn't fit but maybe changing the angle to a 60°-80° curve (or would that be 100°-110°? Anyway, closer to 90°)with a short vertical portion might make it...if you can live with the look of it.

Yeah the gooseneck won’t work as the throw would get really exaggerated and still be on an angled plane.
Best bet would have been pull the engine and tranny and do the bench work but f—k that.
What buddy did with his linkage in that vid Tom shared will totally fill the bill, and allow me to have a proper looking vertical shift still, and a relatively tight throw still.
I knew the relocation of the engine would or could still be an obstacle when I got to this point, just need to work the problem to an acceptable outcome inline with the investment.

You can do it, Mike. The Tie-rod looked like a good idea as long as you can find enough support for the mounting plate. It will work!

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