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Grinding 205 shift rails...

other than the obvious high and low at the same time, is there anything wrong with modifing it so you can shift into both low and high at the same time? does it weaken the shift rail too much or something? or is it more of an "idiot proof" thing?
 
damn MEK... cool stuff! it'll be added to the files.

BTW, you'd be the man to ask... I have a couple of sets of Ford shift rails... can they be used in a chevy case? I parted the ford cases out... just wondering what is worth keeping around... :thumb:

j
 
Masiony said:
other than the obvious high and low at the same time, is there anything wrong with modifing it so you can shift into both low and high at the same time? does it weaken the shift rail too much or something? or is it more of an "idiot proof" thing?
Click to expand...

Just idiot proofing. If you weren't worried about that, you could just pull the interlock pins and not even have to grind the rail. I think it's easier to get the rail out anyway though. Since I reserve the right to be an idiot at any moment, I figure it's not too much trouble to just grind the rail. At least that way my truck is protected from me.
 
Actually i was talking to JEK because in his info. pics. he sent me the finish on the shift rail looks like it has been blasted with walnut shells.

Also i was planning to grind my shift rails on a surface grinder, if i shape the wheel to the proper radi will this work?
 
well as you know, i am not an idiot...

but i do want to grind them to allow both ranges. ive heard that getting the interloc pins out is a PITA so i think i will just grind more.
 
Shift rails

Yea alot of help, i've downloaded all the pics. so far so i do have a vast amount of ref.

Has any one figured out how to build the twin shifters yet?
 
jaros44 said:
Actually i was talking to JEK because in his info. pics. he sent me the finish on the shift rail looks like it has been blasted with walnut shells.

Also i was planning to grind my shift rails on a surface grinder, if i shape the wheel to the proper radi will this work?
Click to expand...

I figured you were talking to jek, but I just didn't know what you meant by finish. I just thought that the rail in question looked new. :dunno: Not something I would worry about either way.

You can grind them with whatever you want, just make it look the way it should. I just freehanded mine with an angle grinder. Theres nothing at all to be worried about here. Your 205 won't quit working if it's not dead on. The only thing you're changing here is the operation of the interlock pins with the rails. The only thing the interlock does, is decide what gears are selectable when. So you really can't screw anything up. Even if you take too much off, you can always put it back on. :weld:
 
jaros44 said:
Has any one figured out how to build the twin shifters yet?
Click to expand...
I built some last year using two stock shifters. One needed bent slightly to allow enough room for them each to have knobs. I found a piece of electrical conduit that fit the ID of the shifters. I took the widths of the two shifters, added the thicknesses of washers between the adapter, shifter, 2nd shifter, and bolt head. Took the sum of those dimensions, added a little wiggle room, and cut the conduit to the right length. Then I took the appropriate bolt, 9/16 x 3 IIRC, and bolted the conduit to the adapter with everything on it. I made linkages out of a bent piece of flat stock, a piece of 1/4" rod that I threaded, a 1/4" heim, cotter pins, etc. I pretty much just kinda winged it and started slapping stuff together. It's not too difficult. Oh yeah, I had to cut the bottom arm off of one of the shifters and weld a new one on that didn't have so much offset.

I have abandoned this setup, as I'm going with a doubler and will need a triple stick setup. I decided to start from scratch, rather than trying to adapt the old setup. So I have a bunch of 5/8 round bar that I'll make shifters out of. I'm about to do it, just haven't gotten there yet. Maybe this weekend I'll start playing around with it. My old twin stick setup has been donated to my roommate donimator's truck. I can still take pics if you want.
 
shifters

yeah, that sounds good, but i believe i have the idea. So grinding these things isn't any thing special, maybe i'll just do it your way as it looks straight forward. i'll save the machine shop favor at work for the work on the dblr. adapter plate. i think i have a lead on the demensions.

Did you bother to put a grease zerk in the mounting bolt of the twin sticks?
 
Well each of the stock shifters had grease zerks, so there was no need to put one in the bolt. My new setup will be greaseable too.
 
jekbrown said:
damn MEK... cool stuff! it'll be added to the files.

BTW, you'd be the man to ask... I have a couple of sets of Ford shift rails... can they be used in a chevy case? I parted the ford cases out... just wondering what is worth keeping around... :thumb:

j
Click to expand...

The Ford rods wont work in the GM case because everythings on the wrong side,if you roll it 180 so the flats are correct your detents slots end up on the bottom:doah:
I would hold on to them.......you could practice your grinding skills on them:grin:

The finish on my LoMax build pictures is DGF dry graphite film lubricant,pretty good stuff!
 
Well I'm going to give it a try, but every time I think I got it I confuse my self.


View attachment 30081
I want the top rail right? and only need to grind the one?
and did any one figure out the other rail pic in the 3 post?was the before and after switched?




now I'm lost again :doah:



thanks in advance
Shawn
 
Last edited:
You need to grind only the short rail next to the input gear/adapter for a twinstick.

The other rail mod of filing the shallow detent slot deeper like the others makes the front output shifter feel alittle better but alot of work to get out unless you have your case apart anyways!
 
MEK5 said:
You need to grind only the short rail next to the input gear/adapter for a twinstick.

The other rail mod of filing the shallow detent slot deeper like the others makes the front output shifter feel alittle better but alot of work to get out unless you have your case apart anyways!
Click to expand...

cool thanks
 
Yeaa! the search feature works for once.

I'm rebuilding an 205 right now, but I want to keep it as a single shifter for now. Can I do the shift rail modification, and still keep the shifter?
 
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