CGT shifter problems

[DieMarthaDie at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/8/2003 2:58:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, raudi1 at value.net writes:

> Hello all,
>
> Last night while driving home, the shifter in my CGT turbo became loose in
> my hand, leaving me unable to shift gears.
>
> Upon getting under the car, I discovered that the support rod (which
> connects the shifter side plate to the tranny via a rubber bushing over a
> ball socket)  had popped off the ball leaving no pivot point for the
> shifter.
>
> A friend of mine was kind enough to drive his jack out to me so that I could
> reconnect this bushing and continue home.
>
> I have ordered a new bushing this morning (even though mine appears fine,
> for $2 it seemed like cheap insurance)  but my question is - has anyone had
> this problem before? A new bushing will probably help, but doesn't strike me
> as a bulletproof solution.
>
> Looking at the current setup, it occurs to me that a cotter pin or something
> should have been put at this connection from the factory. Any BTDT with
> this? Can't seem to find anything specific in the archives, and definitely
> don't want to deal with this again - especially on a long
> trip!
>
> Thanks in advance,
> J. Lyons
> 84 CGT turbo
> 86 4KCSQ
> 79 5KS

EXACT same thing with my 83CGT about 35,000 miles ago.  Bummed a bushing from my neighbor with a 5spd in a box in the garage while waiting for the replacement from the dealer.  The bummed piece stayed on and I gave my neighbor the new one when it showed up.  No problems.  I think they just distort over time.  Mine had about 100k on it when it went... but it had had a new clutch done within 10k before that, so maybe that hastened it's demise (disassembly/reassembly).  It's a really easy fix (even in the winter in a parking lot where you push the car after it does this at 11pm to your wife...).  It might benefit from some kind of pin, but you will find that the new bushing will snap on with some resistence and you won't worry anymore.

John
83CGT
90V8Q