Early B T5 shifter lever repair

[Mark Luichinger]

Need opinions/options on how to fix shifter lever mechanism. I have never seen one before and have no idea what is acceptable on parts being worn. Dose any body make or r+r the shift rod. Mine has a lot of wear and looks like it’s missing a flat spring on the side. Unsure if it is serviceable. Most other parts seem available except the stop plate. Pic in Stoddards catalog looks different than what I have. Did a search for repairing or modifying the lever but struck out. Any help appreciated.

[Vic Skirmants]

Mark; call me tomorrow and I'll talk you through all this.

[Jacques Lefriant]

Hi Mark
when they were plentiful i would change over to the later versions.

[Al Zim]

When they are not plentiful I would change over to the later version the one on the C with the lever to activate the heaters. You cannot fix these.
Ask Jacques if he has one stashed in his building. He is a man with a lot of stuff!
We have installed a Wilhoite shift system in a 356 which I drove for a hour or so at the end of last week. It took me 3 shifts so get our of the parking lot and on the the street. THAT IS ALL IT TOOK to convince me that this system was SUPERIOR to anything Porsche designed. Purchase them from John, I cannot guarantee happiness but you will be continually smiling.
Vic and others this is an advertisement for another company that makes an excellent serviceable product product.

[Doug McDonnell]

As Jim Breazeale pointed out there are at least 3 different T5B peace pipes: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28686&p=145752&hili ... es#p145752 One had an ID of 18mm later had an ID of 15mm. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28686&p=145752&hili ... es#p145752 And: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26476&hilit=peace+pipes Update to T6B parts if you can find everything.

[Dick Weiss]

Years ago, I dressed up a worn BT5 slotted socket (piecepipe) to receive
a modified plastic ball cup to fit w/o removing the tunnel rod; Worked fine.
Also, there were 2-versions of the BT5 rear coupling to the tranmission shaft;
1-is a 2-piece coupling and the 2nd is a 1-piece--both w/rubber flexability.

Later couplings became available w/the 2-piece bushings inside the aluminum
casting w/the thru pin + including the conversion replacing the above originals.

[Dick Weiss]

Wow; the stop plate is really worn out and some other modifications exist.
Replacement is really required.

[Jacques Lefriant]

Hi Al
Gary (Parts Obosolete) has all the ones i had.
j

[Vic Skirmants]

Mark called me today and led me to do some research on the parts I have.
Still learning! Thin-walled shift rod, obviously not able to accept the roll-pin for the shift lock. Spring-loaded cup for anti-rattle.
Thick-walled rod, has hole for shift lock. Spring-loaded cup.
Later thick-walled, has hole, and can be used with the plastic cup. Found on all later rods.

[Jon Bunin]

Mark has a very early T5B set-up, only used in the first 3-4 months of production.
If he wants to keep his shift lever assembly, then he can just replace the tunnel rod with the later, more common T5B (60-61) version and use a standard B/C (60-65) shift coupler.
If he updates to the T6B (62-63) tunnel rod that uses a nylon cup, then he'll have to replace the entire shift lever assembly as well.

[Harlan Halsey]

Mark's is the same as the one I have. And on which both Jon and Vic commented. With their help it wasn't too hard to restore it to functionality. Since the pin through the ball riding in the slots in the cup is what keeps the shift lever from rotating, I don't see a way to use the nylon cup with that shifter, even if you replaced the original cup with a larger one. The nylon cup shifters have a pin up in the housing which keeps the lever from rotating. I much prefer the feel of the nylon cup shifters, but it looks like it is one or the other.
Doesn't Stoddard sell the shifter reverse lock out plate? I think I got one from them, smoothed the top of the curve, and smoothed the place on the lever which rides on the curve when shifting out of reverse.

[Jon Bunin]

Wow; the stop plate is really worn out and some other modifications exist...

Mark's stop plate was not modified. He has the early T5B version, with a shift gate.
That feature was eliminated after December '59.

[Mark Luichinger]

Thanks everybody really good information. Vic was able to dig out a functional thin wall rod that is exactly like my mine along with a newer stop plate. Picked them up today so I am out of the ditch on this one on to the next problem. Thanks agin! This group is invaluable. Hope to be able to contribute someday

[Harlan Halsey]

Note that in the pictures above the surface of the curve is rather rough. The shift lever tang rides on this surface under the force of the spring until you pop out of reverse. I smooth both surfaces before final assembly.

[Martin Benade]

Does that gated stop plate make it more finicky to get the coupler adjusted perfectly?