need help identifying shift tower part

[pappentl]

I'm converting an '80 to a manual trans and saw a nice shift tower extension on this site (near the bottom of the page) and would like to find out what it was from as Realoem.com doesn't show anything like this. Does anyone recognize it? TIA.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh ... ?t=1585360

[Blaise]

I am not exactly sure what specific part you are referring to. He is using the shifter from a BMW Z4 3.0, with the rest of the stock parts. Some shifter carrier brackets are self supporting off of the transmission, like in the photos you linked to, or they are supported at the back by a bracket to the body of the car (as in my 1977).

[pappentl]

Blaise, thanks for the reply. The automatic cars don't have the support bracket welded onto the underside of the trans tunnel, so I'm looking for a self-supporting carrier bracket like the one pictured. Do you know what year this might have come from?

...tom

[T.Hanson]

realoem.com shows parts and numbers for stock 4 and 5 speed set ups. Check the FAQ for 5 speed conversion parts, a shorter drive shaft etc.

My experience with both, upgrading to all new bushings, shims properly assembled, worked perfectly.

UUC short shifter kits ( if still made ) didn't blow me away with vastly different, " Snick, snick," and throw, but the lever accepts push on knobs to greatly increase your design choices.

[Blaise]

Blaise, thanks for the reply. The automatic cars don't have the support bracket welded onto the underside of the trans tunnel, so I'm looking for a self-supporting carrier bracket like the one pictured. Do you know what year this might have come from?

...tom

You are right, but if you look closely, you may find that your car has a threaded hole in just the right place. On my 1977 530i, I just had to make a small right angle bracket and everything bolted right up. I was using the shifter components out of a 1980 528i.

There are a few pictures of it in my 530i upgrades album (see gallery forum).

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1EwB ... G_1805.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x-ox ... G_1809.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... site">1977 530i upgrades</a></td></tr></table>

[Mike W.]

Blaise, thanks for the reply. The automatic cars don't have the support bracket welded onto the underside of the trans tunnel, so I'm looking for a self-supporting carrier bracket like the one pictured. Do you know what year this might have come from?

...tom

4 speed cars had the shifter support bracket held on with 4 bolts. 5 speeds used 2 bolts and a rear mount attached to the body. I suppose you could use a 5 speed bracket, fab up some additional brackets welded to the support bracket, mount it to some rubber mounted mounts like the others with longer bolts to avoid attaching a bracket to the body, but it sounds like a lot of extra work to me. Get a bracket, make a bracket, screw/rivet/bolt it on with locktite to the body and be done with it. The part you're looking for, a transmission only shifter support for a 5 speed does not exist.

If you really want to go to a short shift kit, now is the time. The following are all stock BMW shift levers. You will probably need a new shift rod and knuckle as most E12 5 speed rod ends are 10.5MM. Most everything else is 10MM. Some say the new rods have to be bent some, others say they're just fine as is, YMMV. But they are BMW and relatively inexpensive. BTW, stock an E12 has about a 10:1 ratio.