F-Body Pro 5.0 Shifter Installation : Mods : FordvsChevy.com

FordvsChevy.com : Mods : F-Body Pro 5.0 Shifter Installation

Pro 5.0 Shifter Installation

Submitted by: SS 3239
Edited by: Ed FvC

I have had the opportunity to try out a couple after market shifters in my SS. The first one was a Kirban, I slammed it threw the gears for about 2 months. My impression of the shifter.... Night and day to the stock piece. But I wanted shorter shifts and the Pro 5.0 "Power Tower" came with almost 2" of thread cut into the shift handle. I have cut about 1 1/4" off. Now it is the perfect height with the short throws that I want. My impressions..... I think it is the most sturdy of the 2 aftermarket shifters with smooth and very precise shifts. There is not a question in my mind of which gear I am shifting into.

(Note: Some of these pics come from my Kirban install page. I forgot to bring the digital camera home when my Pro 5.0 arrived and I did not want to wait all weekend to install it. Today I brought home the digital and took a couple pics but I did not feel like opening up the console or removing the #6 shift boot. But you should get the idea. I took the remaining pics after my Pro has been in my car for 1 month and has about 1,000 - 1,500 miles on it. Also Bob Lassetter's web page gave me the idea to build my page in this fashion. Bob's Pro 5.0 install page )

Stock

Kirban

Pro 5.0 (1 1/4" cut off)

Now one of the things that will really mess you up.....trying to get the console over the emergency brake. Look at the pic, (I took this pic after I had mine off) you can see the goldish paw above the notched part of the E brake. What you want to do is take a screw driver and lift it up so you can raise the brake handle a full 90 degrees. So much easier!
First remove the outer shift boot. It is easy, just gently pop it out
Then remove these 4 bolts and the one under the ash tray.
And there is one on each side at the front
Now once you have these bolts removed and the E brake jack all the way up, remove the console to have easy access to the #6 shift boot. You will have to remove 7 little bolts. Also remember you will have to unplug the light to the ash tray as well as the connector to the cigarette lighter and aux. power.
Now once the #6 boot is off, you can really see the stock work of art! You will have to remove all 4 bolts and then pry from the rear to break the seal. This took me the most time.
After the stock shifter is off, wipe up any left over sealer. Apply a thin coat of RTV blue silicone gasket gunk. Also apply a little grease to the shift ball (Kirban: since my car only had 1250 on it when I put it in I just used some of the old stuff that was around in the tranny). On my Pro 5.0 I used some Lithium General Purpose Grease. Next finger tighten the new bolts and and then tighten with a crossing pattern. Then follow the instruction to adjust the shift stops. Looks alot better already!	Picture from my Kirban Install Page
Because the shift mechanism is taller and extreamly sturdy, you will have to cut the #6 shift boot. Next I replaced the #6 boot and bolted it down. The next thing that you will need to do is replace the console and test it.

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