"Loose" stick

semvhu · June 23, 2003

My first post here. yay. Anyway, I bought a '93 Z71 5-speed manual last week. It has 140k miles, but it runs good and is in good shape, and I thought I was getting a good price. If I don't like it after a month or so, I don't think I'll have a problem at least selling it for the same price.

Anyway, rambling Mondays aside, it does have a few small issues. The primary one is the gear stick. The best I can describe it is "loose." It seems to have a lot of play while in gears, especially OD, but the gears do not seem far enough apart while shifting because of this looseness; i.e., I've gone to 5th a couple of times while shooting for 3rd. I've already gotten used to it and I don't have any trouble driving it, but I worry that this may get worse over time. If I can go ahead and tighten it up, I'd like to do so.

My dad said a lot of the older models had a pin or two that would tend to wear out over time and cause similar troubles. He wasn't sure about this model, though.

Any ideas? While I'm down there, any cheap mods to go ahead and implement? Maybe something with a shorter throw? Nah, I don't "need" the mods, but I'm always toying with stuff in my mind.

TIA

Pewter Pro-Tec · June 24, 2003

Your dad is right on the older ones there were 2 guide pins that hold the shifter in place.

I don't know how hard it is to remove all the carpet and stuff, but if they are the same as the old style, it's easy to check. Once you get all the carpet off, to pop off the stick and look at the pins, make sure the shifter is in neutral. On the bottom of the stick, there is a locking collar and to remove it, all you have to do is push down on it (it's spring loaded) and unscrew it about a 1/2 turn.

Again, I don't know if it will work for yours, but I think the last manual tranny I looked at was for a late 80's maybe early 90's truck and it could be the same.

BDBWTE · June 27, 2003

There are two nuts on the stick assembly and one sets the position of the stick and the other is the jam nut to lock it place. No big deal just put it where you want it lock it down and be done. I'm glad to see another person getting a stick shift and not a slush box...

TheScaryGuy · June 28, 2003

I doubt its the pins, old chevy 5 spds have really long throws, unlike a car, unless the truck is slipping into 5th from 3rd then you have a problem. Also is it the original clutch? if so this could account for your looseness. Especially obvious to me when I drive different vehicles since I have only had extremely stiff hard performance clutches on my truck. hope this helps.