I've just installed a 253 and M20 gearbox (floorshift) into my HQ sedan and am having trouble with the gearbox linkage rods fouling on the drive tunnel.
The car had a 304 with T700 auto prior to this. So the engine, engine mounts, gearbox, cross member, linkages, clutch setup, extra pedal etc is all new. Lots of variables!
I can't remember where I got the linkages from...they were second hand.

I suspect that either:
1. The linkages and or levers on the side of the box are wrong.
2. The gearbox is sitting too high. It looks OK, and the cross-member and mount all lined up perfectly. But the shifter seems a bit high in the cabin...the rubber seal from under the shifter seems to stick up above the drive tunnel more than I expected (about 15mm).

There seems to be quite a lot of variation with rods, levers and adjusters. Would it be true to say that there are many combinations of these for different models ? The lever for the first and second shift on my box, doglegs towards the tunnel. In the workshop manual, it seems to dogleg slightly towards the box..although I can't find any images on the net showing this.
Rarespares sell a Universal kit for HK to VZ!! Hard to imagine it would suit all these models given the many variations of factory parts:
https://www.ebay.com.au/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7Kd8qGQZQ

Any suggestions on what may be the issue, and on the suitability of the above kit for an HQ ?
Rgds, Andrew.

I think the cross member is right. It bolted straight in and everything lined up.
Can you get different height mounts ? I would've just purchased something standard. It was a while ago.
I'll try to get some pics.

Good news if the rods are all the same. There seems to be a large variation in at least the levers and adjusters.
My workshop manual has the 1/2 lever leaning inwards towards the box, with a plastic style threaded adjusters. 3/4 lever doglegs outwards towards the tunnel and has a trunnion adjuster.

Rgds.

Smitty, why would a bench seat HQ-WB with floor shift have longer rods than a console shift? The shifter sits in the exact same place and the distance to the selectors from the shifter is identical length. Same with any other Torana, Commodore etc where the shifter sits directly on the box.

I just went and looked up the parts catalogues for HQ/HJ and Torana and UC and WB and VK. They are all the same part number for the 1-2 shift rod. The 3-4 changes when I think the plastic bit came into play, but UC and WB and VK are all the same part number for the 3-4 shift rod. I didn't bother with LC-LJ but the only one I can think of that differs is the LH 4cyl with Aussie M20, that shifter uses longer rods as its mounted to the floor not the box.

Thanks for your input gentlemen.
Here is a picture of the cross member:


Here is a pic of the linkage setup just before installation:


it all operated perfectly out of the car.
Its the 1/2 lever that's fouling on the tunnel. I'm thinking I might try to flip the lever around on the box, and flip the rod around too. Maybe they'll line up :)

If you see anything wrong, please advise.
Rgds.

Shift rods are wrong. The metal trunnion goes on 1-2 and rotate it 180deg so the rod is inside the selector with teh clip on the outside. The plastic one goes on 3-4 and the shaft goes through from the outside with the circlip on the inside on the box side.

HQ parts catalogue has good pictures.

Edited by user Tuesday, 21 January 2025 5:33:16 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified