348 gear shift lever fixed

The gear shift lever on my '92 348ts broke just flushed with the shift gate while attempting to engage into first gear from idle.

After much sourcing for a replacement part, I contacted Malcom at FoUK for the gear shift lever, part #139805.
He offered a 20% discount on the part which was considerably lower than the local F dealership. Also, a diagram of the gear shift assembly was sent upon my request. Thank you, Malcom.

After a quick research through the archives, I contacted Ernie for his procedure in removing the gear shift lever. Many thanks to Ernie for his expertise in providing me a step by step procedure, and an added boost of confidence in attempting this somewhat complicated fix.

The following are the steps provided by Ernie in removing the gear shift lever.
I have only added a slight variance to the steps and provided some photos.

1/ Remove the two screws holding the shift gate in place, and remove the shift gate.

2/ Lift up the cover carefully while applying pressure towards the ashtray. Disconnect the reverse light switch by unscrewing it from the shift lever housing. Do NOT mess with the adjusting nut, or you may have problems with your reverse light not coming on when you put it back in.

3/ Jack up the car so that you have access to the underside of the car.

4/ Remove all nuts that hold the tunnel cover to the bottom of the car. Now remove the cover carefully to protect the seal from tearing apart.

5/ Unscrew the nuts and remove the bolts that hold the shift cables to the shift arms on the bottom of the lever. Do NOT mess with the adjustment bolts on the cables or you will have shift problems. They are the square things on the end of the cable that the bolts went through.

6/ Remove the 4 bolts that hold the shifter housing to the underside of the body and remove the housing. At this point, remove the small screw that secures the plate between the shift cables, so that the shift cables can slide out. Also, the bolt securing the shift cables half way down the undercarriage can be removed to allow more flexiablility for the shift cables to slide through the shifter housing.

7/ Remove the bolt that runs through the middle of the housing, then remove the shifter arms and the shift holder. Be careful not to loose the metal and plastic washers that are on the sides of the arms.

8/ Remove the 3 bolts that hold the two parts of the holder together.

9/ Separate the two parts in a box because there is a spring loaded inside the two metal holders. The photos also shows a wire was used for added security. A hammer may be needed to tap on it to get it come apart. Again be CAREFUL because there is tension on the spring.

10/ Exchange the broken gear shift lever. Double check the lever is facing correctly as before and reassemble.

Thanks to Ernie again.

Photos to follow.

Ray
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Outstanding write-up!

You get today's 348 Brotherhood award!

 

I had the same thing happen with my 1991 348ts.The dealer fixed it I drove it with vise grips for a week. What blows me away is that Ferrari gets away with this kind of part failures all the time........Why do keep turning the other cheek????????

 

Because, as with the most beautiful women, the faults don't outweigh the allure.

 

This happened to a friend in his 348TS just last June. Haven't heard of this with other models....wonder if there was a heat treatment or hardening process problem.

 

This gearshift problem hit one of the later model Competiziones...

http://www.landshark.com/348Lemans.html

"4 Hours of Vallelunga (BPR series) - July 10, 1994. Drivers: Fabio Mancini- Massimo Monti. Results: 4th place of class after having broken the gear lever."

...
From the "Race History of Ferrari 348 GTC/LM Chassis N° 98997"

 

Excellent write up.

How long did it take to do the repair?

 

I have a "jingling" noise coming from somewhere around the base of my shift lever, and I've been meaning to look into it for a cause and cure. This post will be very helpful to me. Thanks for the excellent photos.

"No Doubt": Is the shift linkage bushing you mentioned down here in this assembly?

 

The re: and re: took approxiamately 3.5 hours with an assistant.

 

??

 

Your a BAD MAN Jeff!!!! Hahahahaa

 

ATA BOY Ray!!!! Seeeeeeee I told you it wasn't that big a deal. Thanks for the acknowledgement.

I like the way you secured the busted leaver so the spring wouldn't fly across the room.

Nice write up!

For sure the brotherhood award of the day.

 

For this one, if you forgot which way, the flat part on the bottom of the shift lever faces towards the reverse light switch. It is so the button on the light has a flat surface to press against.

 

Wow!

and I thoght the gear lever was pretty much unbreakable!

Nice write up!

 

Excellent write up and pictures are so sharp too!

Not suggesting you used too much force but perhaps someone did in the past. These 'weaker' points in the 348 are why many of us never try to get into 1st until up to full temps, regardless of how well adjusted the gearbox linkages are and what oil is in the trans.

 

Excellent write-up .... I hope I never need it

BTW, I see your ashtray is broken just as mine is. The attachment holes are just too low down and when you tighten the ashtray down, the outer rim snaps. I've just ordered a new ashtray after discovering that they cost peanuts at Ferrari! (about €60 ~ $45). Before fitting, I'll glue some spacers to the ashtray underside.

 

My 355 lever broke. Unreal!
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Thanks....I am Honored!

 

They break. Verst easily. from what i gather.

 

They break. Very easily. from what i gather.

 

Terrific... another piss-poor-part failure to look forward too... Oh well, what do you expect for $120K!

 

I had no idea this was a common issue.

 

thanks.. used this guide to grease everything shifter related, including shifter cables.
I found 5 coins inside the shifter box (before taking the 2 halves apart) !!

 

found 1 more coin inside the 2 halves !!
so a total of 6 coins !!