GT 2+2 Metal Gear shift gates

Sure, why not. Its done all the time for the GTO rebodies. You would unfortunately have to cut up a good center console ( or the leather & tunnel cover at least ) to make it work for an unmolested example. The rebodies look to have the turret and gate mounted to the transmission, requiring a little rubber or leather boot to let the trans move on its mounts, relative to the body.

Here is a picture of 6713:
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If that's what you want, it would be quite easy, at least on a 330.

I'd take some strips of cardboard and use them to make a pattern for the gate. Put a strip at the front of the console where 1st, 3rd and 5th (for a five speed) and use it for the most forward position. Put another strip rearward, for 2nd, 4th and R. Temporarily tape each piece to the console.

Next, mark the sides of your pattern by a cardboard strip on either side, one for 1st and 2nd, another for 5th and reverse. Tape those four pieces square.

Put the gearshift into each gear, and figure out where the gearshift doesn't need to go. These should be marked by strips cut to the appropriate width. Tape it all together, and mark four holes for screws.

Take your pattern to a machine shop, and ask them to machine (or mill) this out of 1/8" 316 stainless steel, and you'll have a gate that fits your car. No need to use an original.

At least that's how I would do it...

--Matt

 

Great idea. I own a 330 GT and machine shop (as part of another company).

I would be delighted to have these made for us. On cars with consoles, I see no need to bugger anything up. Simply remove the shift boot and I can make a round housing for the gates. Have to figure out a rigid mounting; give me a couple of days.

This is one of those supremely silly yet great ideas like the powered skateboard.

 

i agree that the metal shifter gate is a cool experience. Question: are the only Ferraris with gated shifters the ones with transaxles?

thanks.

 

I got "schooled" on this elsewhere .

As a rule: yes, the only Ferraris with gated shifters are the ones with transaxles. Except for the exceptions, like GTOs.

 

330gtc has a transaxle, but no gate.

 

Good point!

 

I think that 330 GTC & S have gates, slightly below the console top, i.e., not as visible as in the 250 GTO & modern cars. LJH
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the wisdom of putting the gates down in a well escapes me - it seems like an excellent place to accidentally drop crap into - pennies, etc - where does it go?

 

Into the transmission of course! The well is there to help you top up the oil level.

 

What?!?! Now I've heard it all!

 

Erik, Mount the turret to the four studs just below the center ball joint:
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That looks like it could work.

 

While you're thinking about it, consider a two piece turret: The bottom half has to be mounted to the gearbox with the transmission tunnel OFF, and the top part mounted with it ON, as both parts will be bigger than the existing round hole in a console. Unless you have a better idea of course.

Cheers,
Jon

 

One thing we'll have to be careful of is sealing. Your idea would make that pretty darn simple. Trap a very short rubber shift boot between the two halves of the turret to keep heat/smoke/noise from coming up through the turret. The boot would be hidden unless you really peered down the gate into the turret.

 

Erik, excellent idea. You could instead gasket the bottom half to the transmission if the measurements were right - more room for Bryans pennies and oil that way. A mid boot would be much easier though.

BTW, Mr Higgins also posted this question on Tom Yang's, so there is more discussion there: http://www.tomyang.net/cars/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=720

Cheers,
Jon

 

I actually thought about the midboot as a way to keep the inside of the turret clean. You know, free of old pennies, oil, etc.

Pop the top, clean, pop back on.

 

no offense to you guys coming up w/ a pretty neat solution to the shift gate problem . . .

but since we're souping up our 2+2s . . . .

 

Ok Ok Byron! I'm keeping mine stock, but I can't resist a casual engineering challenge. Those flames are a great idea, but mine will probably have real ones anyway...

 

Jon - you raise a good point - the (magnetic) flames at the engine vent are really not funny. A friend of mine who also owns a queen had an engine fire from fuel dripping out of the banjo connections where the fuel gallery connects to the Webers onto the hot engine below. He had black smoke coming out of those vent - fortunately this occurred literally as he was driving by a fire station . . .

this spring as I was checking things out under the hood, I had the electric fuel pump going and noticed a steady drip, drip from those very connections. I takes ten minutes to remove the air box and give those 3 connections a snug a couple of times a year - or replace the washer altogether.