gear change

Not to worry. Many cars have had the 'teeth' of the shift gate removed. Just a personal choice, not really a problem.

But you might spend some time fine tuning the shifting mechanism first and see if it improves getting into gear 'in a hurry'.

No need to go cutting if adjusting will solve your problem.

Larry

The shifter gate on my car is easily removeable. It is held on by 4 screws. You might consider removing the gate temporarily and seeif it produces the desired effect. If so, you could then cut it and reinstall or I believe there are vendors out there that sell modified gates.

After adjusting my shift linkage the best I could, I found the shift lever still rubbed in the slots of the gate. So I got out the tool & die grinder and widened the slots where needed, until I could row the gears without the shift level touching the gate. The result was the car shifts very easily now.

As a reminder, the first step in making the shift mechanism operate easier is to remove the spring loaded detent built into the shift lever assembly. The transmission also has a detent mechanism, the one built into the shift lever assembly is redundant and only adds to the effort requied to row the lever.

One long time Pantera enthusiast has mentioned to me that removal of the gate can lead to the owner putting side loads on the gears while shifting, instead of moving the lever perfectly forwards & backwards. Something to ponder.

cowboy from hell

I found that removing the gates made my shifts faster and effortless. I never missed a gear and don't have to listen to it wearing down my shift lever.

Actually the new ones are polished aluminum and being softer now the plate wears out instead of the shifter.

The best is to add a paddle shift system.
Feasable even without motorised throttles.
Believe.
Ciao
Wanni

These things need a Vodo Witchdoctor.
My shifter is a mess. I have to baby 1-2 so as not to kiss and grind Reverse.

The gate made it worse but I want to speed shift like it's a Ford top loader. The stiffness makes it worse because it kills any feel that there is.

The side of the lever has grooves in it the size of the Panama Canal. No matter Mac's boot covers the whole mess. With his handle you only see about 1" of chrome lever.

Nobody ever told me about the detent in the shifter. I believe that mine is still in there just like my wisdom teeth. Funny keeping them didn't make me any smarter.

Either I need new syncros or an adjustment. I'll bet on an adjustment and let you know when I'm done in a couple of years.

The rod is too short at the turnbuckle. It is almost as short as it can be made. That's got to be cutting the gate too tight.

My friend,
do not be affraid, mechatronics are an opportunity not a verdict of guiltness.
Many things are possible today. Also the application of new technologies to oldtimer parts. Simply it shall be made by who knows what he is talking about and has a general knowledge of automotive systems functionality.
Then, les jeux sont faits et rien ne va plus.
Ciao
Wanni

Thank you for the vote of confidence.
It is not that I fear the unknown, but rather I fear that I will not recognize that which I can effect and that which I cannot.

It just need to want it, and being a multi level system depending from the budjet available, it needs a concrete ammount of money for the first who is doing the conversion. Out of that, he is also the one who can sell the system by having the intellectual properties of it.
Ciao dalla bella Italia.
Wanni