Empi short shift issues

[1938vw]

Hey guys having fitted an empi short shiter changing down from 3rd to 2nd sometimes try's to put me into reverse and grinds the hell out of my gears!

Any ideas what I can do?

[Bruce2]

Fit a new shift rod bushing.

[1938vw]

The one under the cover under the rear seat?

[Marc]

The coupler under the back seat could be bad too, but what's most often the culprit is the bushing near the front of the shift rod.
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... 50&t=85516

One of the first things you'll do is disconnect the coupler, so take a moment to inspect it for slop. The aftermarket cadmium-plated ones are especially notorious for working loose where the rearmost chunk of metal is swedged into the sheetmetal "cage"; this allows rotational movement which makes it impossible to get a stable setting of the Reverse lockout plate.

[Bruce2]

The aftermarket cadmium-plated ones are especially notorious for working loose where the rearmost chunk of metal is swedged into the sheetmetal "cage".....

Take the time to weld these parts together.
If you think your original genuine VW one will be good enough, guess again. They come loose too. Just takes a bit longer.

[Marc]

...original genuine VW...come loose too. Just takes a bit longer.

True, I have seen an OG one that came loose (which is why I did not say that that they didn't).
But that was ONE, of hundreds I've had in my hands since the `60s. The aftermarket ones I've seen were ALL bad, sometimes even when new-out-of-the-package.
Welding is the only certain cure, but be sure the position is correct before you make it permanent, there's not much room for error.