Is there a way to get the gear slop out of the shifter with out rebuilding the trany? It's kind loose.

 

pack her full of grease, or get another lil' bushing for there.

 

so all i got to do is pull top plate, replace busshing, and she's ready to go?

 

yes the plastic bushing that the steel pin goes through is what wears out. You can also find them custom made in metal

 

what yr zx and is it turbo or non turbo?

 

i got the 3 bushings from nissan for like $4 each not much and it shifts a whole lot better.

 

81 trany, non turbo.

 

you have one of 2 shifters. One will take the bronze door hinge bushings, the other needs the nissan bushings that will fit in the rectangular hole.

http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techti...ing/index.html

 

I heard that there's a Chevy bushing that will work, but don't remember the source...

 

all the 280zx shifters I've ever seen wont accept those brass bushings. They're made for the S30 shifters. Fortunately the 280Z shifter fits the 280zx perfectly and even, IMO, fits a little better then the stock shifter. The 280z shifter has a longer shaft below the pivot which shortens the shift throw and the bushing design of the early shifter makes it more solid feeling. I think the 280zx shifter was designed to absorbe more vibration (more comfort over performance features ) rather then firm up the shifts.

 

The early 280zx did have the shifter that accepted the round bushings.

If you look at the 280z shifter you have you will see marks on the lower portion that were made from the shifter hitting the shift rod cut out.

Here's my pic gallery on hybridz, one of the pics will show you the mark I am talking about. And mods on how to make a short throw shifter using the late 5 spd.-- http://album.hybridz.org/showgallery...00&ppuser=8318

For a true short throw shifter you have to lengthen the bottom pivot along with raising the fulcrum. At the same time keeping the top portion of the stock shifter intact.

 

I didnt have the shifter in long enough to ever notice any negative side effects. I was something I did just before I left it in VA. I see the mark you're referring to though. Not sure it would end up being a long term problem. A little dremel action might remedy that problem depending on how bad the interference is. I initially installed the early shifter on the recommendation of a fellow Z'er that it would take some slop out. And it did. Another benefit I noticed with the early shifter was the position of the shifter in regards to driver position.