floor shift question

[squinky33]

When putting in a floor shift instead of cutting a big hole in da floor, can I drill a small hole maybe 3/8 and run a shift cable through it . I was told this is easier and less work. Please give me some advice Thanx 🙂 ( I have a B&M shifter)

 

[monte olrac]

just make sure you can push the cable through freely, it should have enough room for the gromet also

 

[78 salon]

I wouldn't do it. The grommet is there to protect the cables shell. No grommett means that the casing is chafing on the sheet metal. When it wears through the casing, there's a good chance that it will ground itself to the floor pan, possibly catching fire(not good), at the least, your cable will bind up, meaning you'll have to buy a new one then do it right. Besides, the dimple is there for you drill the hole of the right size anyway.

 

[custom442]

well if he just uses any sort of rubber or plastic o-ring or grommet to make sure the cable doesn't catch the steel where he cut...which I don't think it will, or 'ground out' which it's not a hot wire so it won't be a problem.. it should be fine.

But I don't see why you'd want to go buying other grommets or plastic washers/protectors if you've got the grommet that came with the shifter. I would drill big enough to allow some movement with the cable. Then drill small holes in the transmission well from the underside and pop in some plastic stays to hold the cable to the trans well at various points.

 

[78 salon]

well if he just uses any sort of rubber or plastic o-ring or grommet to make sure the cable doesn't catch the steel where he cut...which I don't think it will, or 'ground out' which it's not a hot wire so it won't be a problem.. it should be fine.

But I don't see why you'd want to go buying other grommets or plastic washers/protectors if you've got the grommet that came with the shifter. I would drill big enough to allow some movement with the cable. Then drill small holes in the transmission well from the underside and pop in some plastic stays to hold the cable to the trans well at various points.

Custom, I agree with you there on the grommets, as far as a "hot wire", if he has any kind of power going to that shifter,i.e. gear position indicator light, that shifter is grounded to the body, which is attatched to the cable. If the casing wears through, the metal cable casing inside thus becomes a ground also. I've known guys where this has happened to and it has literally welded the cable to the metal casing and started the car on fire.

 

[custom442]

[ Custom, I agree with you there on the grommets, as far as a "hot wire", if he has any kind of power going to that shifter,i.e. gear position indicator light, that shifter is grounded to the body, which is attatched to the cable. If the casing wears through, the metal cable casing inside thus becomes a ground also. I've known guys where this has happened to and it has literally welded the cable to the metal casing and started the car on fire.

ya man, but who'd be dumb enough to run a hot wire through that little hole, or not have a fuse on any hot circuit? That's the only way it could start a spark...I'm confused

The cable is already grounded - engine to trans to cable to shifter... and body to shifter to cable. Cable to body wouldn't make any difference, it'd be a short or draw (can't believe it'd be a fire) just the same

 

[Bob]

I installed a B&M Pro Ratchet cable shifter. Follow the instructions? Like most I do to a point and wing it the rest of the way. What I did was place the shifter in the location you desire making it`s comfortable to reach and opperate. You can then make a pretty acurate guess where the cable will come up from underneath the car. It will come threw at a steep angle which will require an alongated or oval hole. The caseing on the cable is strong but I cut the hole a little larger as not to bind. I then installed the sifter and connected the cable makng sure the hole location was correct. Throw the gromlet away. I don`t think it would work with the angle anyway. I sealed the cable surronding hole and floor with Silicone caulking. It cures to ruber and creates a water/fume tight seal. It dosen`t have to be pretty because it will be covered.....