I just rebuilt the ball joint at the floor, the ears of the shift rod, and added the Gene Berg short shift kit on my '87 Syncro.
Love it.
-Dick W.-

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Koerner" <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:10:59 AM
Subject: Re: shifters

My 85 Vanagon had some shifting problems a few years ago.  There is this Nylon Ball thing, right there underneath.  My mechanic immediately understood the problem.  Those plastic parts wear.  Mine did.  Later too, another mechanic replaced the plastic "Ears" on the shift rod into the box.  These things fixed my issues, for cheap.  Not, I don't think you need to go with anything fancy.

    On Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 09:02:18 AM PST, Mark McCulley <mark@markmcculley.com> wrote:  
 
 Have any of you tried one of the fancy shifters that are available. E.g. Van Cafe's Big Shot shifter or T3Technique's Motorsport shifter?

My shifter needs rebuilding, why I'm thinking about it.

-Mark