I see that rodney has some nice rebuild kits for the 5 speed transmissions, but nothing for the 4 speeds. I was wondering if you could use a 5 speed shifter assembly in a 4 speed car? Slight modification? what do you think?

I want this shifter to be TIGHT, and feel like a sportscar!

I have a new select cable coming as well as rodneys 4 speed rebuild kit (for the transmission linkage)
I just installed an 84' 4 speed shifter in my 88'. It feels MUCH better. The difference in length is about 1 1/4".
I also have synchromech in there too.
What else can be done?

Don't think that is going to work. The 4 speed shift mech IS DIFFERENT then the 5 speed shifter mech.
BUT if for some strange reason, you somehow find a way to made a modification that will work.
I might be interested in seeing your solution.
Based on time spent, vs the cost of buying the correct shifter, might be less expensive in the long run to buy the right part, for the right job, and get it down the right way, the first time around.

I just thought I remember people using shifters that werent for their transmission. Using a 5 speed isuzu shifter for a 4 speed transmission seems to come to mind.

quote Originally posted by collinwestphal: I just thought I remember people using shifters that werent for their transmission. Using a 5 speed isuzu shifter for a 4 speed transmission seems to come to mind.

5 sp getrag and 5 sp isuzu shifters are the same. 4 sp is different.

You can modify a 4 speed shifter to work with a 5 speed but the other way around is problematic. First the 4 speed shifter has a reverse inhibiting spring that the 5 speed shifter doesn't have and second the reverse light switch is in the shifter for the 4 speed and on the transaxle for the five speeds.

ok, thanks for the info!