Have a bone stock 87 IROC. Want to keep it that way with exception of one mod......and Murphy's Law is messing with that exception.

Want to install aftermarket shift **** similar to the 60s/70s Hurst-equipped muscle cars, BUT can't get original to unscrew from shift lever.

Has anyone encountered this problem? If so, what was solution? How much torque did it take? I think if I twist any harder I'll bend the lever or linkage.

Thanks.

 

Well if you dont care about the ****, use some vice grips.

 

get the upper bar unscrewed from the lower part shifter and remove anlong with the consol and pu it in a vise and just use your hands cause then you have leverage and you do worry about the bending stuff issue, i did this to see if i could get a skull know on, it didnt fit thank *** it would have been tacky in the car, i tlight up and every thing, cool but not for this car, heh

 

Mine was also very hard to remove the first time I took it off. I mean that sucker was on there. I eventually got it out by just getting a firm grip on it. It will unscrew. If worse comes to worse I would try to use a strap wrench or something that won't scratch it. To much force and you could twist the shaft.

 

I've tried the strap wrench on the shaft but it wouldn't hold that slippery surface. I think the suggestion of removing the shifter and using a vice might work. It's on tight enough that it will twist linkage if I work at it any more.

I joked with my wife about getting a skull shifter, too. It's been an on-going joke since. She's afraid I might actually do it.