Shifter Stuck to the Trans

03FR500 · Nov 25, 2015

In short, I need to break a permatex gasket bond between the shifter and trans.

I want to replace my clutch, flywheel and bearings. The problem is that my MGW shifter is stuck to the trans. This is because MGW gives you Permatex gasket maker instead of an actual gasket. That stuff acts like glue and I must have used too much. I installed this thing back in 2007 and never needed to take it off till now.

Last time I changed my trans fluid, I was going to fill it from the shifter until I couldn't get it off. After some prying, trying to get a razor blade between the surfaces and such, I gave up.

Any suggestions on how to break the permatex bond between the trans and shifter? The only thing I have thought of is to thread some set screws into the trans bolt holes, and use them as a surface to push from. I don't think the shifter holes are threaded, so I can't just screw another bolt into it and push against the set screws unless I thread the shifter holes. I see that permatex makes a gasket remover, but how would it get between the surfaces? Also, could I use a heat gun to heat it all up and weaken it a bit?

Surely I am not the first person to deal with this.

Nitmare67 · Nov 25, 2015

Lay under the car and hit the shifter from the bottom with a block of wood and hammer... or a piece of aluminum and hammer. Normally one of the corners will hang over a bit and be exposed enough that you can apply force to it from under the car. I've had to do it lots of times on other people's cars.

I'm not big on yanking side to side on the shifter like most instructions tell you to do. It loads up the pivot and handle of the shifter when it's actually the base that is stuck. I wouldn't want to damage a 200 dollar shifter. Striking it from under the car in an upwards motion with an block of wood and hammer works really good. Just leave the bolts so that it doesn't flop out when you hit it. One corner is always exposed so I assure you there's a place to do what I described.

Eagle2000GT · Nov 26, 2015

Nitmare67 said:
Lay under the car and hit the shifter from the bottom with a block of wood and hammer... or a piece of aluminum and hammer. Normally one of the corners will hang over a bit and be exposed enough that you can apply force to it from under the car. I've had to do it lots of times on other people's cars.

This is what I did with the stock shifter. I used a long screwdriver from underneath to break it loose.

69MUSTANGCOUPE393CID · Nov 25, 2015

I cut around mine with a razor blade on my 00 GT but on my dad's 04 Mach that didn't work. We ended up putting a pry bar straight up to the shifter lip hanging off and letting the handle end of the bar sit on the ground. Then lowered the car down and let the weight of the car push the shifter off the trans. Slightly dangerous but it worked haha.

1996 GT · Nov 25, 2015

Pull harder lol.

But seriously, a small little torch heat the base up and get the rtv soft, then pull.

JCP281 · Nov 26, 2015

Either use a cheater bar on the shifter handle(make sure it is pushed against either the left or right side of the unit) and the cheater bar with a rubber mallet or get under neither it and pop one of the extending edges like suggested above.

Plain and simple, you cant be a bitch about it. LOL your gonna have to use some force.

Bottledgt · Nov 27, 2015

Just put in neutral and push to left or right and smack with your palm. Usually pops right loose. Doesnt damage anything

Shifter Stuck to the Trans

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