What is the secret to getting the the snap-in Hurst shifter lever out of the housing? I remember putting in a feeler gauge to release something. I tried it this evening with no luck whatsoever. This for a 1970 442. Thanks

 

From what this old mind can remember, you were supposed to put a .009 feeler gauge into the left side of the shifter and pull it out. I have in the past put one in both sides just to make sure I got them all. Sometimes the spring ***** in the housing don't want to let go. Soaking it in PB Blaster or Zep 45 has freed them up for me in the past.

 

You also need to be pushing down on the chrome shifter handle when you are inserting the feeler gauge/shim stock. This helps free up the "tangs" that you are trying to depress. If you pull up on the handle while inserting your shim stock the retention tangs are locking into place against the shifter handle...thus resisting movement as you try to slide the shim stock in there to depress them.


On a '69 style 442 Hurst shifter handle there is a tang on each insert...ie...one on each side of the shifter handle and these tangs are only about 1/4 - 3/8" down from the top edge of the tang inserts. Not sure on the '70-2 style as I don't have easy access to one of those handles right now.