Need some help with 5 speed

[dolcesails]

Can anyone tell me how long the metal shift rod connecting link is on the 5 speed transmission, I just did a tranny swap, took the auto out put in the 5 speed this is on an '86 jetta, I have a bunch of parts and thought I had one but it is for the 4 speed manual, it is longer than the one on the 5 speed, looked on the net and haven't found one..... I have seen plenty of the upgrades, (weighted) rods but not the stock one if anyone knows where I would be able to get one I'd be greatly thankful...............Nick

[TylerDurden]

Check with the site owner for parts, link is on the upper left corner.

If time permits, I'll try to get a measurement tomorrow.

[TylerDurden]

This?

[dolcesails]

yes that's it......... looks like 7 1/4 inches I played around with a piece of wood and tried 7 inches was able to get 4 out of 5 gears thanks now I need to locate one.................Nick

[Fatmobile]

Isn't that part the same between 4 speed and 5?
I'm probably wrong but I don't remember ever swapping the metal upper rod that moves when shoving the shifter forward or back.

[dolcesails]

No the 4 speed rod is longer, I had to look at my VW truck with the 4 speed, to verify that the 5 speed rod is exactly what TylerDurden shows in the picture. I checked with the sites owner and he doesn't have one, it should not be hard to fabricate..............Nick

[Joe Stewart]

I have one of those rods! But I have to search through about fifty boxes to find one. Will see if I can locate it this weekend.

[dolcesails]

A, Joe,
If you have one of those rods and want to let it go you can e-mail me or give me a call 813-505-8729 thanks.......Nick

[Fatmobile]

I'm still not believing that the 4-speed and 5 speed use a different metal rod.
Why would the throw from front to back change because it's a 4 or 5 speed?
Side-to-side is different for sure.
What's the length on the 4-speed rod or what's the difference in length?
I'm thinking maybe someone threw a MK2 rod in there instead,.. but I think those are shorter.
If you are only getting 4 out of 5 gears; the rod through the pinch bolt should be adjusted. Side-to side adjustment.

[82vdub]

The rod in the pic towards the front of the thread I believe is all one length. My Bentley for my Rabbit says that there's a rod that's different length for a 4 and 5 speed. The 4 speed "rear selector rod" has a crook in it, while the 5 speed is straight. Not sure what has/hasn't changed when in an 86. Also, isn't there something different just under the shifter that should also be swapped for the conversion? I think I remember reading somewhere where there was a difference.

[dolcesails]

I did a automatic to a 5 speed swap, sometime ago I was able to get the whole drive train (motor, transaxle) and all the supporting linkage for a swap, so I thought, it was a couple of years ago and now I have the need for the 5 speed. My older brother who gave me all of his older VW stuff as he has moved on to newer VW's, I was digging in one of the boxes and saw the rod thinking that was it..... it was longer than the one that TylerDurden had taken a picture of, after seeing the smaller rod I knew that was it, the longer rod being maybe 4 inches longer (just a guess I didn't measure it) but I had played around with a piece of wood 7" long the linkage lined up I was able to get 4 out of the 5 gears.......sitting in the driveway, the car is not ready for the road yet I am waiting on some parts to get here, CV axle, injector pump o-ring, speedo cable and gear was different, I think I'm going to need a bushing kit as well, I used a part of a heater hose for a bushing and I can see that it was making its way into 5 gear..... oh and trying to find the GL4 axle oil locally, I don't think that is going to happen, I think that is going to be an online deal. I will try to take a picture of this longer rod as soon as I figure out how to post pictures.....so far it has been an easy swap I've been wanting to do this for a while now........I'm 56 now and hope this stuff will be around for a while longer. I think of it as a life time guarantee which is gonna be about 15 years for me. (Just a joke) always thought they built this stuff for me because I've been able to handle just about anything that has come up. Talk to you fellas later.

[Fatmobile]

Looks like the list is getting shorter, pretty close to hauling your butt around, ha.

[Joe Stewart]

OK, I checked all my boxes of parts and I found two of the 7-1/4 inch rods and two of the 10 inch rods. One of the 7-1/4 inchers has the weight in the middle of it. Which one do you want and what is your mailing address? PM me.

[dolcesails]

Thanks Joe PM coming your way.............Nick

[dolcesails]

Well guys the swap went well I've been driving the car a week putting some miles on it everything was great, I was messing around the speedo cable and it be came disconnected from the rear of the speedo I took it lose from the tranny put it back under the dash put the gear back in the tranny seemed like it went in like it was suppose to...... drove it......it didn't work took it out of the tranny again, and a small piece and the tip of the gear broke off I drained the oil and can not find it......do I have anything to worry about it floating around in there...............Nick