FINALLY a real world use for HF tools.

 

The ONLY drawback is, because of the length and being made out of tool steel, it acts like a tuning fork, taking the vibrations from the shift linkage down under the boot and resonating them into the cab. It's not super annoying, but it's just that metal ting/rattle like if you don't fully tighten down a new shift **** (the sound that makes you paranoid thinking something is about to fall off, but everything is solid)

 

What about some rubber (like a bicycle inner tube piece) between the shifter coming out of the floor and your custom shifter?

 

Well , I think I need to hand over my welding certs. I wasn't thinking, rushed the job and didn't heat treat the wrench properly. I did a water quench instead of oil and didn't temper the steel so it was a brittle as an 80 year old's hip. On to round 2. Actually gonna take my time and get it right. Bought a HF "S" wrench this time instead of a "C" wrench and gonna keep the torch work to a minimum with a hot oil quench and a gradual tempering. My welds on the socket and breaker bar are holding perfect though

 

Alright so after the troubles that I had previously, I decided to keep it simple this time. Went with another Craftsman "C" wrench and the previously pictured Craftsman breaker bar, only modifications I made were the holes drilled and welding the swivel head on the breaker bar. The 1/2" drive stud fits perfectly into the 9/16" box end (with some slight persuasion from a 5lb baby beater), tight enough that I had it 1 notch too far forward and needed an air chisel to get the bugger out to reposition it. She's beautiful though, I don't think I even want to powdercoat it anymore.

This is in 4th gear (because I consider left and down as 1st, not "low")


4th again showing just how much clearance I have


Big thing I'm having to get used to is the added weight, I barely even feel the gate that separates Reverse and 1st from the rest of the pattern anymore and have to concentrate when going into 2nd from neutral so that I can judge the resistance of the gate

 

I like that breaker bar better anyways. Looks cooler.