Hewland shift stops

[Joe911]

[size=3]As a new FF racer I am reading Carroll Smith’s books with great interest. He talks about modifications – shift stops – for the Hewland shift finger. Has everyone already done this modification or is a bad idea? I do not read any threads about this. I already have new Apex couplers so my linkage seems OK.[/size]

[Bob Wright]

If the hewland is set up right, it should shift just fine for you in stock condition. I recall massaging the shifter in a Mark 9 to make it shift quicker, but until you're trying to get the last .01 second for that track record...I wouldn't do it.

As an aside- if you have to recondition the gear box (ring/pinion or bearings, etc) have a shop like Taylor do it- the expense is very well worth it.

[James Hakewill]

When driving someone else's FF car with a shift stop, I asked that it be removed or backed out, as it actually made it more difficult for me to shift gears - shifting was slower as I had to be more careful about moving the lever.

Once you are used to sticking the lever in the upper-right for 3rd (for the standard box), having a fiddly shifter just makes it harder to get a super-quick shift (in my view).

Only lost the one race as a result... grr....

Before getting into shift stops (not that I would), I'd first of all make sure all the universal joints and other connections in the gear linkage are up to scratch so you're not fishing for gears..

James

[stephen wilson]

Well, I guess opinions vary. I've made those mods. and love it, though I've never raced it in stock trim. I bought the taper pins/reamer for the apex joints, ran a small bolt and jam nut thru the side of the rear cover for a 3rd/4th stop, and welded an extension onto the reverse detent. When I get the $ together, I'll send it to taylor to do his magic.
steve

[Bill Hetzel]

The Webster cover on my gearbox has a built in shift stop. An internal boss in the cover limits the lever travel when shifting to third ( like the nut and bolt in Smith's book). I also lengthened the reverse plunger with a little welding. I ground it to get the lever travel where I wanted it and redrilled the oil relief hole. I like the tighter pattern and have very few missed shifts but it doesn't help me get closer to James on the track.