Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods Not to beat a dead horse... but real quick B&M Question...

I have a 98' Contour SE V6 5-Speed. I have searched and read through a million different posts on the B&M. I have a bran new one and am going to attempt installation today, just not used to car parts that "might not work".

Anyway, couple of quick questions... I DON'T have a new retaining clip, should I just wait to get one before installation? What IS the easiest and best way to get it off and are there any precautions? Also, are there any words to the wise here on this installation... any good tricks or tips? What EXACTLY does that spring that people like leaving out do and what are the differences with and without? Anything to be carefull about?

:rolleyes: Again, sorry for beating a dead horse :rolleyes: ... just these questions weren't really answered good in the other posts that I read. Any help is appreciated, so I appreciate you guys taking the time and not :rolleyes: <= too much. Thanx again!

Your best bet is to get a new retaining clip. It can be a pain to take off and if it breaks you could be in trouble, or with out a car for sometime. Other then that just follow the directions, its easy. Disengaging the centering spring helps a little I guess. I noticed it a little more in the 1st to 2nd shift. I just unhooked it from the clips and left it on the bar that is rapped around.
If you just take your time and read the instructions the installation should go smoothly. Just make sure you have a torque set or you wont be doing this mod at all.

Most 98's have the metal retaining clip which doesn't break as easily as the plastic ones. I had the metal one and reused it. If you have the plastic one, you better get a new one.

I'm prety sure that mine will be metal in that case, but I have not looked at it. I have a late 98' if I remember correctly... so hopefully this is the case. If it somehow brakes (I don't see it happening... but still), what can I use... or can I use anything in the mean time? Thanx again for the help.

i had a metal one on my '99

-jason

Any more suggestions or things to look for / look out for, be carefull of, do's / don't do's?

If your 98 is like mine, the clip shown in the picture of the Focus that comes with the B&M won't exist. The end of that rod that the clip goes on has a rolled brass cap. Stupid me tried for 30 minutes to remove it before my brain switched on and I realized that it wasn't ever coming off.

Also, take a good look (or a picture) of the centering spring and how it is installed. I did it wrong on mine the first time, and on Cartman's old SVT when we were putting the stock shifter back in.

I broke my B&M last night. Such a fine quality shifter I tell ya!

will my 99 have a metal clip. see sig for build date.

Well, I installed the shifter last night... I do have a brass retaining clip, not plastic, so that was a releif... few things about the install...

First off... I left the instructions at work, so I didn't even have any! That was okay though... it was SUCH a cakewalk. That has to be one of the easiest things I have ever done. It took me a total of 30 minutes from start to end, and that includes taking it all back apart again to try it with-out the spring attached.

It is very self explanitory, let me tell you. Pop the linkages off, take the bolts out, pull the pin, slide the spring assembly off, pop the rubber thing and the nylon ball retainer off, lube the hell out of the ball and arm where the rev. lockout goes and reverse the process. It was such a piece of cake.

I did try it at first with the spring and everything JUST how it came off. I hate the spring. Not only did it actualy prevent the shifter from returning to the middle (if you pulled it to the left as if you were going to 1st or 2nd, it didn't pop back at all), but it also would bind and unless I really pulled it hard to the left or slapped it to the left, it wouldn't allow me to go into 1st gear because it wasn't allowing the arm to go over to the left all of the way. Anyway, I took it back appart and just disconnected the spring arms from where they give the resistance and just let it hang down freely (didn't take it off for spacing reasons) and oh my god what a difference. For whatever reason, the spring action works 10 fold better to center the shifter! I think instead of going through that arm or whatever, it uses the springs in the trans and it is soooooo much smoother.

All in all, I love the shifter, I was affraid that it would be quite a reach being so damn short and all, but it really isn't at all... quite a nice mod and I am very happy with it. Not too sure why so many people have different problems with the installs and with the shifter since it is so simple and streight foreword, but I had NO problems with it and I didn't even have the instructions with me! I will say though, after driving to work this morning, I think I will be putting the stock knob back on, on hot days and in the winter cause' that baby was cooooooold!

DemonSVT, we have our differences and all, but I am with you 110% on this one, LOSE THE SPRING for all of you who left it connected... trust me! It springs back to the center WAY better and smoother than with. It will take you all of 2 minutes to pop the spring lose, if you don't like it, then it will take you 2 minutes to pop it back on.

The reverse lockout didn't work right which kinda irritated me, but that's just because I didn't feel like spending the 10 minutes on filing off a little bit of the corner on the bottom of the collar and adding a couple of washers under the rev. lockout base. It would and will be an easy procedure... I'll knock that out in the next week or so when I get a minute or so.

Thanx for all of the advise. What a great little mod.