Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Convert Contour to rod shifter

90K on my 96 rod shift and all syncros are great. Shifts like butter now with the new shift forks. I love it.

Mine had 130k when it was torn down. Everything looked great as well.

82,000 on mine with 100% original components and it still shifts perfectly, don't even have the tranny cocktail in it now!

There was a time when it wasn't so good - but I think that was just my old warn out clutch/tob as it's back to perfect with the new setup.

Word I got from TH was that the rod setup was more durable because of something to do with where the mechanism sat inside the tranny--it was bathed in oil and always lubed. That's my limited understanding of it.

Anyway, the rod shifter is more susceptible to binding under hard acceleration, and can feel "notchy." But the binding can be reduced or pretty much eliminated with SVT motor mounts and such, and the notchiness isn't too much of a problem if you guide the shift lever, rather than slam or force it.