rod guide bushings?

Hello all, I wish the search function had pictures to help, I'm trying to find the plastic or vinyl pieces that stop the slop on the manual shift rods. The pieces would basically cradle the rods as they carry through the double "u" looking bracket. Maybe they would slide on the rods, not sure. Thanks for any help you can give me. Chris 65' g10

I've been cooking up a solution in my head before I attempt to make anything. I'd prefer to machine something out of DELRIN on my lathe. It's super smooth, strong. Im not sure exactly how I can do this yet... I haven't found anything that wasnt already butchered to see how GM originally did it.

I use that black plastic serrated slotted wire wrap to make 2 guides for the rods to slide on,,,,

A picture would be worth a thousand words!

,,,,,,,I just looked through a 1000 pictures to find it,,,,,

Thats different then mine

Thank you very much! Much appreciated! I will be replicating that today.

donivan65 wrote:

This is exactly what I did based on Doni's pic a few years ago! I added a zip tie at the top ends to keep them in place, there is a notch in the "cradle" there where the originals snapped in place. Just add some grease and your rods will glide smoothly. I originally tried some large grommets, they stayed in place but they are too tight and you can feel the resistance when you shift. This is a great solution.

My bracket is WELDED to the frame rail. But almost identical to the one Don posted.

Took a couple attempts but I made one out of Delrin plastic. I need to come up with something to hold it down but these will work out nicely.

Anyone interested in me making them??




My 1st/REV rod has been repaired at some point. I had to cut this bushing to let it stretch over top of the lump from the repair.

maybe you could invent something out of PVC fittings,,,,,

PVC fittings tend to get brittle unless you use the grey for electrical.

I cut a piece of sheet metal to hold the bushing down in the bracket and just bent the tabs over. I'm going to a show with it tomorrow. if it works out I'll do the 3rd/4th rod bushing and make something more permanent. pics to follow.

Just doing that made a BIG improvement.

Previous owner uses 1" electrical box bushings they look like they held up for a LONG time.

On the Fords some of us use the male adapters with "box nuts" on the other side. Use electrical(grey) they are UV protected and scedule 80(twice as thick). Ours only have 2 holes so you have to take the rods loose at each end to get them on. A little grease and "Voila!"(I have always wanted to use that word.)
Jim