Has anyone ever modified their gearshift for a less flimsy, smoother, more precise operation?

On my past and present Series IIIs and my XJS as well, I've never been very happy with the gearshift. They feel more like they belong on an el-cheapo car rather than a Jag. It just isn't a smooth, precise feel, IMO....particularly when manually upshifting or downshifting thru the forward gears.

Thoughts? Experiences? Improvements?

Cheers and thanks
DD

 

There are a bunch of aftermarket filter? kits for the TH350. I think they're mostly performance oriented rather than comfort, but one of them might help. Or do you mean the physical moment of the lever?

 

Yes I have mulling this over for a while now, especially since the 4L60e conversion. I have a manual mode for bump shifting and I don't want paddles.

I have not yet come up with anything apart from replacing the shifter with a B&M and I also don't want this either.

I have seen an XJS with an XJ40 shifter installed.

 

Physical movement of the lever.

I've looked at aftermarket offerings and, so far, have found only hot rod/street rod styles which don't appeal to me...but will keep looking.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers
DD

 

Ahhhh. Now that's worth looking into, thanks

Cheers
DD

 

This XJS had a 6.0L and 4l80e from an XJ40. I would imagine that the ZF shifter will have different shift spacing so a shifter from either and XJ12 or XJR with the 6 cylinder should work.

Or any automatic shifter from a GM vehicle, cough did I say that.

 

The 95-97 XJR (X300) had the GM gearbox with the J gate shifter.

Look into that???

bob

 

Doug
I feel that any change of the look of the lever will spoil the classic interior of the car. The movement of the lever, I agree, is a bit clunky; but that is, I believe, down to the nature of the physical "bumps" the lever has to be moved round. Without that piece, or with a better one, the lever moves nicely. Even if not nicely enough, the fulcrums can easily be improved with small bearings etc etc, and even the hidden part of the lever modified to move through the bumps better.
It would be a nice winter project to take a spare shifter and remove the bit of metal that controls the "bumps", and make something that controls the lever movement more smoothly, or with more definite stops, or both, as you prefer.
I just feel a J gate would be like a plastic surround on a antique piece of furniture. Please refer to Exhibit One below, Your Honour, and I rest my case.

 

I got that sorted on mine way back in 1994.

I simply wanted to change the gearknob, so I snatched a spare "chrome bit" from a wreckers. Might have been a S2 6cyl, dunno, I basically looked at it as I usually do.

"If it quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, its probably a duck"

I cut the top off, welded a bolt in place and then fitted that chrome bit into the XJS mechanism.

Only then did I realise the shifting from D to P was a simple one slide movement. OOPS, but I liked it, as the Doug notchy really was driving me nuts. I then went the other way from D, and that was also a single movement.

WHAT HAVE I DONE.

NO bloody idea, and all I could think of back then was that the "new" chrome had a pin missing???. and that is all I can think of. I did not (as best I remember) touch the notched plate.

 

I had a repair experience three times.
This resource helped me.
http://www.sonnax.com/tech_resources/237-playing-with-transmissions-setting-total-endplay-to-prevent-th400-gear-train-failure

 

After having two Jags with the J gate, I find it boring and overstyled. It is easy to use but it is just too much. I think the XJ-S styleselector is just visually and haptically pleasing.

 

Thanks, everyone, for the input.

I prefer the look of the original shifter as well but retro-fitting a J-gate from another Jaguar doesn't seem all that heathen-like, either, IMO.

I think the best course of action would be modifying the original....possibly using a spare, as mentioned. I've never closely examined the mechanism; it might well be easier to modify it than work out a retro-fit.

I'll add this to my project list and let everyone know how things work out. It might be a few weeks

Cheers
DD

 

I've got a gear selector I removed from my scrap car sitting at home... Maybe some pics will help imagine something better?

 

Doug:


I think I know of what you speak. Not the shifts of the transmission, but the "notchiness" of the shift lever. I've noted it be much less so in my venerable old Jeep. But, I just live with it. No big deal to me.


But, I see your view.


I think Greg was as close to my thinking as anyone. So, if you have a spare, "monkey" with it. Clean up the design. And, as I think as a past lister did, remove the notch that requires a side movement to go from "notch" to notch.


Gun smiths do something like that. The famed 1911 45 as issued is rough and tough. So, they smoothen the parts that slide and cam.


In the case at hand, perhaps, merely lube would go along way. If any were applied decades ago, it is gone or congealed and does no good and more likely harm.


Carl

 

pic of my B&M shift lever with home made handle!

so far 23yrs and still works fine, (Park/Reverse lockout pull handle /neutral/ Drive 4th OD, 3rd direct, 2nd gear, 1st gear.)

700R4 with B&M shift kit, can hold it in any gear you chose!

 

I see. B&M shifter disguised with a shift boot. Clever !

Cheers
DD

 

The original 3 speed is soft unless you bang it. Modern transmissions have come a long, long way - but I have no idea how difficult it would be to retrofit.

Can anyone photoshop an XJS with a Ferrari gated shifter?

 

Just as an FYI, I have measured the cable travel where the shift cable attaches to the shift mechanism, and the movement is the same between an 88 XJ40 shifter and a Series III shifter (TH400 trans), so the XJ40 shifter should not require modification to move the shift cable the required amount at the transmission

 

I'm not sure what you mean. Mine has always felt really chunky to me, probably because of the large locks between the gears leaving a solid thud when you get it into position. I mean, if you don't know how to use it most people can't even get it in/out of gear.