62 Shift Plate and retainers

[Robert I.]

I wanted to install the shift plate on my 62. The retaining screws are in the retainers and wouldn't turn. I put a little penetrating oil down in there. The nut holding the screws just turns and turns.

I tried to get a wrench in there to hold the nut, but when I turned the screw the screw fell through the hole with the retainer attached to it.

The trans is a hair too far to the left, driver's side, because I can see that one of the shifter rods is rubbing on the trans tunnel.

So I need to loosen the trans anyway and see if I can move it a bit to the right.

But what do those retainers attach to?

Thanks

[David B.]

Re: 62 Shift Plate and retainers

Robert, I believe the screws were retained by cage nuts which snapped into the tunnel holes. Tricky part is, I believe they must be installed from underneath--and I'm not sure exactly how tricky that is with the transmission installed. Below is a link from a catalog showing what the nuts look like (I believe these match the nut in the AIM, PN 271014):

https://www.corvettecentral.com/search?CurrentSearchCategoryId=Years%3A%3A1962&q=231002

I'm aware that people have used alternative solutions to install retainers from above, e.g., rivnuts or push-in plastic license plate retainer nuts. Obviously those aren't stock, and may require enlarging the holes.

[Carl R.]

Re: 62 Shift Plate and retainers

Robert, here is a picture of what it looks like from underneath. If the holes are messed up too much that a new cage nut will not stay in place, try using an epoxy type glue or a panel adhesive like SEM panel adhesive, just don't get it on the threads. Now lets see if I can get this picture up here.DSCN0471 (1).jpg