TWM Stage 2 SS Help!!!

[BADFISH6]

(smash) I currently only have half of the shifter installed right now(the stick part) because there is some kind of shifter cable guard(see photos) attached by a screw that is now impossible to get out. The screw is completely stripped and has broken nearly all of my bits in an attempt to drill it out. I know this is more of how to remove a stripped screw problem than a car problem, but can someone please help me? This shifter cable guard was not in the install picks and I was also wondering if anyone has or had one of these in their car. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[chiefmg]

Oh, you are one of the lucky ones who got the bracket! I had it on mine too. The main problem is the Phillip's head screw that holds it in place is Japanese metric, guaranteed to strip if you use anything else. What I ended up doiing was cutting off the head with my Dremel tool (after bending the vertical part out of the way), then grabbing the rest of the screw sticking out of the bottom with pliers and turning it out that way.

[tunersteve]

Oh, you are one of the lucky ones who got the bracket! I had it on mine too. The main problem is the Phillip's head screw that holds it in place is Japanese metric, guaranteed to strip if you use anything else. What I ended up doiing was cutting off the head with my Dremel tool (after bending the vertical part out of the way), then grabbing the rest of the screw sticking out of the bottom with pliers and turning it out that way.

Yes, it seems that bracket was the latest revision of the shifter that they made. I drilled mine out with a slightly smaller bit than the screw dia, and wiggled it out from underneath with a pair of pliers. You can hack up that bracket since you don't reuse it. Good luck and hope you get it taken care of!

[BADFISH6]

Thanks for the help guys. Do they sell japenese metric screwdrivers in hardware stores in america?

[tunersteve]

Thanks for the help guys. Do they sell japenese metric screwdrivers in hardware stores in america?

You might be able to find one at harbor freight, but I'm not 100% sure.

[coyfish]

Yes i had that same problem. Turned a 1 hour job into a 5 hour job. I stripped that crazy hard bolt and had to hand saw that thing out. My advice would be to find the proper screwdriver for that and have someone else take a wrench and twist the bottom part of the screw as you unscrew it.

If you have stripped it too bad then you will need to drill it out (cut the screw with saw).

GL man

Oh yeah. The best part about that 5 hour job was reading the end of the instrucions which THEN told me about that bracket. Said "may be difficult to remove." HA !!

[BADFISH6]

Yeah I already stripped the screw so im gonna have to saw it. Mine turned into a four hour job and its still not done. O well, next weekend....

[Dr. D]

hey if you dont have a dremel a hack saw is going to be a nightmare. you should first try to just drill the screw out directly from the top i dont see why that shouldnt work and should save you a little bit of time.

[coyfish]

Yeah dremel tool would have been nice for me. Only tool I had was a hand saw :(. How can you drill out a bolt thats completely stripped ??

[Dr. D]

straight through the top where the hole that looks to be where an allen wrench used to be. shit you can go with a bit a little bit bigger and just drill the head of the boly off. but that would be absolutely useless in this situation good luck dude.

[coyfish]

I guess but it wasn't a bolt. Its a round head screw. The only way to get it out is to saw it or dremel tool.

Also just FYI make sure you cover everything up before you saw :).

[BADFISH6]

I can't drill it because when tried to drill it before part of the bit broke off and got stuck in the hole I began to drill. I couldnt pull it out so I continued to drill with a bit similar in size until the bit stuck in the screw was flush with the top of the screw. Now I cant drill through another drill bit because the metal is too rigid. You can almost see the top of the bit in one of the pictures.

[coyfish]

Have fun sawing it :(. Dremel tool should make quick work of it though.

[tunersteve]

Dremel or Drill > Saw.

Drill it out with a close sized bit, a lot less painful and you'll be done quicker. Put towels around the base of the shifter and be careful when you are about to get completely through the screw.

[coyfish]

Also dont foget to let the bracket thing cool for a few sec if you use dremel. Burning your fingers is no fun.

[Dr. D]

I can't drill it because when tried to drill it before part of the bit broke off and got stuck in the hole I began to drill. I couldnt pull it out so I continued to drill with a bit similar in size until the bit stuck in the screw was flush with the top of the screw. Now I cant drill through another drill bit because the metal is too rigid. You can almost see the top of the bit in one of the pictures.

i dont know if you know this and i'm sorry if you do but make sure that you use a super low speed when drilling or you are going to continuosly break bits. when drilling anykind of metal, glass or tile always drill slowly.

[tunersteve]

i dont know if you know this and i'm sorry if you do but make sure that you use a super low speed when drilling or you are going to continuosly break bits. when drilling anykind of metal, glass or tile always drill slowly.

Very good tip! Also, if you have cutting fluid, it helps to make the job easier. Those screws seem to be a soft metal, its not like trying to drill out a grade 8 bolt.

[BADFISH6]

Well ive been wanting to buy a dremel, so i guess this is a legimate excuse.

[Dr. D]

they are cheap you can pick one up for about 70 bux... but IMO i wouldnt get the cordless one i know it looks to be convenient but trust me it isnt it took me 2 days to fab up my "gauge pod" for the vents b/c the battery kept diein. get the corded one and an extention cord.

[BADFISH6]

Thanks, I think the corded one might be cheaper too.

[tunersteve]

I picked up a real nice case with a variable speed dremel and 115 pieces of various drilling/grinding bits for $99 about 2 years ago.

[Dr. D]

ya they hey the same thing now i believe it is the 400 XPR series or something like that.

[coyfish]

I dug an old dremel out of my step dads toolbox. Plugged it in and started drilling. The thing pretty much exploded and short circuited. It burned the hell out of my hand. My stupid SS was cursed.

[BADFISH6]

I got the 400 Xpr yesterday and cut that POS out today. That screw is so amazingly butchered i should post a pic. But, now my weak drill wont drill the hole through the stock shifter plate. O well, i guess i just need a whole new set of tools.

[tunersteve]

I got the 400 Xpr yesterday and cut that POS out today. That screw is so amazingly butchered i should post a pic. But, now my weak drill wont drill the hole through the stock shifter plate. O well, i guess i just need a whole new set of tools.

Tis' the season!

[coyfish]

Man this is taking you forever ! Good thing you have a spare car.

[BADFISH6]

Man this is taking you forever ! Good thing you have a spare car.

I dont, im just using the stock shifter, well actually now im using the TWM i just have only the bottom screw in.(which probably isnt safe)(hmm)

[TiGraySpeed6]

Almost feel bad for asking, but.....

How's it going?