Console for 5 speed Ascona

[crliwa]

I received a call from Dick Lowell whose putting my Ascona together in Arizona and he saw a console from Lenk that is made to fit in the 1900 when equipped with the 5 speed (which sits further back than the 4 speed). I called and spoke to Dennis at Opel GT source but he does not carry them. Does anyone here have one of these consoles? If so where did you get it? If not, are the Mantas and Asconas that have 5 speeds simply converting the original console or doing without?

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by crliwa I received a call from Dick Lowell whose putting my Ascona together in Arizona and he saw a console from Lenk that is made to fit in the 1900 when equipped with the 5 speed (which sits further back than the 4 speed). I called and spoke to Dennis at Opel GT source but he does not carry them. Does anyone here have one of these consoles? If so where did you get it? If not, are the Mantas and Asconas that have 5 speeds simply converting the original console or doing without?

I think you'll find that most people are in fact shortening the shifter extension enough so that it comes out in the stock 4-speed location. I have only heard of a few people leaving the full-length Rekord (+7") or Manta (can't recall how much longer) shift extensions intact.

Bob

[Mike Preble]

I have the 5-speed in my Manta but it is with a shorter linkage like in the GT. Some people have talked about building their own consoles further back as this would put the shifter closer to your right hand. If I remember correctly it was Gene who was talking about this. Maybe he will chime in here soon and put his two cents into this discussion.

The one sold by Lenk is a nice one but very expensive and they are sometimes difficult to communicate with.

Maybe this is something someone can design and build on their own and show the proceedure. Kind of like the building of Spiders rear deck lid.

Mike

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by Mike Preble I have the 5-speed in my Manta but it is with a shorter linkage like in the GT. Some people have talked about building their own consoles further back as this would put the shifter closer to your right hand. If I remember correctly it was Gene who was talking about this. Maybe he will chime in here soon and put his two cents into this discussion. The one sold by Lenk is a nice one but very expensive and they are sometimes difficult to communicate with. Maybe this is something someone can design and build on their own and show the proceedure. Kind of like the building of Spiders rear deck lid. Mike

Someone on site built one and had pictures of the process, not too long ago because they talked about the Lenk being too pricey, let alone trying to communicate with them.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 Someone on site built one and had pictures of the process, not too long ago because they talked about the Lenk being too pricey, let alone trying to communicate with them.

I think you mean this someone here. BQS4 needed one done, and this was his solution.

[BQS4]

Craig;
It was me, I'm about to use this console in my own Sportwagon as I'm doing the auto-to-5-spd conversion. After seeing some of the other swaps and how it's kinda difficult getting the shifter in the right place, I wanted to have the option of not modifing the shifter and go with a LENK console, except the LENK console starts at about 120 euros and I'd be hacking more than half of it off. I wanted a console that was stock looking, so, the idea came when I got several spare consoles from a friend and one was already hacked up where the shifter comes through. I got Dieter (hiemue) on this site to fiberglass the whole area over and I would cut my own hole later when I mounted it. If you want a console to do this to, and not molest your original, then I have a few spares.

[crliwa]

Thanks for all the info... Gene, I'll let you know if I need one of your extra consoles.. I'll be talking to Dick and we'll make a decision and update everyone on our progress... I kind of like having the shifter closer and "moving " the hole in the console

[David McCollam]

Recently, I installed a Getrag in my '74 Rallye. Gene Smith (BQS4) did the initial cutting and modification to the shifter plate. I got Rodney Killingsworth (Killer Texas GT) to weld it up for me. The installation is with the stock console and a modified 4-speed shifter. It has the Getrag knob with the 5-speed pattern, but you can leave the 4-speed know in place for the covert look. I have a couple of photos and can send them if you like. Gene has the pattern for the cutout of the shifter.

Dave

[Opelkurt]

Originally Posted by David McCollam Recently, I installed a Getrag in my '74 Rallye. Gene Smith (BQS4) did the initial cutting and modification to the shifter plate. I got Rodney Killingsworth (Killer Texas GT) to weld it up for me. The installation is with the stock console and a modified 4-speed shifter. It has the Getrag knob with the 5-speed pattern, but you can leave the 4-speed know in place for the covert look. I have a couple of photos and can send them if you like. Gene has the pattern for the cutout of the shifter. Dave

I made the same mods to a Getrag 5-speed for one of my GTs. The instructions from OGTS were a little sketchy (partially in German), but it was pretty easy even with moderate metal-working skills. It placed the gearshift exactly where the 4-speed lever had been.

-Kurt

[heimue]

I have the Getrag in my Manta, and if I had to do it again I would leave the shifter linkage alone, but rather get one of those fabulous modified consoles Gene was talking about . See also here: http://www.opelgt.com/forums/7b-tran...er-getrag.html

Dieter

BTW: Yes, leave the 4-speed shifter knob on it. Search for reverse gear after the conversion.

[dallasmanta]

I too installed a 5 speed in my manta this year. The instructions that Otto has posted on may an occasion were followed to the the Twith a couple of modifications from Rodney to the shifter plate. In stead of cutting the square in the front of the shifter plate I used a hole saw and cut a round hole to match location of the square cut. This way I did not have to reinforce the plate on the front end as shown in Otto's diagram. this also allowed me to have a very clean installation and weld pattern. I made sure that the shifter was dead center in the stock gear shifter hole. I chose not to weld and extend the stock 5 speed shifter but to bend the shaft to match the 4 speed shifter. This did two things. It gave enough shifter throw to keep the shifter from hitting the AC assembly and radio area in R,1 3 and 5 gears. When i drive the car I need to lean froward just a tad to shift the gears listed. My daughter who slides the seat closer does not have this issue. I also modified the stock 4 speed transmission brace to accept the a piece of angle iron on the back side to make a factory looking transmission brace and allowed the 5 speed to have the same height and clearances as the 4 speed. It all works so well I kick my self for not doing this 20 years ago. I did learn one more trick from Dennis @otgs on installing the 5 speed by installing the clutch PP after the 5 speed was stabbed into the pilot bearing so I did not have to pound the transmission tunnel to make room for the bigger 5 speed. Ron

[opeletti75]

anyone try useing an s paturn for the shift lever to get it closer to the hand