td downpipe interferes with shift linkage in mark 1

[leporidae]

i just put on a downpipe for a gt15/aaz in a mark 1
here are some bad pictures:






the shift linkage doesn't play nice with my turbo diesel downpipe.  i can't select 2nd or 4th. the relay shaft whacks the downpipe.  

 1, 3, 5 all good because they go towards the drivers side.  

do i have a shot at making this work with the downpipe i'm using or am I not in good shape? seems like something many folks would have run into before but i don't recall reading anything about it?

i made up a threaded rod linkage arm to adjust the length but that did not do it.  
i didn't want to because it was a pita to get it right laying under the car but i unded the shift rod clamp because i never reset the reverse lock out gate from 20mm to 15mm when i swapped in a 5 speed.  i haven't got it back yet but between that and an adjustable linkage arm is there enough play in the linkage to be able to adjust the relay shaft off the downpipe?
a short shift kit? i know that's more for the shifter feel inside the car but would that help? just an extension on the relay shaft- might get me more clearance?

grind the relay shaft?
i'm really not sure how much more travel i need.

[TimpanogosSlim]

dunno what to suggest, but this is why i have decided that i am not buying a downpipe.

I'm gonna buy the right flange for the turbo, and then drive a running vehicle to an exhaust shop, hand them the flange, explain the pitfalls, and have them figure it out.

[leporidae]

welp this is ***ty. spent some time today trying to get it to work without success.  i reset the lock out gate to 15mm, made an adjustable linkage, lengthened the relay shaft and ground off a bunch of material. still whacks the dp. man oh man. anyone in the market for a pretty nice mark 1?

[theman53]

I don't know if it would help your condition as you have made your own, but missing linkz has kits for a short throw shifter. Maybe if it didn't have to go as far then it wouldn't hit? The other option is to make another DP or cut and reweld this one. Maybe mark it and dimple it in if it is really close to working...all the heat off of it you better have some good bushings in the relay ball if it is like mkii.

[Toby]

Offset the linkage are away from the DP and shorten the shift rod the same amount. This is not rocket science.

[bbob203]

Toby every thread you post in always has something negative or demeaning to say.  Why?

[theman53]

Offset the linkage are away from the DP and shorten the shift rod the same amount. This is not rocket science.

Toby, I am getting some complaints again. You can do without the rocket science add ons or do without us. Please edit your post, thanks

[RabbitJockey]

also mk1 motor mounts u can adjust the engine side to side about an inch, that will give u a little bit of space.

[Toby]

There was nothing demeaning about my post. This is a very small fabrication issue that is being blown all out of proportion. Its a very simple fix and should not need 6 or 8 posts to set him on the right course. It is not rocket science and as soon as he looks at it as the simple problem that it is, then fixing it will be simple. As long as he and the rest are over thinking the problem it will remain large.

[theman53]

There was nothing demeaning about my post. This is a very small fabrication issue that is being blown all out of proportion. Its a very simple fix and should not need 6 or 8 posts to set him on the right course. It is not rocket science and as soon as he looks at it as the simple problem that it is, then fixing it will be simple. As long as he and the rest are over thinking the problem it will remain large.

Your fix comment was fine, your add on that was demeaning wasn't. Consider yourself warned, do as you want and deal with the repercussions, or remove it immediately.

[Gator79]

Techtonics tunning includes a custome short shifter with a cut out for this exact reason when you buy one of there down pipes. I don't think they have it for sale on there site but I'm sure if you call them the would sell you one. You could also make it your self, take a look at there down pipe and there will be the shifter in te pick.

[RabbitJockey]

tt dp is for when you are using a standard k14/k24/t3 tho.  i think this gt15 looks to be a lot more in the way than a tt dp would be.

[81 vw pu]

Not very pretty, but here's the downpipe I made.

I bent relay shaft lever down about 1"

Another view

Downpipe headed down and under rack.

[GEE-BEE]

I supplied both turbo's and manifolds to TT for downpipe fabrication

T2/T3/K14/K24

KO3 /KO HYBRID IS DIFFERENT