Rebuilding Ford Shifter for Toploader

[Diogenes]

Does anyone have experience rebuilding the Ford shifter for a toploader? I purchased the pieces, but am thinking of replacing the rubber bushing/grommets with something more substantial like bronze.

A friend and I were speculating that the reported problems with the Ford shifter may be related to these rubbers causing the shifter to shift sloppy when worn, causing gear selection hangups. More speculation was Ford used these to isolate the shifter to insulate from vibration--at the cost of functionality and reliability. Does anyone have thoughts and experiences to share?

Of course I'd love to replace the Ford shifter with a Hurst piece, but the p/n's for a 66 Galaxie with console have been obsolete for a long time, and I've not been able to locate one.

[CDXXVII]

I used socket head shoulder bolts and bronze bushings with inside dia sized to the bolts.
The 1" cross pin and oval pin are common with the Ford 3 speed shifter. I replaced those with lightly used pieces that were better than my originals.
It's not perfect but a big improvement.
1965 Galaxie bench seat shifter.

[shady]

almost all the slop comes from the pin in the swivel for the neutral gate and the pin that goes thru the three ears in the main body. the horseshoe looking swivel gets egged out as do the ears as opposed to pin wear.  The pins are an interference fit so you have to be exact when drilling them to an over size.  There are some guys out there that rebuild them. Rather than aggravate myself I just went to a Hurst. It's a deal where a little play here and there adds up to a lot of shifter handle movement.

[CDXXVII]

Oh right, I replaced the horseshoe also. They are available repro. If you are looking thru used junk make sure the bolt spacing matches your original. In 1968 Ford increased the spacing so those horseshoes won't fit your 1966 shift lever.