Had to modify a Hurst 4 speed shifter. Shortened the reverse arm on the shifter itself.Cut the arm shorter with a die grinder.Sorta tough but no big deal. Went to redrill the hole for the linkage and could not make a scratch in the metal. These arms must be hardened somehow.Its some tough shit! Whats the tip for drilling thru a hardened piece of metal? Heat it up? Its only a reverse arm so its not gonna see any brutal action. I"m not worried about losing temper in that one arm if heat is the way to go. Fire away and thanks for the suggestions. Oldmics
Try a "Cobalt" bit and see if that won't do it for your? Put the part on a drill press and put the pressure to it!! pdq67
Tried serious pressure in the drill press. Dont have any cobalt bits I"m thinking heat it till its cherry red? Oldmics
Slow speed...quality bit...rapid tap cutting fluid.. Dave Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Hurst levers are "case hardened" to a depth of about 010"-015" Use a masonry bit (carbide tipped) in a drill press at low speed with a good dose of thread cutting oil. Grinding a spot with a mounted stone where you want the hole center before you drill will also help a bunch. Avoid heating the whole lever, the hardness helps keep the lever tight on the shift shaft. I worked in a race car shop and this was a routine operation.
Got masonary bits-didnt know they were carbide tipped. I"ll give the grinding stone a try.Good tips-Thanks! Oldmics
P.S. Hey, Oldmics is that a blower bonnet I see on that Y block in your avatar image? How interesting!
If it's case hardened, first grind a flat spot or a dimple on the surface where you want to drill. Drill it with slow speed, no problem. Pilot drill first wouldn't hurt
The Jalopy Journal
