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How To Install A Custom Five-Speed Shift Handle

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How To Install A Custom Five-Speed Shift Handle
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View

How To Install A Custom Five-Speed Shift Handle

Reenmachine's Modern-Design Custom Shift Handle Is A Great Addition For Five-Speed-Equipped Vintage Mustangs

By Miles Cook
Photography by Miles Cook

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The red 4.6 four-valve-powered '67 GT500 convertible clone on our Oct. '07 cover gives a pretty good idea of what our friend Pete Waydo and his Reenmachine shop are capable of doing. Not only is Reenmachine adept at building ultra-cool restomod Mustangs, but the shop also has a line of intriguing bits and pieces you can install on your own car.

These decidedly modern billet-aluminum shift handles are but one of those components. They also couldn't be easier to install on any Mustang (vintage or late-model) that's equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, such as a T5, a T45, a TR3650, a Tremec TKO, or a T56 six-speed.

Our '67 Mustang subject car is already equipped with a T5 five-speed that was expertly installed by the five-speed swap specialists at Modern Driveline (www.moderndriveline.com). Our car was therefore a good excuse for us to stop in at Reenmachine one afternoon and have a look at the line of shift handles the company has available.

Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
The handles are available in short or tall versions, with either a polished or glossy black-anodized finish. The Reenmachine logo is engraved in the top side of the handles.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
Lying on their sides, from top to bottom, are the tall and short polished handles and the tall and short black-anodized versions. The taller versions provide console clearance or added leverage. Metal polish formulated for use on aluminum can be used on the polished handles to restore the finish if it dulls over time.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
Installation is typical of any five-speed shift handle, requiring only about 10 minutes. Remove the four screws that hold the shift boot in place to access the two bolts that hold the handle in place.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
Carefully pull up the boot to expose the bolts.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
The handle fastens to the five-speed shifter just like any other handle. Two bolts pass through the holes in the handle base and thread into the shifter stem. Using an Allen wrench (or whatever appropriate tool for the fasteners you have), loosen and remove the bolts.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
The old handle comes right off when the bolts are removed.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
The Reenmachine handle puts the shift knob in a similar location as a stock four-speed-style handle. The factory-style shift handle shown at left is also a nice option for more stock-appearing Mustangs equipped with a five-speed transmission. It's available from California Pony Cars (www.calponycars.com).
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
With the Reen handle stacked on top of the Cal Pony Cars handle, you can see how close the knob locations are with either one installed in a car. Both are high-quality pieces; it's only a matter of which style you prefer.
Custom Five Speed Shift Handle Front View
The Reenmachine handle fits nearly any five-speed shifter that might be used in a vintage or late-model Mustang. Use existing fasteners to secure it into place. The holes in the Reenmachine handle are also elongated to allow for some adjustment in handle placement.

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Mustang Stats

Price Range
$19,995 - $32,035
MPG
15 city /23 highway
Transmission
5-Speed Manual
Engine
4.6L V8