Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

2005 Rubicon popping out of reverse after body lift

S

stephen.diss

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Jul 23, 2024
Messages
7
Location
Cary, NC
I know this has been asked before. I've read through several posts but I haven't been able to fix the problem and was hoping someone with my exact same problem can lend a hand.

My 2005 Jeep LJ Rubicon has a 3.5" lift and this weekend i added a 1.25" Savvy body lift. Now my leather shifter boot bracket is interfering with my 6 MT shifter. Cutting the bracket does not seem to be an option, moving the console rearward does not seem to be an option and I've just finished heating my shifter with MAP gas and trying to bend it with no avail.

Can anyone throw any other suggestions at me? Is there a custom shifter i could install or maybe a custom shift boot? I'm kind of at a loss here. If I'm not able to come up with something, I'm considering taking it to a custom fabricator and see if they can bend the shifter for me.

Thanks!
 
Do you have a motor mount lift? That should pick the engine up roughly the same amount as the body lift, and return the shifter close to factory.

If you have installed a body lift without a motor mount lift, did you move your fan shroud?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tob and macleanflood
Also, you can move the console and lower shifter boot back ~1”. The exact amount is the distance between the consoles rear cup holder and the tub. Think about drilling a few holes to do that. If that is sufficient it is a good solution until you raise the Transmission and TCase back up with an $$$$ tummy tuck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Artsifrtsi
Mike_H said:
Do you have a motor mount lift? That should pick the engine up roughly the same amount as the body lift, and return the shifter close to factory.

If you have installed a body lift without a motor mount lift, did you move your fan shroud?
Click to expand...

Apprecaite the response! I did add a motor mount lift. 1". I also moved the fan shroud. Everything is good other than the interference with the shift boot bezel. I can drive fine with the bezel off, but not ideal...
 
stephen.diss said:
Apprecaite the response! I did add a motor mount lift. 1". I also moved the fan shroud. Everything is good other than the interference with the shift boot bezel. I can drive fine with the bezel off, but not ideal...
Click to expand...

Interesting...I didn't have an issue with mine (but I had an 04 with the 5 speed). Time for a tummy tuck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
stephen.diss said:
Apprecaite the response! I did add a motor mount lift. 1". I also moved the fan shroud. Everything is good other than the interference with the shift boot bezel. I can drive fine with the bezel off, but not ideal...
Click to expand...

Mine did the same. A mild tummy tuck took care of it.

If you can fabricate a spacer to lift your tranny about 1", that should take care of it. A set of four spacers (or stacks of washers) and longer bolts could do the trick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tob, ColoJeep and JMT
OldBuzzard said:
Mine did the same. A mild tummy tuck took care of it.

If you can fabricate a spacer to lift your tranny about 1", that should take care of it. A set of four spacers (or stacks of washers) and longer bolts could do the trick.
Click to expand...

This is a good solution too. The 6-speed gearbox doesn’t play happy with the upper console bezel. I must have seen it 25x’s in here after a BL was added.
 
OldBuzzard said:
Mine did the same. A mild tummy tuck took care of it.

If you can fabricate a spacer to lift your tranny about 1", that should take care of it. A set of four spacers (or stacks of washers) and longer bolts could do the trick.
Click to expand...

Roger that, I’ll start researching lifting the tranny. I’m guessing you just lift it with a jack, remove one trans cross member at a time, stack some washers and then slide a longer bolt through?

Would welcome a link or YouTube video if you’ve got one handy. My cursory search didn’t yield any results.
 
Not the skid (cross member), that will lower the trans.

You need to support the trans at the bell housing (jack with a block of wood on top to protect the bell housing). Remove the 4 tranny mount nuts from the skid, support the skid with another jack, remove the 6 bolts, lower the skid. Then you can get to the tranny mount.

Remove the 4 bolts holding the tranny mount to the tranny, lower the tranny mount (be careful, it supports the exhaust). Replace with longer bolts and spacers between the tranny mount and the tranny.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep
OldBuzzard said:
Not the skid (cross member), that will lower the trans.

You need to support the trans at the bell housing (jack with a block of wood on top to protect the bell housing). Remove the 4 tranny mount nuts from the skid, support the skid with another jack, remove the 6 bolts, lower the skid. Then you can get to the tranny mount.

Remove the 4 bolts holding the tranny mount to the tranny, lower the tranny mount (be careful, it supports the exhaust). Replace with longer bolts and spacers between the tranny mount and the tranny.
Click to expand...

Got it. Appreciate the help!
 
The tranny mount looks like this. The 4 studs on the bottom go down through the skid. Four bolts go up through those other holes into the bottom of the tranny. Spacers should go on top of the mount there to hold the tranny up higher.

IMG_9162.jpg
 
Just remember, the more you lift the transmission, the steeper the driveshaft is going to get. If you have a SYE and DC driveshaft, you may need to readjust pinion angle. If you do not, you'll have to play around to see if you can get your pinion to match your output angle, and STILL keep your shifter from interfering with the bezel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
TheBoogieman said:
Sounds like you have a t-case drop along with the BL. I've had two 6 speeds and no shifting issues after lifting them.
Click to expand...

I don’t think he has a TCase drop. What makes you think that? That would exacerbate the OP’s situation. I’ve had one 6-speed and did have this situation after a BL and MML.
 
JMT said:
I don’t think he has a TCase drop. What makes you think that? That would exacerbate the OP’s situation. I’ve had one 6-speed and did have this situation after a BL and MML.
Click to expand...

I was thinking he did because that combined with a BL would cause his issue.
 
I'm currently waiting on my 1.25" body lift from blaine and have been reading up on the install. From what I can gather doing just the body lift shouldn't have issues (Maybe some slight adjustments to the console are needed). Body lift with MML and it will angle the shifter to far back and modification will need to happen, unless you do a tummy tuck at the same time.

I think the MML is the reason for the shifting issues for you right now. The MML is lifting the motor only, which is creating more of an angle on your trans / transfer case causing your gear shifter to angle back even further and hit the console.
 
Last edited:
I'm trying to figure out why he said sliding the console back 1/2 to 1" can't be done... this is what solved my shifter hitting the bezel... undo the 2 screws, one under drink holders, one next to the shifter, and the 2 bolts under the rear drink holders, and it slides right back...

Edit: seems WAY easier than spacing the trans mount...
 
Artsifrtsi said:
I'm trying to figure out why he said sliding the console back 1/2 to 1" can't be done... this is what solved my shifter hitting the bezel... undo the 2 screws, one under drink holders, one next to the shifter, and the 2 bolts under the rear drink holders, and it slides right back...

Edit: seems WAY easier than spacing the trans mount...
Click to expand...

Yes, I would certainly try that first. Or just give up on using 2, 4, 6, and R. :D
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: Artsifrtsi and MaximusLJR06
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator
Top Bottom
Back