[Healeys] Gear shift lever bending (No Healey Content)

[Michael Salter]

Michael I would hazard a guess that the lever is made from some sort of alloy steel and that it will require heat treatment to acquire its maximum strength.
Local heating to produce a bend, or even welding on it would significantly weaken such a lever.
The correct practice would be to do whatever is required to produce the correct shape then have the whole lever heat treated.
Of course determining what type of steel it is made from will be necessary before the correct heat treatment proceedure can be determined.
The manufacturers may be prepared to tell you what type of steel it is made from.
Michael S
________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Michael Oritt <michael.oritt at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 9:22:06 PM
To: Austin Healey
Subject: [Healeys] Gear shift lever bending (No Healey Content)

The gear shift lever on one of my race cars broke and though I have had it repaired--as in sleeved/welded up--I do not have confidence in its future reliability.
The transmission is a UK Ford unit, commonly used in Lotuses and Cortinas, but because of the compactness of the car's cockpit, etc. the stick must be modified from its original configuration by putting about a 30 degree angle in the straight section in order to clear the dash panel.

I have sourced a replacement which is described as "billet" and my question is whether heating and bending the gear lever in order to introduce the necessary angle would weaken it significantly.  Opinions and tips solicited and welcome.

Best--Michael Oritt

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