Billet Pro Series shifter installation

Ford Falcon BA-BF 5spd / 6spd

(Note: 5spd installation pictured on a BA ute, the same steps can be applied for 6spd BA-BF models sedan and ute)

This guide has been developed to aid you with the installation of your new Billet Pro Series shifter. Please note this guide has been targeted towards the average self installer, some peaople are obviously more mechanically minded and may have access to hoists/lifts and other tools making the installation different..

Along with the assemled shift body, you should also find the following contents in each box:

• 1 x shift lever
• 4 x M8 mount bolts (countersunk heads)
• 1 x rubber boot
  

• Car ramps or jack and jack stands
• 13mm spanner (ratcheting spanner if available)
• 8mm spanner or socket
• 16mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 1/2" socket
• 1/2" spanner
• 5mm allen key
• 2.5mm allen key
• Blade
• RTV sealant (Permatex Ultra blue or any other high temp engine construction sealant is recommended)
• Blue or Red Locktite

With the gearbox in neutral, jack the vehicle up and support with jackstands under chassis rails, or alternatively drive your vehicle onto ramps. Safety is always the key, so please double check your jack stands and vehicle are on stable ground.

Carefully grasping the gearstick console surround, pull upwards to unclip this section.

Using a 13mm spanner or socket, remove the bolt and nut from the gear lever connection to the factory shifter. (Note: It is easier to remove the lever with the gearknob and gearboot still in place).

With an 8mm spanner, remove the two gold bolts holding the gold factory boot frame to the interior console piece.

You will need to lower the gearbox cross member to allow more room above the gearbox to get to the shifter. Locate your jack under the gearbox, in order to support the weight of the box when loosening off the gearbox cross member bolts to aid in installation.

Using a 13mm socket and ratchet, remove the cross member bolts carefully allowing the jack to take the weight of the gearbox so as to know completely hang.

With a 13mm spanner remove the 4 bolts around the top of the shifter on the gearbox tunnel which retain the factory rubber boot frame as seen earlier in the car.

With all the bolts retaining the boot frame now removed from under the car, carefully lift this up and remove it from the car. This is a little tricky, and tight to work with, but patience and careful manovering is the key. If needed, removing some of the plastic console surround parts may make this step easier for some.

Using a 1/2" socket and ratchet, remove the rear two shift mount bolts. Then, with a 1/2" spanner, you can remove the front mount bolts, this can be done from underneath if you find it easier.

Ensuring the shifter is in neutral, remove the factory shifter from the gearbox ensuring that the pivot cup remains in the selector arm in the gearbox.

With the shifter removed, using a blade scrape away any left over sealant that may have remained on the mating surface of the shifter on the gearbox. Be mindful not to let any of the excess sealant to fall into the gearbox.

Using some degreaser, or solvent based cleaner, clean the mating surface thorougly to ensure its very clean. Once the surface is prepared, apply a liberal amount of high temperature silcione enging building sealant to the mating surface ensuring there is no gaps in the bead.

With the sealant applied, take your new Billet Pro Series shifter and position it carefully in place without disrupting the bead of silicone on the mating surface. Take the 4 M8 countersunk bolts included in the kit and apply locktite to the threads before fastening the shifter to the gearbox with a 5mm allen key. As best as possible, try to achieve an even pressure is placed on the tension of each bolt.

The positive stops will need to be adjusted now before the fitment of the rubber boot included with your Billet Pro Series shifter. With a 2.5mm allen key, loosen off all the cap screws enough so as to allow movement of the two positive stop brackets.

The stops need to be set in 3rd and 4th gears respectively. With the shifter pushed into 3rd gear, slide the front positive stop until it touches the shaft, now slide the plate away from the shaft leaving around a 0.5mm gap (you may use feeler gauges to get this clearance perfect). Once the position is set and that it is evenly located, carefully tighten the 3 retaining cap screws with the 2.5mm allen key without moving the position of the stop.

This process needs to be repeated for the rear stop with 4th gear selected.

You can now slide on the new Billet Pro Series rubber boot onto the shifter.

You now need to re-install the gold frame with the factory gear boot. Remembering this is a little tricky and requires patience so as to not scratch or damage any interior parts.

You will need to go back under the vehicle to fit and tighten the four nuts that fasten the boot frame to the gearbox tunnel with a 13mm spanner.

Jack the gearbox back up into place and tighten the four gearbox cross member bolts using a 13mm socket and ratchet.

Using an 8mm spanner re-fit the two screws that fasten the console to the boot frame.

You will now notice that the factory boot sits slightly higher than previous and may hinder the location of the gear lever to the shaft. With a sharp blade, carefully trim the loop off the factory boot as pictured below.

With a 13mm spanner, apply locktite to the bolts and re-fit the gear lever into position.

**Important Note: Due to the variance of gearbox specifications that Ford does not have document of proudction dates for, some vehicles have a threaded lower hole on the lever, and some don't. If yours is not threaded and has a sted pressed into the lower hole of the gear lever, simply hit this stuf out with a hammer and fit a 13mm bolt and nut which matches the thread of the bolt in the upper hole.**

You can now take the final console surround and clip it back into place. Your new Billet Pro series shifter is now installed and ready for the test drive to check the shifter is selecting correctly, and also to check for any gearbox fluid leaks around the mating surface of the shifter and gearbox. It's now time to enjoy your new Billet Pro Series shifter, and to transform your slow, sloppy shifts into Billet Pro shifts.