Billet Pro Series shifter installation

Holden Commodore VN-VS 5spd

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
  

• 13mm socket
• 10mm socket
• Socket extension
• 5mm allen key
• 2.5mm allen key
• Blade
• Pop rivet gun
• Pop rivets
• Drill with 4mm drill bit
• Phillips head screw driver
• RTV sealant (Permatex Ultra blue or any other high temp engine construction sealant is recommended)
• Blue or Red Locktite

Firmly grasping the gearknob, twist the knob off in an anti-clockwise direction.

Remove the cigarette ashtry by carefully pulling it upwards and unclipping it from the console.

Remove the gearstick console surround by carefully pulling upwards to release the clips holding it in place. Use the space from the cigarette ashtry to release the front, and then slide your fingers along the sides to get a firm grip to release the rear section. Be careful not to pull too hard as the cigarette light has two plugs connected to it which need to be uncliped before the section can be removed entirely once its uncliped.

Using a phillips head screw driver, remove the three screws along the lower section of the dash fascia connecting the console to the dash as pictured.

Using a 10mm socket with a long extension, remove the two nuts in the console compartment.

Unzip the handbrake boot.

Remove the centre console by sliding it rearwards slightly, then raise the rear section up. It requires a little patience and careful handling. Raising the handbrake can help whilst removing this section.

With the console now removed, pull the factory rubber boot up and off the factory shifter. Be careful not to rip this as they can be fragile.

To gain access to the shifter, you need to remove the shift surround fromt he tunnel by drilling out the eight pop rivets around its edges. The front one is tight with the dash in the way, however you simply need to drill the rivet on an angle.

Using a 5mm allen key, undo the two bolts holding the factory lever to the shifter. Then with a 13mm socket, undo the four bolts retaining the factory shifter and remove it from the gearbox.

With the shifter now removed, use a blade and some degreaser to clean the mating surface of the gearbox where the shifter attaches. It is very important to ensure that the plastic pivot ball cup is still in the gear selector arm.

With some high temp silicone engine construction sealant, apply a liberal bead of sealant to the mating surface. Be sure not to use to much, and to clean off the edges prior to fitment of the new Billet Pro shifter.

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 positives 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.

Re-fit the gearbox tunnel surround by using a pop rivet gun.

Using 5mm allen key, refit the factory lever to the shifter. (Locktite optional).

You can now slip the factory boot back over the shifter, be sure that it hooks back into its seat on the metal surround.

With the handbrake still raised, take the console section and carefully place it back into position with the front section leading in under the front dash fascia before lowering the rear onto the mount points.

With the handbrake still raised, zip up the hand brake boot.

With a phillips head screw driver, re-fit the three screws that hold the console section to the dash fascia.

Using the socket with extension and 10mm socket piece, tighten the two console retaining nuts.

Clip the gearstick boot console section back into place. Ensure you re-connect the cigarette lighter loom plugs before clipping it into place.

Clip the cigarette ashtray back into position.

Finally, screw the gearknob back onto the gear lever and the installation is complete. 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.