T18 shifter info

It has been discussed here before that close ratio(4 to 1) and wide ratio(6 to 1) t18 use different shifters. Really the only difference is the length of the shifter from the "pivot seat" to the tip of the end that goes in the tranny.
My store bought t18 came with a short, brand new shifter that was straight, had to be bent to fit the application. It is 3 9/16" from pivot seat to tip.
I found a factory CJ t18 shifter (4 to 1) in the junyard, a little longer and already bent. It was 3" seat to tip.

I was able to heat the pivot seat with a torch and using a small pipe over the tip, hammer it down the 9/16". Works like a charm!

Looking at my new shifter though, it appears the ball seat is a SOLID piece of steel machined with the shifter handle. In other words all one piece. Not pressed on like the stock CJ one. I might be wrong the lighting wasn't the greatest. So I couldn't modify it to work in a 4 to 1.

The slightly longer shifter is more comfortable to use and shifts easier enough to make it worth the effort it has taken to make it work.

Just for general knowledge!