John's idea is a GREAT one.
i guess i'll have to try this idea, but with some hand tools you could do the same w/ a hole saw and drill and block of aluminum or non ferrous material such as UHMW as FLA54 or 46 suggests. even using a (1/2'' or 3/4'' plate and the throw would change the shift length) would work. instead of say 5'' it would be 6-7'' throw. it's what ever you want really.
If you don't have a machinist friend and only a stock one:
I made my shifter by simply removing the stock shifter from the T5. then I welded a 1/2'' short threaded rod or you could use a bolt (1.5''long). That threaded T5 shifter is a 1/2''x course (14tpi ??) for a coupler. I made my own shifter stick w/ a 1/2'' rod about 18'' long. tapered the top end (on my lathe, sorry guys) about 8'' down and drilled it for a 5/16''x24 thread (a typical black plain shift knob thread). brazed a threaded bolt with no head into the end. the other end is threaded 1/2''x(14??) to screw into the coupler. the coupler is loctited to the T5 shifter thread w/ 242. the shift rod was bent to fit the truck and has a pal nut to hold it's position. this coupler is hidded by the shift boot.
shifter photos to follow soon
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/
