EMPI Trigger Shifter — Black Powder-Coat, Extra-Long 23.5" O.A.L. | VW Bus / Type 2 1960–1979 (00-4509-0)

EMPI Trigger Shifter — Black Powder-Coat, Extra-Long 23.5" O.A.L. | VW Bus / Type 2 1960–1979 (00-4509-0)

In a Bus you sit well ahead of the shifter and the transmission lives somewhere behind your luggage — which is why a Type 1 shifter is useless here and why the wrong lever leaves you fishing for gears. The EMPI Trigger Shifter 00-4509-0 is the Bus-specific 23.5" extra-long unit, black powder-coated, with a sliding reverse lock-out trigger.

This is the Bus length, and only the Bus length. At 23.5" overall the shaft carries the knob forward and up to where a Bus driver's hand actually sits, which no 12" or 13.5" Type 1 shifter can do. The reverse lock-out earns its keep here more than anywhere else in the range: the Bus gate is famously vague once the linkage wears, and a trigger you have to deliberately lift is what stops you finding reverse while working back down through the gears.

Best for: 1960–1979 VW Bus / Transporter with a manual transmission — Split-Window, Early Bay and Late Bay.

Vehicle Fitment

• VW Bus / Transporter (Type 2): 1960–1979 — Split-Window, Early Bay and Late Bay

Will not fit: Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Type 3 or Thing — those use the much shorter Type 1 shifter. This length is for the Bus only. Manual transmission only; not for Auto-Stick.

Which EMPI Trigger Shifter Do I Need?

Every EMPI trigger shifter uses the same sliding reverse lock-out mechanism. What changes between part numbers is finish, knob and overall length — and length is the one that decides whether it fits your car comfortably. Short 12" suits lowered seats, full consoles, buggies and kit cars. Long 13.5" suits stock-height cars on factory seats. Extra-long 23.5" is Bus-only.

Why Choose EMPI?

EMPI has been building air-cooled VW performance and restoration parts since 1956, and the trigger shifter is one of the designs the brand is known for. Every unit ships as a complete assembly with the knob installed and the EMPI logo cast into the trigger. Washburn's Metal stocks the full trigger shifter range so you can match finish and length to the build rather than settling for whatever a catalog had left.

Key Features & Benefits

• Extra-Long 23.5" overall length: sized to the Bus driving position — see the comparison table above.
• Sliding reverse lock-out trigger: reverse stays blocked until you lift the trigger, so you cannot catch it on a downshift.
• Complete assembly: ships with the round black plastic knob installed and the EMPI logo cast into the trigger — no separate knob to buy.
• 23.5" extra-long shaft: sized for the Bus cab, where the driver sits far forward of the shifter tower.
• Heaviest unit in the range: 3.7 lb of shaft and casting, powder-coated to survive years of daily hand contact and windshield UV.
• Bolt-in replacement: uses the stock shifter base plate and mounting bolts. No cutting, drilling or transmission modification.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: EMPI 00-4509-0
• Finish: Black powder-coated
• Shift Knob: Round black plastic knob (included, installed)
• Overall Length: 23.5" (extra-long style)
• Reverse Lock-Out: Yes — sliding trigger
• Fits: VW Bus (Type 2) 1960–1979
• Transmission: Manual only
• Sold As: Each
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 lb
• Boxed Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 3.25 in
• UPC: 707924385663

Installation Notes

On a Bus the shifter mounts to a plate on the tunnel ahead of the seats, with a long shift rod running back to the transmission. Removal and installation is a hand-tool job: lift the boot, unbolt the base plate, lift the old lever out with its spring and stop plate, drop the new shifter in and bolt back down. Because the plate is already off, this is the sensible time to replace the shifter bushing, the base plate gasket and — if the shift feel has been getting worse for years — the shift coupler at the transmission. On a Bus in particular, the long linkage means the coupler and rod bushings account for most of the slop; a new lever alone will not tighten those.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why can't I use a Beetle trigger shifter in my Bus? Two reasons: length and geometry. The Bus shifter tower sits far behind the driver, so a 12" or 13.5" Type 1 shifter would leave the knob down near the floor and well out of reach. The Bus shifter also has a different bend and base to suit the Bus tunnel. 23.5" is the correct Bus length.
• Will this fit a Split-Window Bus as well as a Bay Window? Yes — EMPI lists 1960–1979 Type 2, which covers late Split-Window, Early Bay and Late Bay Buses with a manual gearbox. It is not for the Auto-Stick, which uses a different shifter with vacuum clutch actuation.
• My Bus shifter is vague and sloppy. Will this fix it? Partly, and you should know the whole picture before you order. Bus shift slop is a system: the shifter itself, the nylon bushing in the shifter base, the long shift rod and its bushings, and the shift coupler at the transmission. A new shifter fixes the lever end. If the vagueness has been getting steadily worse over years, budget for a coupler and bushing set at the same time — it is the same job.
• Does it come with a knob? Yes, a round black knob is included and installed, with the EMPI logo cast into the trigger.
• Is there a fancier version for a show Bus? Yes — 00-4473-2 is the same 23.5" Bus shifter in copper plating with a rosewood knob. Same function, considerably more presence in a restored cab.
• What is the part number? EMPI 00-4509-0, UPC 707924385663. Black powder-coated, 23.5" extra-long, VW Bus 1960–1979.

Explore Related Categories

VW Bus · Drivetrain & Transmission · Transaxle Components · EMPI

⚠️ WARNING (California Prop 65): This product can expose you to chemicals including lead and lead compounds, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. All parts legal for use on pre-pollution controlled vehicles only.