I was working on my 69 camaro, making a change from a shifter on the column to a floor shifter. All work was complete and was operating great, but when I plled the shifter off the column I could no longer remove my key. I had to put the shifter back on inorder to remove my key. What can I do to eliminate the shifter on the column(which is not useable for shifting) and still be able to remove my key? The car looks funny with both a column and floor shifter. Thanks for any help in advance.

calypsophil:)

on all 69's, stick or automatic, floor or column shift, there was a linkage from the trans to the column. This linkage activated the nuetral safety and backup light switches, and also locked the shifter, and only allowed the key to come out when the shifter was in park.

You can:
Leave all the column linkage hooked up, but take the actual shifter off.

Take all the column linkage off, and use a spring to force / hold the lever sticking out of the bottom of the column in the "full up" position. You can get a spring from the hardware store, and hook it over the bracket that holds the valve under the master.

On your old column when you turn your gear selector arm it rotates the sleeve that it is attached to. This is what makes your key removable when in park and not in any gear. At the bottom of the column is a bracket that attaches a rod to your transmission.

On a original floor shift car the shifter has a rod that also goes to the column bracket. When you move the shifter it moves the sleeve on the column with the rod attached to it.

On a aftermarket shifter you do not hook up any rods to the column. You will need to move the sleeve with your hand and the key will come out. You will have to put a tyrap at the bottom bracket on the column so it will not move again. Just rotate the sleeve with it out of the car and you will see how the bottom bracket moves with the sleeve and the key will come out.

Also, this can be an excellent anti-theft device, as well as anti tailgate. Turn the sleeve clockwise, the car won't start. If someone is following too close, just turn the sleeve and the backup lights come on. Anyone too close behind you will totally FREAK!