I did a search a while back about aftermarket shifters in stock consoles , and came up with very little of what I was looking for . What I was looking for was an installation , in a stock 68/69 console , of a higher-end aftermarket shifter , that would meet NHRA requirements (positive stops and a reverse lock-out, netural safety switch) , and look like it came in the console .

I've been toying around with this idea for a little while and decided to get it done . I came across a Turbo Action Cheetah SCS shifter and noticed the small footprint it had , almost perfect for a 68/69 console opening . So i went to work trying to graph the two together .

The T A shifter is a rear exit shifter and connects to the transmission from the rear . This creates a problem right off with the middle mounting plate and location of the storage compartment on the console . After some brainstorming , I decided to sink a u-shaped section of metal into the tranny tunnel to both go under the storage tray and pass the cable through the floor . For the middle mounting plate , I cut a small section out and made a small arch-shaped reinforcement out of metal , then attached it to the middle support with screws .

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1912.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1920.jpg

Once this is done and the shifter is centered in the opening of the original automatic shifter plate , everything is pretty straight forward . I still need to make a filler plate to go between the shifter and the shifter plate and mount the cable bracket and cable to the transmission to finish up the installation .

It's a pretty simple installation and goes pretty well with the stock interior of a 68 or 69 , plus it's a bullet proof shifter that will pass any sanction's rules . Here are a few more pics .

Terry

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1921.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1922.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1923.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1924.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/sheby2/68%20Camaro/104_1925.jpg

Here are pictures (from a Team Camaro member) of another type of shifter in a '69 console. The Diamond Plate could close off the gaps around your shifter. A custom made wooden plate, made out of Cherry might be nice.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii152/tjs69_photos/shifters/DSC00988.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii152/tjs69_photos/shifters/DSC00989.jpg

Nice, always liked the TA shifter. I will be doing the same project with my B&M quarter stick. If I don't like the results, I plan on getting a TA...thanks for the pictures, post some more when you finish the remaining gap. :thumbsup: