I have not installed a 4 speed shifter before. My 69 Camaro has an original Muncie 4 speed with Muncie Shifter, says Muncie on the shifter handle. I bought a New Mr Gasket shifter designed for a 69 Camaro with or without console. This shifter is old but still new in the box and all of the parts are still packed in the original packages never opened. It has the mounting plate, shifter rods and all. Got it cheap, so thought I would give it a try. My car does not have a console so that is not a problem. The car also has a fairly large hole that was cut at some time in the tunnel so I can get to the shifter pretty easy from inside the car. They had a metal patch over the hole and rivited. On paper this does not look to difficult. But when I look at it on the car, it seems like it could be difficult. It looks like there is a bracket the shifter is mounted to that goes toward the front of the car to the tranny mount?? Does that bracket stay there or do I remove it? Also, any direction from you experts would be appreciated. I am not planning on taking the tranny out of the car. Would like to be able to do this conversion from under and inside the car through the big hole. Thanks for any help.
Buildinga55
some pics would be helpful. On a comp plus, there is a flat metal plate that bolts to the tailshaft, then the shifter bolts to the plate with 2 large bolts that go clear through it from the drivers side.
I can do that... but again, this is a hurst comp plus, I wouldn't know a Mr.Gasket shifter from Adam, other than that they own Hurst now. First pic is the mounting plate on the trans, second is the whole shootin match.
Hurst mounting plate
Comp plus installed
Hurst mounting plate
Comp plus installed
If were talking new in the box there should also be some detailed instructions. Should be a piece of cake, but I doubt if you will accomplish everything from the top.
First you remove the old Muncie which bolts to the car. Lots of digital photos now will be helpful later. Remove rods, but leave the shifter tabs on the cover. Now you will bolt on the adapter plate that bolts the shifter to the transmission. Once that is done you add rods starting with reverse then 1-2 then 3-4. Now for the fun part, adjustment. Make sure trany is in neutral and verify the shifter is able to go through the gate (assumes it is not a vertical gate shifter which was my personal favorite). Run all the linkage out until they just go in the shifter arm on the trany case. Install clips and try a couple of dry shifts.
Verifying you have neutral start up car and see if you can find all the gears, any grinding or binding (two gears at once) shut it off and try to adjust neutral again. Repeat till it works (usually works first time).
Install shifter boot and enjoy the feel of your new shifter as it throbs in the palm of your hand with the engines vibrations.
Larger Dave
First you remove the old Muncie which bolts to the car. Lots of digital photos now will be helpful later. Remove rods, but leave the shifter tabs on the cover. Now you will bolt on the adapter plate that bolts the shifter to the transmission. Once that is done you add rods starting with reverse then 1-2 then 3-4. Now for the fun part, adjustment. Make sure trany is in neutral and verify the shifter is able to go through the gate (assumes it is not a vertical gate shifter which was my personal favorite). Run all the linkage out until they just go in the shifter arm on the trany case. Install clips and try a couple of dry shifts.
Verifying you have neutral start up car and see if you can find all the gears, any grinding or binding (two gears at once) shut it off and try to adjust neutral again. Repeat till it works (usually works first time).
Install shifter boot and enjoy the feel of your new shifter as it throbs in the palm of your hand with the engines vibrations.
Larger Dave
Thanks for the info and pictures. The shifter does have instruction but there are more words than pictures. I will try to take some pictures of this bracket I am talking about. I have never had any success loading pictures on this sight however. I can put them in my Picturetrail album. I did not look that closely at the bracket, but it looks like it mounts between the shifter and transmission and then goes toward the front of the tranny 6 or 8" infront of the shifter. I did not look closely yet to see if it is bolted to the transmission support or what. I guess if it comes off with the old shifter, it is probably part of the old shifter?? I am sure I will have to do most of the linkage work from under the car. The hole in the floor only really exposes the shifter itself.
As suggested, your OE Muncie shifter itself is bolted to the crossmember and has a support rod going to the trans case where the tailhousing meets the main case. This will have to be removed along with the rods and shift links bolted onto the side of the trans.
as said, the new shifter will bolt to a plate attached to the trans where the tail housing meets the main case and in the rear, will either be bolted to the tailhousing or a large U-bolt will hold it the housing.
At any rate, removal of OE shifter will be all the pieces, you will start the new install with a bare transmission. Instructions in the 60's & 70's were wordy and one had to imagine how it would fit. My advice to you, as others have said, take pictures, you can never have too many, read and re-read the instructions, and trial fit every piece.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, we were there once.
as said, the new shifter will bolt to a plate attached to the trans where the tail housing meets the main case and in the rear, will either be bolted to the tailhousing or a large U-bolt will hold it the housing.
At any rate, removal of OE shifter will be all the pieces, you will start the new install with a bare transmission. Instructions in the 60's & 70's were wordy and one had to imagine how it would fit. My advice to you, as others have said, take pictures, you can never have too many, read and re-read the instructions, and trial fit every piece.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, we were there once.
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