larry, i can send the whole shifter and rods to you if you need to look at an original bucket seat shifter. it's been on the shelf since '78. email gsjohnny at earthlink.net or 860-871-0185 john
John, I appreciate the offer to send it to me but I don't want to risk the chance of it getting lost/stolen in transit. I am just trying to find out any numbers on the handle and shifter mechanism. I asked for a tracing of the handle if it doesn't have a number on it. That way I can take some measurements and try to match it up with a currently available Hurst handle. At this time, I have a replacement Hurst Competition Plus shifter and handle in the car and it works fine. Would like to find an original set up for my car but I know the odds of that happening are slim. Thanks for the offer. Larry
Rhett, The tracing was waiting for me when I got home from Bowling Green on Saturday evening. Haven't had a chance yet to get with Pete Serio to see how it compares with the shifter and handle he has. Thanks again. Larry
Now that we got the shifter squared away does anyone know if any 4-speed parts from earlier cars are similar to the 73 ones? Which ones are different? I'm looking to do a 4-speed swap in one of these 73s. Anyone know if all the parts The Parts Place Inc. provides are the correct 73 replacement parts? And what are all of your guys using...an M-21?:3gears:
My car has an M-20 wide ratio from the factory. As I understand it, a wide ratio box is preferable in a larger, torquier car with streetable gears. A close ratio box works better in a car where the revs will be up most of the time, such as a high winding SBC or a car with 4.10 gears. I might be wrong, but thats what I always thought.
As far as I know all GS cars should have came with an M-21.....but you know how that is. If they had an M-20...they probably put it in your car to just keep the lines moving. But it makes sense to have an M-20 in these cars....the first gear ratio is much higher, so the car will launch better. Rhett, if you could measure how long the Z-bar for your car is that'd be great. The Parts Place sells two....one 10" and the other 8 n 3/4"
I'll try to get back up into the attic this week and measure that bar for you. In the meantime here's a picture of it next to the shifter, which may give you an idea of scale.... I thought the M20 was the base 4 spd, I've never seen an order sheet that gave the option to opt for the M21 or M22. My car was "customer ordered", so maybe the prior owner specified the M20 in that process? It's on the buildsheet anyway. I lifted this from the Year One website, which leads me to believe it was the base trans - "The choice of transmission was dictated by the engine size and rear-axle ratio. Axle ratios of 3.73 and lower (numerically higher) came with close-ratio transmissions, while axle ratios of 3.55 and higher (numerically lower) used wide-ratio transmissions"
Rhett, Thanks for measuring it! M20 on your build sheet is the code for a manual transmission.... there is a thread on here...of course I can't find it right now....that explains this. Check the numbers on the side of the transmission and decode it. :beer
This is a 70-72 Cutlass shifter, its for bench or buckets non-console, and i am sure of its application..i took it from the car ...
Update-Finally picked up the 73 shifter mechanism, handle, and rods from Pete Serio today. Early Christmas present for me. Pete had it all assembled and mocked up on a spare Muncie transmission he uses to set up the shifters. Attached are numerous pictures of the assembly on the trans and on my kitchen counter after I got it home. Everything except the handle has been replated, rebuilt, etc. Chrome on the handle is not perfect but not worth getting it rechromed at this point. Pete also told me that the handle may be stamped with the number 8739. He also told the setup is very similiar to what was used in the 70 Olds 442 cars. Next step is to get it installed in the car and enjoy!! Larry Rhett Your tracing matched the handle perfectly. Thanks.
Larry - VERY cool! It sure looks correct from the photos. So according to Pete, the correct handle number for the 73 should be 8739, but they may or may not be stamped? One of these days I'll actually get mine apart and check the numbers, and maybe have Pete rebuild it while I'm at it. Glad the tracing helped.
Rhett, Per Pete, the handle may or may not be stamped with the 8739 numbers. He actually dug the number out of a notebook that he keeps regarding various shifters, etc. He is very knowledgeable. Larry
Great info and pictures Larry! Did he happen to have any other 73 shifters sitting around for sale? If not I'll just get one for a 70-72 Cutlass....they look close enough for me.:TU:
Anthony, I didn't ask, I was just happy to find one. You can e-mail him at pserio@columbus.rr.com or can reach him at 614-258-3500. Larry
