Planning a conversion to 4 speed. Has anyone used any of the parts that "ThePartsPlaceInc" sell for M/T parts? Are they any good? Are they Chevvy parts that don't quite fit right?
No experience with TPP. I would recommend checking out the 4 speed parts that RACEBUICKS (Mike Garrison) sells. http://mrbuick.com/4speed.htm
Every part I've seen from Mike is well thought out and high quality stuff. He goes the extra mile in their design to make them right. Plus he is a Buick fanatic and you can't go wrong there.
.....and any other 4 speed BBB part that isn't made by Mike Garrison is made by Dave Kliener. Also top notch stuff. :beer
Well, the partsplace sells a 4speed conversion kit for $289.00. The KIT INCLUDES PEDALS, Z-BAR, PEDAL TO Z-BAR ROD, CLUTCH ROD BOOT & RETAINER, CLUTCH FORK BOOT, CLUTCH FORK, PUSH ROD, STUD FROM BALL STUD BLOCK, SPRINGS, Z-BAR BRACKETS, SPRING CLIPS, AND NYLON WASHERS. They say it is specific to 69-72 skylark.
I recently installed the parts (from the Parts Place) you mentioned on my car, 70 GS 455 4-speed. I really have no complaints, I'm happy there are places like the Parts Place who make parts for us, however, since you asked, there were some differences. The parts place Z-bar does not have the stock size hole for the clutch rod to attach. See attached pic, circled spot #1. The hole in the Parts place Z bar is just large enough to put the clutch rod through. It is not large enough for the bushing. It still works fine in my opinion, but does not look original. Also, the clutch adjusting screw is nothing like stock. Circled Spot #2. In my case the screw they sent was way too long. On my car, a screw from a '70 Chevelle fit fine. It's not as cost effective, but the clutch fork and adjusting screw from Dave Kliener is the best option. His has the stock configuration. Again, no beef from me on the Parts Place parts, they do work. Just some differences in the way the parts look compared to the stock Buick parts.
