<VV> quick shift question - Answers on shift towers

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/17/2005 7:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time,  
ral1963 at comcast.net writes:

OK, I  need some clarification about 65-69 shifters, Is there a different
shift  tower for 65-66 Corsas (other than the fact they have the chrome
housing  over them) or are they the same as other 4 speed shift towers in
regards to  throw travel?

All late 65-up four speed shifters are identical. All 4-speed shift levers  
are identical, excepting, maybe chrome.
 
 


Question being, does the 65-66 4 speed Corsas have a faster throw  than
the other 4 speed shifters?
No - All are the same - The 64-65 4-sp trans vs. the 66-69  4-sp trans may 
differ in distance needed to accomplish a gear change, but  no difference in the 
shifters.
 



Does the quick shift kit (as sold by vendors) work well on the  65-69 4 speed 
The quick-shift kit will work on the late 4-speed shifter casting and the  
late floor.
 

and/or  does the 61-64 trick of using the 61-64 3 speed shift tower
on the 61-64 4  speed to get a shorter throw work with the 65-69 3 speed
on a 65-59 4  speed?

Sort of yes. 
1) The shifter fulcrum point - the ball on the shift lever, the  position of 
which determines the actual ratio of shift ball travel to shifter  in-out 
travel, is stationary on the late shifter. I have never been able to  "move" it to 
another vertical location on the lever.   
2) The cast housing of the 1965 3-speed shifter is definitely taller  than 
the 4-speed. The 3-speed shift lever (usually identified by the flaked  off 
rusting black paint, and round shape, versus the 4-speed chrome and flat  sides of 
the 4-speed shifter.
3) The 1965 3-speed transmission was a totally different transmission than  
the 4-speed - as well as totally different than the 66-69 3-speed. The 66-69  
3-speed, an all syncho box was almost the same as the four speed, with a few  
gears and parts removed. The 1965 3-speed was a much smaller box than the 1966. 
 The powers that be at Chevy used a certain ratio of shift ball travel to 
gear  travel in the 3-speed and a different one in the 4-speed (just like in 
1961-64.  For 1966, however, the 3 and 4 speeds are identical, at least in gear 
travel, or  close enough that chevy decided to use one ratio for 3 and 4 speeds. 
So, I  believe, mechanically the 66-69 3 and 4 speed shifters are all the 
same. Only  the 65 3-speed has the "faster" design. The 3-speed shifter is not as 
 "fast" as the aftermarket "quick" conversions, but it can be adjusted to 
cling  tightly to the floor, with the fore-aft movement still allowed. The 
aftermarket  quick-shift are always bolted solid to the floor. Although, on first 
glance,  that might be desired, I have found that torque-induced engine 
movement,  combined with less than rock-solid motor mounts can cause hard shifting,  
missed gears and even popping out of gear. 


I  would like to shorten the shift throw on my 66 Monza Turbo..Rick  Loving

Find a complete 65 -three speed shift housing/lever assembly. Warning, the  
500s, the usual locations for those shifters, often had rubber floor mats. 
These  resulted in more floor rust on many cars. The housings on all Corvair car  
shifters are aluminum castings and very subject to corrosion. 3-speeds are no  
better than 4-speeds in this regard.
 
I just completed a 65 autocross/track car, the one I had at Portland. I  
installed a 65 3-speed shifter into it, also adding one of Ray Sedmans aluminum  
couplers. I had a brand new (NOS) housing and the shift lever was in pretty  
good (if ugly) shape. I used the current shim pack from Clarks Corvair to  
adjust the floor clearance to a minimum, installed "captured" bronze bushings in  
both ends of the shift tube, lubed the shifter shaft and assembled the whole  
mess. I have never shifted a Corvair with a more positive shifter than this 
car.  The throw of the shifter is shorter than the 4-speed and the side to side  
movement is barely discernible, but not clamped solid. In some ways it shifts  
better than my new Corvette. (It is kinda missing a couple of extra gears,  
though!) As Jim Duane mentioned, the Corsa Chromed cover tends to  hover on any 
housing other than the original 4-speed. I have no idea what they  used on 
any 65 3-speed Corsas - (Nor why they would actually build one, for that  
matter) On mine, I went to the accordian style Monza boot, because one was  sitting 
nearby when I was woring on the car. But since I have no rug in the  front, 
that boot kind of hovers as well. Perhaps an aftermarket leather  boot could be 
adapted. But this is a race car anyway!
- Seth Emerson