<VV> RE: quick shift question - Answers on shift towers

[Rick Loving]

>From your post I read that the 65 3-speed tower was different from the
66-69 3-speed tower.
 
How does on tell the difference between the 65 3-speed tower and the
66-69 3-speed tower? The car in question is my new 66 coupe (with has a
65 Turbo motor and 65 trans)  I have a complete LM 3 speed tower
(unknown year)) in my parts stash but wanted to make sure that the EM 3
speed tricked worked with the LM like it did with the EM.
 
Rick Loving
 
<SNIP>
Subject: quick shift question - Answers on shift towers
 
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.
<SNIP>
- Seth Emerson