<VV> 500/Monza/Corsa shifter - long

[NicolCS at aol.com]

I don't have any energy one way or the other.  It's just a little research 
into what Chevy really did back then.  I'm completely open to the concept of a 
quicker shifter for the Corsa but so-far I haven't seen anything published by 
GM to support the notion.  In fact, there's concrete GM info to the contrary.

Each of us has a little bit different information available.  Why don't you 
overlay the following onto what you have and see what comes out of it.

Here's what I have observed.

I have not seen any GM document that mentions a "quicker shifter" for the 
Corsa.  I've looked at the 65,66 Brocheres, 65 Dealer album, 65 Fingertip Facts, 
65 Assembly manual, and 67 & 73 Parts manuals for clues.

The assembly manual does specify a different shifter for the Corsa on page 
7-B2
.  
The shift lever specified for the 500/Monza is pn 3872870
The shift lever specified for the Corsa is pn 3872871

Is this the "mystery" quick shifter?

By convention, the forward section of the manual deals only with standard 
equipment, in this case that would mean a 3-speed transmission.  To confirm the 
standard-equipment (3-spd) notion, I looked at my '67 parts book and it lists 
the following applications for these levers:

65 Corvair w/3spd (exc. Corsa)  pn 870
65 Corsa w/3spd pn 871

These assembly and parts manuals are consistent seem to confirm that these 
levers are for 3-speed transmissions.

Now, moving to the rear section of the assembly manual for the M20 4-speed, 
there's only one listing shift lever listing for all models, 500/Monza/Corsa pn 
3872872. Page # M20-2

How does this jive with the parts manual?  The application listed  for pn 872 
is 65-9 Corvair with 4-speed in both the '67 and '73 parts book.  

If GM had a special shifter for the 4-speed Corsa, it would be listed on page 
M20-2 since that's what the factory would use as an assembly guide for a 
4-spd car. But there's only one 4-speed shifter noted there.

Could GM have had a special shifter for the 4-speed Corsa?  Sure.  Clarks 
catalog lists that application.  What's the special feature of this shifter, if 
it's true?  No one has stepped up with that info.  Also, what's the part 
number?   

Regarding Clarks: They could very well be right but consider this: Late 
shifters are much quicker than early shifters.  The kit is listed for all years.  
If you put a quick shift kit on the late (quicker) shifter it gets very, very 
quick.  If Clarks is incorrect and you substitute the word "late" for "Corsa" 
than all the facts fit.  

Maybe the parts book is wrong and the 871 lever is actually the mystery 
"quick"shifter - that would make Clarks right - except that the assembly manual's 
M20 section would also have to be wrong since it calls for the common 872 65-9 
4-speed lever.

So with the information I have, for Clarks to be right, the GM parts manual, 
GM assembly manual would have to be wrong and GM would have had to fail to 
note the difference in the brochere, Finger-tip facts, and the Dealer albums.  So 
my conclusion is that GM never claimed any difference and all the GM 
documentation supports the notion of no special 4-speed shifter for a Corsa. 

Why don't you stir this in with what you have and see if we can find a 
conclusion?  Clark Hartzel (CPF) has most of the blueprints.  Perhaps he can provide 
a definitive answer.

Craig N.