<VV> custom 4 speed shifter?

[tony.underwood at cox.net]

On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 10:01 AM , Bryan Blackwell wrote:

> I believe there were a couple made for earlies - but just the lever/ 
> base assembly.  There was also a floor shift conversion for PGs. 
> That's all I'm aware of in "kit" form.  Some of the V8 guys have built 
> custom units using the side covers from front engine Saginaw 
> transmissions, but it's not a small project.
>
> --Bryan
>
> On Aug 31, 2009, at 3:06 AM, Ray Rodriguez (Grymm) wrote:
>
>>     I was just working on the interior of my 65 corsa project car 
>> and I got to wondering..  are there any options out there for custom 
>> 4 speed shifters for corvairs?  Hurst, B&M, etc?  I couldnt find 
>> anything on this so I'm guessing there isnt anything available...




Not that long ago there was a 4-speed shift linkage using heavy sheathed 
cables that was engineered for vans, for those who demanded a perked up 
engine with a 4-speed gearbox for their paisley covered rolling motel. 
The shift linkage had a bracket which mounted underneath the floor which 
supported a shifter (which you supplied, Muncie, Hurst, Mr Gasket, 
whatever) with attachment points for the cables leading back to the 
transmission which also had a similar sheath mount bracket which 
attached to the side cover.

The cables had trunions that attached to the shift levers on any regular 
big-3 supplied 4-speed gearbox (Sag, Muncie, BW T-10, Mopar A833, 
Dearborn toploader etc).    It wasn't all that cheap but it was nicely 
done and got good reviews in a couple of hotrodding mags.


I'd thought several times that this would be made to order for a 'Vair 
with a V8 in the back seat, especially if the driver wanted a shifter 
with a more solid feel than what's going to be available using current 
rube goldberg mechanisms.    ...and that van 4-speed conversion shifter 
reviewed in the one mag that had a Hurst shifter hooked to it appeared 
pretty well done with muscular cables that looked perfectly capable of 
standing up to the most ham-fisted driver.

...maybe look in van accessories places rather than performance car 
spots.




tony..