B&M Starshifter. Today to column shift goes away for good. I will take plenty of pictures and make an informative post later.
ive been wondering how hard it will be to do this......thanks for doing it and post plenty of pics too
It is a pretty easy job. Getting all the column shift stuff off can be a hassle. But the installation of the floor shift is simple. Luckily, all the column stuff does not have to be removed to install the B&M, and I removed the rest of it years later. So, is it done yet?
It works! I gotta shower up but it shifts and goes. I need a new cable though, mine is kinked so it's stiff but whatever, it'll do for now. I took a few dozen pictures.
Okay so first I drove the beast up on ramps in the front to give me room underneath. I blocked the rear wheels and set the parking brake. The column HAS to be in the full PARK position or your key won't pull out when your done so I did that and crawled under. First to go was the lever for the overdrive on the end of the shift linkage. It was a 9/16 nut and it came off easy. Pulled the linkage off and proceeded to remove the shift linkage. 1/2 nut and washer. Linkage at the tranny as seen from undreneath. On a 6 cyl car it might not be as tight but on my V8 the exhaust was right exactly in my way the whole time. Remove the nuts and linkage from the transmission. Next I had to install the new shift lever on the transmission. Because when my car is in park, the factory lever is in an up position, I was able to simply slide on the new lever and tighten it IN THE DOWN POSITION! (if your cars transmission has the factory lever facing down in park, remove the bent portion before you slide on the new lever) The new lever is pointing down, the factory one is pointing up. I reattached the overdrive linkage at this point. Next remove the two bottom bolts from the circular coverplate near the lever. The heads are 1/2. Install the new plate and tighten the bolts. The hole should be facing the rear of the car a few inches from the transmission mount. Inside the car. Center the shifter where you want it on the hump, close enough to be easily reached but far enough from the dash so it isn't touching or in the way. It may vary and there isn't really a set location for aftermarket units I suppose. I just sat and reached over and grabbed the handle in drive and where it was natural I drilled the holes for the bolts holding it through the hump. Be careful when you drill, your transmission is under it! I drilled a 1/2 hole for the cable and threaded it through and secured the unit to the floor. Under the car again. I ran the cable over the transmission and around the back and under to the bracket on the circular cover. Screw the large nuts tight to secure the large portion of the cable to the bracket. In my case it was at its furthest point on the threads. Next screw the swivel onto the threaded tip of the cable, slip it through the hole on the lever and secure it with the cotter pin. The length adjustments are self explanatory. The lever should be all the way foreward(park) and the shifter should be too. Adjust the length to be firm but not too tight. Next turn on your car and go for a ride. it should be smooth and easy to shift and the gear indicator should line up with the actual gear indicated. Mine does and is. The wiring for the reverse lights and illumination are for another day. I need a new cable because mine kinked. Enjoy. More pictures to come.
no pics of inside the car? i wanna see that bitchin shifter.. do i see a new video in the near future?
ok old post I know lol but sorry for that...I did the 200 to 302 swap lost my colum shifter stuff....got a 70s pinto shifter and linkage....pulled my tranny pan off pulled valve body out to flip my shifter linkage....the pinto shifter linkage wouldn't let me put it into park...so I got a b&m shifter cable....my question is do I have to flip the shifter lever back around or will it work? had this thing since I was 13...im 22 now and ben building it over the years slowly but surely lol
