Manual swap

Regular Guy with an Elky

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Aug 15, 2024
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Hi I’m looking for some help. I am thinking about swapping out my auto for a 4speed in my 83 el Camino . I think a 3 groove Saginaw might work with my rear end it’s a 2.41. My confusion at the moment is the type of shifter and mounting kit . There is like a million choices . I want to keep my bench seat. Any thoughts would be appreciated . Thanks!
 
Do you still have that shifter and install kit and is it for sale
I do but I want to keep it with the car for the time being. Is the shifter and brackets all you’re really after? There was a guy not too long ago on marketplace selling a A/G body saginaw 4 speed but I don’t remember if it came with a shifter. I believe he was in North Carolina and it might still be for sale. I can dig out the boxes full of original parts if there’s anything you’d like to see pictures of.
 
Yes, I see it is hard to find that for our cars. It was not that popular even back then when I ordered mine. ASAP sold it cheaply, then they closed shop. This guy wants a fortune but I guess he knows what he has. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2854406987...pid=5335822911&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1 There are others and all are around a grand or so. YIKES!!!
Holley owns Hurts now, sells the shifter, https://www.holley.com/products/dri...anual_shifters/competition_plus/parts/3918794 but no installation kit. I guess Fleabay or a swap meet is your best bet.
You can use a common Camaro/Firebird kit but that won't clear the bench seat. I would be going to buckets but that is up to you.
I have seen some oddball bent shifter handles that move the stick forward a lot. Not sure if that would still work with the bench seat. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hurst-3913780-Comp-Plus-Manual-Shifter,336792.html
 
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I do but I want to keep it with the car for the time being. Is the shifter and brackets all you’re really after? There was a guy not too long ago on marketplace selling a A/G body saginaw 4 speed but I don’t remember if it came with a shifter. I believe he was in North Carolina and it might still be for sale. I can dig out the boxes full of original parts if there’s anything you’d like to see pictures of.
No I just started collecting what I’m gonna need, thanks for the lead
 
Yes, I see it is hard to find that for our cars. It was not that popular even back then when I ordered mine. ASAP sold it cheaply, then they closed shop. This guy wants a fortune but I guess he knows what he has. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2854406987...pid=5335822911&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1 There are others and all are around a grand or so. YIKES!!!
Holley owns Hurts now, sells the shifter, https://www.holley.com/products/dri...anual_shifters/competition_plus/parts/3918794 but no installation kit. I guess Fleabay or a swap meet is your best bet.
You can use a common Camaro/Firebird kit but that won't clear the bench seat. I would be going to buckets but that is up to you.
I have seen some oddball bent shifter handles that move the stick forward a lot. Not sure if that would still work with the bench seat. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hurst-3913780-Comp-Plus-Manual-Shifter,336792.html
That Ebay seller also has a complete speed shop Comp Plus for the same price. I remeber when I bought my shifters for my '72 & '81 back in the '90's everything for both cars were less than $200 each & made in the USA. Then the replacement for the '81 was about $500 for everything & that was in '12. Only good deal on even a ITM shifter is to find someone eho really don't know what they have. That's how I scored the ITM Jr. will be getting & it was $217.30 including shipping.
 
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My now vintage copy of the old Hurst Parts and Applications catalogue also had pages devoted to the various shapes and styles of sticks that they offered under separate part numbers for builders who needed to mix and match for a specific situation. They did offer a handle that was offset forward towards the dash for use with a bench seat. If you are interested I can probably dig that text out of the pile and find the P/N.



Nick
 
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My now vintage copy of the old Hurst Parts and Applications catalogue also had pages devoted to the various shapes and styles of sticks that they offered under separate part numbers for builders who needed to mix and match for a specific situation. They did offer a handle that was offset forward towards the dash for use with a bench seat. If you are interested I can probably dig that text out of the pile and find the P/N.



Nick
Sometimes trying to get away with one of those forward sitting sticks still won't solve the seat in the way issue. Stick sits out enough but the shifter & possibly the hump may not play nice with the seat. Worse case is a 2nd gen S10/15 bench with the detachable cup holder could be what makes everything work together or go buckets & let the shifter sit close to you like your best girl on a Friday night or your dirty girl Saturday night.
 
I have some pictures of the shifter and mounting brackets that gnvair made all bolted up to my super t10 if that would be helpful. His write up is on here still I’m sure. He was super helpful during my install.
 
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Check out the HURST 5388620 handle for the tri five chevy,
My buddy has a 1955 Chevy with the bench seat. It needed recovering anyway so he had the shop make a cutout in the middle front part where the shifter could exist. It looked pretty cool being freshly stitched, and the shifter was like it belonged there. Again, my '81 Malibu wagon bench sucked so I would be going to buckets just because. Plus, I was able to put a six way power base under the buckets so that is worth the price of admission right there.
 

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