While my 85 SS did come with a 200-4R attached to its non-original 305 my first love and what came in my first new car was a 4-speed. The Saginaw was not known for its strength or durability but it did hold up to my learning curve..I still have it and another orphan sitting down stairs. For the Monte however, I decided that only a Muncie would do. So I built one; Didn't plan it that way but when I got to poking around at the one I scored, I found that the countershaft had walked forward and it could not be reset without pulling the tailshaft housing off and retiming it to the mid-plate. At that point you pretty much have the transmission torn down and other things start popping up; like synchros and forks and...the list goes on. plus which it was a 7/8ths pin and I wanted the 1" version. E-Bay can be your friend if.... you do your homework first and know what you're looking for.
All that aside, I still have two items to deal with. They are the neutral/start switch and the reverse/backup lights switch. In an automatic car, they are both found wired in to a connection block attached to the steering column mast. On a 4 speed, the reverse/backup light switch is mounted down on the lever cover and linked directly the reverse lever. This means moving some wires unless there is a kit or wiring adapter harness available to do the trick. Anyone know of one?? The neutral/start switch will end up being activated by the clutch pedal and I have that switch in hand as part of the pedal assembly. Again, what wire goes where is the sticking point as this switch is a plunger and I am not really sure if polarity is an issue at all. I would like to visit this whole problem while the steering column is out and I have room to wriggle around under the dash without dinging myself on low hanging bits and pieces. Anyone out there in Forum land done this conversion before? Mine is mostly factory parts, excepting wear items that had to be obtained aftermarket due to being factory unobtanium.
All that aside, I still have two items to deal with. They are the neutral/start switch and the reverse/backup lights switch. In an automatic car, they are both found wired in to a connection block attached to the steering column mast. On a 4 speed, the reverse/backup light switch is mounted down on the lever cover and linked directly the reverse lever. This means moving some wires unless there is a kit or wiring adapter harness available to do the trick. Anyone know of one?? The neutral/start switch will end up being activated by the clutch pedal and I have that switch in hand as part of the pedal assembly. Again, what wire goes where is the sticking point as this switch is a plunger and I am not really sure if polarity is an issue at all. I would like to visit this whole problem while the steering column is out and I have room to wriggle around under the dash without dinging myself on low hanging bits and pieces. Anyone out there in Forum land done this conversion before? Mine is mostly factory parts, excepting wear items that had to be obtained aftermarket due to being factory unobtanium.
