HURST shifter????

[canadianGMCgirl]

Hi all, looking for some advice..my car is a 1979 GMC caballero,5.0L 350/Factory 4 speed car/Posi traction...my problem is the shifter..Ie I have bound the gears on several occasions and had the old man crawl under to release it..Guess I don't know how to drive..mostly its because of Reverse gear..he says I have to open the gates or something..lol damn this car...anyways he test drove it and it is a hard shifting car....also it wont go into fourth sometimes...arggg...so now I have lost the fun driving her worried she will bind up and leave me stranded in a parking lot with no gears.... anyhoo I met a local mechanic wh said I would need a new shifter..and it will solve the problems..so what shifter would you recommend?? I was thinking HURST but I went on the site and I cant find anything for manual..any more input on this would be appreciated! 🙂

 

[pontiacgp]

you could have the one you have rebuilt, the bushings wear out. I assume you have a Saginaw and there are Hurst shifters for it.

https://hurstshiftersonline.com/product ... category=5

 

[GP403]

looks like Hurst still has their rebuild program. It's not cheap, but your shifter comes back to you in tip top shape. I had mine done many moons ago. It would bind up between 2nd and 3rd. I found myself driving without the boot screwed down and a big screwdriver at the ready. Your factory 4-spd shifter -should- be an OEM Hurst unit, at least the Pontiac ones were.

Give em a call.

http://www.hurst-shifters.com/shifter-rebuild-program/

 

[oldtinsmith]

I've got both the "Super Shifter" (the one shown by pontiacgp) and the replacement shifter for the factory location (I bought it new). I can get you the part numbers off of the boxes for the standard replacement Hurst shifter (the shifter box and also the installation kit box) if you'd like! ... FYI, the new Hurst shifter was "made in China"! ...The "Super Shifter" mounts farther back and higher on the transmission than the replacement shifter (which mounts in the factory location).

Doug

 

[canadianGMCgirl]

Ok on my build sheet it says Trans: SC * does that tell me what it is??

 

[clean8485]

The SC probably refers to an internal GM parts code for assembly line workers, when the car is being built. Do you have the Service Parts ID tag on the vehicle? I'm not 100% sure, but on that vehicle, its probably on the inside of the glovebox door. It should have all of the RPO (regular production option) codes for all of the various options on your vehicle. If you find it, you should be looking for an RPO code that begins with the letter M. That code should indicate the transmission option on the vehicle, and will probably be more useful if you're looking for specific parts for your vehicle. Hope this helps.

 

[canadianGMCgirl]

oK,Well I have to get the car running today,I replaced the circuit board and painted the gauge cluster cover white now I hope the gauges light up now.(putting her back together,fingers crossed it works)..then its off to the mechanic to identify the transmission and see if indeed it needs a shifter(hoping so) would like to start new on this old girl.

 

[oldtinsmith]

oK,Well I have to get the car running today,I replaced the circuit board and painted the gauge cluster cover white now I hope the gauges light up now.(putting her back together,fingers crossed it works)..then its off to the mechanic to identify the transmission and see if indeed it needs a shifter(hoping so) would like to start new on this old girl.

The stock factory 4-speed manual transmission should be a Saginaw with a 1st gear ratio of 2.85:1, a second gear ratio of 2.02:1, a third gear ratio of 1.35:1, and a 4th gear ratio of 1.00:1( from "El Camino & SS Muscle Portfolio 1959-1987").

Doug

 

[pontiacgp]

one way to figure out the 1st gear on a Saginaw is by the groves on the input shaft..

0 groove 2.84 (or as oldtinsmith posted 2.85)
1 groove 2.54
2 groove 3.11
3 groove 3.5