Manual trans shifter hole location?

[clean8485]

Does anyone here know if the location for the floor shifter hole in the '78-'81 GM A body cars is in the same spot in the floor for all of the manual trans cars? I looking at the possibility of transplanting part of the floor from a manual trans car into a non-manual car, and I'd like to know if the shifter is located in the same spot regardless of whether the car has the 3 speed manual, or the 4 speed manual. I know that the shifter is located fairly far forward in the floor, because GM installed manual transmissions in bench seat cars.
Thanks in advance.

 

[ssn696]

HAFROD has not yet put the carpet in his car. If you PM him, maybe he could make a template for you using the seat pedestal studs as landmarks.

 

[oldtinsmith]

clean8485, is this the "hole" you're looking to locate?

Doug

 

[clean8485]

Yes, that's the hole. What I'd like to know if GM put that hole in the same spot in the floor in all of the manual trans cars.

 

[oldtinsmith]

IIRC, they all came with the Saginaw 3 or 4 speed manual transmissions (except some early Olds Cutlass's could be had with a 5-speed). The "holes" for both the 3-speed and 4-speed transmissions is in the same location from the factory.

Doug

 

[clean8485]

Thanks very much, both to ssn696 and to Doug for your help. That's what I was looking to find out.

 

[L.A.X-RATED]

and now how about a location hole/measurement for a t-5???? anyone???

 

[oldtinsmith]

I have no clue about a T-5.

Doug

 

[Bonnewagon]

Pontiacgp has a T-5 in his car. I think he said it is located much farther back than the Saginaw hole. If you are getting a section of floor with the hump and all, then be sure and cut it oversize. Then all you need to do is cut your floor in the approximate location, and place the new section over it and adjust it for the best fit, then weld it in. You would be wise to use a short block, bell housing, and transmission mounted in place to get the location spot on before welding. Be aware that the hole for the Saginaw is slightly forward of a normal location. This is because the shifter is mounted on the trans slightly forward of the tail housing. That puts it very close to the dashboard, but clears a bench seat, because the bench seat and Saginaw 3 speed were the base model equipment. Every other manual trans will mount the shifter at the end of the tail housing which is about 6" to the rear of the A/G body location.

 

[ssn696]

and now how about a location hole/measurement for a t-5???? anyone???

Do you have a console in your car? I put a T-5 from a 1988 Camaro into a Malibu coupe. The Camaro bellhousing is drilled and the tailhousing mounting pad is cast to tilt the shifter about 18 degrees towards the driver. When I used this T-5 with a Malibu bellhousing, it mounts straight up - had to modify the pad on the OEM crossmmber to make it tilt to match. But, the shifter came right up through the middle of the floor shift / package tray spot in the forward end of the console. I'll search through my photos to see if I can find a shot. When I did it, I just removed the shifter and taped up the hole, stabbed it in and marked the tunnel from below. I added a half inch all around and cut the floor. I swapped in an S-10 shifter initially, and while it looked like something out of a Rat Freak cartoon, it worked until I put an aftermarket short-throw shifter in there.