Some consolation sought

[scoti]

Me, again, Was able to get your console picture to enlarge and that gave me a great view of how you have your shifter set up. Being in the middle like that and about exactly in the physical location where the auto-stick would have sat is beautiful. Mine, on the other hand, sits off centre and slightly further forward so everything is fighting for room. it almost looks like you have some variant of the old Muncie tunnel mount manual shifter/linkage to get the positioning you have. I have an 80's Camaro manual shifter that works with the Saginaw 4-speed and looks like that but it is no Hurst for shifter throw and crispness. Currently it is attached to a Saginaw but I have no plans to use the assembly.

No expert here but the image I'm seeing indicates a later model 5 or 6spd internal rail shifter style transmission (T5 variant or T56) vs. an external linkage manual trans.

 

[ssn696]

Okay, your pictures helped a lot....need to see whether or not I can harvest the desired front flange from it to be repurposed as the front mount for the modified console body. With it in place that gives me a starting point to set the console in place and figure out where the back mount has to move to to work again.

I included the tape measure in the picture to show relative dimensions. I bet you could grab something to use instead of the shifter base. I have second console that had no breadbox. Let me see if the brackets made it into the console box for safe keeping....

The trans is a Tremec TKO, internal rail shifter. Fbody T5 comes up in about the same place.

 

[pontiacgp]

Seeking an El Camino 4 Speed center console

The thread title about says the why of this post. For obvious reasons, an automatic console will not accept the four speed stick and associated mechanism. If memory serves, the 78-81 or so Elky's with a manual transmission were available with a centre console to match their bucket seats...

gbodyforum.com

A/G body stick shift console

I was wondering if there was a stick shift console for the A/G bodies. I'm useing a second gen Firebird one now. I don't believe I've ever seen one for a stick car, only automatics and I really didn't want to adapt an auto unit over unless it can be done so it looks right. What has anyone else...

gbodyforum.com

 

[buick7332]

This is a stock console.

 

[scoti]

This is a stock console.View attachment 135244

This pic shows the exact set-up one of my previous 2dr Malibu's had.

Another El Camino I had (that was purchased for parts), I removed the manual trans required parts to use on an auto trans equipped car. It had just the shifter pad & boot only w/no console as it was a bench seat vehicle.

 

[pontiacgp]

I'm glad this subject poped up again cause it reminded me to look for a 2nd gen firebird console. I changed the bellhousing to get rid of the angle the transmission was at so I could use an old firebird console.

 

[Bonnewagon]

That is an old pic Steve posted. That was when I had the shifter mounted at the tail housing like a Muncie or ST-10 would be. It was still a Saginaw trans but mounting it that way allowed me to have the '77 Firebird console map tray fit right up against the ash tray spot. I later moved the shifter to where it belonged on our cars. That meant cutting the floor again and also cutting the map tray shorter to fit under the dash. Both ways I needed to take those console mounts off the floor and re-weld them to where they lined up with the screw holes in the console box. That was the only way to get the console stable enough to stand up to abuse.

 

[pontiacgp]

That is an old pic Steve posted. That was when I had the shifter mounted at the tail housing like a Muncie or ST-10 would be. It was still a Saginaw trans but mounting it that way allowed me to have the '77 Firebird console map tray fit right up against the ash tray spot. I later moved the shifter to where it belonged on our cars. That meant cutting the floor again and also cutting the map tray shorter to fit under the dash. Both ways I needed to take those console mounts off the floor and re-weld them to where they lined up with the screw holes in the console box. That was the only way to get the console stable enough to stand up to abuse. View attachment 135287View attachment 135284View attachment 135286

I knew that was a picture of your console but I knew it wasn't current because of the black backed gauges. I remember you got the silver gauges and you were happy about that

 

[CopperNick]

For Gnvair, what I want to end up with will very closely resemble what appears in the picture you posted. The transmission is a Muncie M20+ with a Hurst Competition Plus stick. I had to cut the tunnel hole from scratch to properly accept the shifter mechanism while keeping the opening as small a possible. The factory metal shroud that would be plug welded over the hole falls into place over the opening with more than enough meat to do the welds without being short of material to attach to. Your picture shows the leading edge of the console as butting up fairly closely to the back wall of the shroud. As you did, I will likely opt to create some custom tabs or brackets to act as the front mounts for the console. I dug out the old auto-stick assembly from its hiding place and can use that for reference for the measurements. The back mount is going to have to be moved. I have a sneaking suspicion that when it got installed in the first place it was not positioned correctly, just where it would work and left that way. Don't think it was plug welded into position; probably perimeter tacks only. A little gentle attention from my Dremel tool and it should be free as a bird. I can rust coat and prime the shroud before I mig it in. Just for the sake of wondering, does anyone known to members of this board offer the manual version front console mounting bracket or is this something that would have to be harvested from a wreck??

Nick

 

[CopperNick]

Bonnewagon, thanks for posting additional and updated pics. Nice fit and finish. Surprised that the Firebird console fit in as tightly and factory looking as it did given it being a F-body part being stuffed into a G-body cabin but if it works...…………….