[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by fiedlerh

I agree. This is how the parts book lists it.
My friend who ordered my 74 Grand Am new requested a Hurst shifter and that is what he got. The strange thing is that there is no documentation on it. I don't have the original bill of sale and it's not indicated on the PHS nor in the accessory/option book, nor on the order form. Not sure if it came that way from Pontiac or if the dealer installed it. There must have been some kind of dealer info on it because the dealer didn't say no.
If any one has any info on how it was ordered, please chime in.

The factory Hurst shifter was a cheapened version of the Competition Plus. No fore/aft adjustment stops, bayonet mount instead of 2 bolts, rubber bushings where the linkages connect to keep it quiet. They got a bit sloppy with age and I bet many owners eventually replaced them with a Competition Plus body. I know I did.

Horst,

which knob did your Grand Am come equipped with?

[Pontiacdaver]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

Dave,

I assume that your shifter is the Inland Tool, not the Hurst?

Yes, it is definitely an ITM shifter and the knob looks original to me.

[fiedlerh]

Horst, which knob did your Grand Am come equipped with?

It came with the Firebird style knob. I know this to be a fact because I've known my car since it was new. The original owner gave me the knob when I bought the car. It's not real comfortable, so lots of people changed them to the Hurst ball or T-handle.

After a certian build period all the manual shift cars came with the hurst shifter I din't know what the break point is now but they came stock after a certian date so the dealer if was asked most likly just said ok you'll get it as they knew the shifter after that date was hurst any way.

Rex, this explanation makes the most sense, but you would think there would be a dealer memo on this.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Pontiacdaver

Here is the knob on my 74, it was ordered in November 73. I assume it is the original knob by the wear on it. The pic was taken before I cleaned the interior.

Although it is from the era, and a GM knob, it is not correct for the Grand Am. Here is a NOS knob that is the same one that is in your car. This is listed as correct for 1976-1981 Chevrolet Camaros and 1976 Nova. This knob replaced the 494367 knob I previously have shown, which was last used in the 1975 Chevrolet Novas and Camaros.










And here is the correct 1974 Grand Am knob 481595:

[77 Canamman]

Here is some interesting info on the knobs. These are from the Chevrolet parts books from the era. Here is the 4/1977 parts book:



Note the use of the round ball 494367 in all applications except Vega/Monza.

The 4/1981 parts book now only shows the 357703 as the only replacement for the exact same applications. Typical GM parts superceding..

[77 Canamman]

Here is a 1974 4 door Grand Am 4 speed. It has the 494367 knob. Can't tell if this has the Hurst shifter.

[77 Canamman]

This 1974 4 speed GA coupe also uses the 494367 knob..

[Pontiacdaver]

Very interesting info Rick. So I would guess mine was replaced at some time, and judging by the wear, a long time ago. But there is the possibility that it came equipped with the Chevy knob. after all, if GM was out of the specified part as a car came down the assembly line, they would use whatever was available to keep the line moving. It just looks as original as everything else on the car.

[77 Canamman]

I would love to have an earlier Pontiac parts book to do some more investigating, but mine are for 1976-77, not 1973-74.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Pontiacdaver

But there is the possibility that it came equipped with the Chevy knob. after all, if GM was out of the specified part as a car came down the assembly line, they would use whatever was available to keep the line moving. It just looks as original as everything else on the car.

The 357703 knob that is currently on your car didn't originate until 1976, and by 1981, GM decided not to offer the 494367 knob anymore, and just used the 357703 as a service replacement. I'm sure that grain wouldn't last too long in daily use, or it could have come off another car in a salvage yard.

[Pontiacdaver]

Ahh, didn't know the knob post-dated the car, and you are right about the wear. Could be like my Dad's 66 LeMans (the car that started my obsession with Pontiacs), it was a 326 4spd and the knob was stolen off of it while I was at a basketball game at my high school.
I've owned several T/As and a 79 Grand Am 301 4spd I once owned all had the common oblong knob you show in post #24. That knob doesn't have 'lift' on it though. This is the first 4spd Pontiac I've ever owned that you had to pull up to engage reverse, and that includes a 73 GTO (bought from CA in the early 90s, console car, had the correct ITM shift lever but I don't think it had the original mechanism) and a 74 LeMans GT 350 4bbl 3spd (no console) I owned in 79-80 (wish I could have that one back, I sold it to my dad in 1980 and he drove it a few years before trading it in).

I have both the 1975 Pontiac and older parts and illustrated books and the same for 1976-81, I will see what I can find out.

This has been a very enlightening post so far, I'd still like to hear about the 73 that 63Longtop started this post about.

[sport coupe]

Photo bucket is down for maintenance. Will post the earlier parts/diagram page later. Don’t have the Accessory Section for the Walnut part numbers.

[sport coupe]

Edition MAY 1980

[77 Canamman]

Hmm. So this parts book lists the 9794505 knob as the sole 1974 A body knob with the Hurst shifter. It lists the 357703 knob with the ITM. The 481595 knob is listed as 1971 GP 4 speed, 1970-75 Firebird and Ventura. So, by 1980, the 494367 knob was discontinued, and the 357703 was the recommended replacement.

[77 Canamman]

The 9794505 knob:

[77 Canamman]

This was recently sold on E-bay. It is a 1974 Hurst handle with a well worn F body style knob...

[sport coupe]

Shifter ball 494367 still available on the Olds obsolete site for only $125.00.
http://www.oldsobsolete.com/products...ob-nos-494367/

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by sport coupe

Shifter ball 494367 still available on the Olds obsolete site for only $125.00.
http://www.oldsobsolete.com/products...ob-nos-494367/

GR8 Post SC!

Here it is from your “OldsMoBubble” link:

[Pontiacdaver]

So from sport coupe's post #33, the 357703 knob WAS available before 1976 and is, quite possibly, the original knob for my car since it has the ITM shifter?

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Pontiacdaver

So from sport coupe's post #33, the 357703 knob WAS available before 1976 and is, quite possibly, the original knob for my car since it has the ITM shifter?

No...Absolutely not. That info from that book is dated 1980. The 494367 knob was phased out already and GM substituted the 357703. I need to get an early edition book, since GM loved to substitute parts when they stopped producing one version. Through my research to this point, that 357703 wasn't introduced until 1976. Until I can find documentation that states otherwise, I still say that knob was transplanted on your car several years ago and is not the original one. Also, that book does not mention the use of the F body knob in the 1974 Grand Ams, but Horsts car, and some other unrestored cars most certainly had them.