[68blackbird]

I'm tired of my factory auto shifter. I want to spend more time at the track and feel like I need to move up to a racing shifter. Car has a factory console and t400.

Looking for positive experiences installing aftermarket shifter and pics model #'s

Thanks
Rich

[rexs73gto]

Pontiac made 2 different kinds of factory shifters in the 70"s , 1 is just a normal shifter that goes from 12DNRP & the other when you hold it over the the right is a ratchet type shifter & will only allow you to go 1 gear at a time. You can find them in Birds & A-Bodies in all the lines of cars. You just have to find & try them , if they move to the right thats the one you want. I have a couple of them for sale.

[Squidward]

I put in a Hurst Promatic ratchet shifter, but it required a decent amount of fabrication. I had previously done a 2nd gen shifter, which also required much fabrication. I couldn't find one out there that fits the shallow 1st gen console.

[68400BIRD]

I used a 1969 ratcheting shifter out of a Firebird. I then mounted my brackets for the neutral safety switch on it. I now have a completely functioning shifter that looks stock.

[69FIREBIRD76MM]

I seeing few guys used the B&M quick silver ratchet shifter with stock console, I got a picture I will post it later.

[69FIREBIRD76MM]

Here pictures.

[rexs73gto]

Thats a good shifter but it is several hundred dollars where the factory 73-up duel gate shifter is usually under $ 75.00 & all it needs is a little bit of your time to make it fit & the factory shifter usually has the NSW still on it or you can get one fairly cheap & then it works just as good as the B&M shifter without the cost.

[Squidward]

Originally Posted by rexs73gto

Thats a good shifter but it is several hundred dollars where the factory 73-up duel gate shifter is usually under $ 75.00 & all it needs is a little bit of your time to make it fit & the factory shifter usually has the NSW still on it or you can get one fairly cheap & then it works just as good as the B&M shifter without the cost.

I did the 2nd gen shifter in my 67, and it took more work than what it was worth to make it fit with the console. But I was tired of missing the 1-2 shift at the track and hitting 3rd.

Another concern is the NSS. 67 factory shifter had the NSS on the shifter. I can't speak for 68-69, but 2nd gens linked up the shifter to the column. The NSS was located on the column for 2nd gens. I used a Flaming River NSS that mounted down at the tranny pan when I stuck in a 2nd gen shifter.

Unless you are talking about using the ratchet guts of a 2nd gen ratchet shifter, and swapping them into the 68 regular auto shifter? That might be an idea.

[69FIREBIRD76MM]

73 and up firebirds dont used dual gate shifters, they are the simple push to the right and forward ratchet mechanism. 68 has nss at the shifter, 69 has it at the column.

[frankyboy455]

This one, although quite expensive, is one of the nicest available, in my opinion. I have no idea how good it works, though. I once had one in a 78 Trans Am and it worked awesome.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-69-Pont...5ed37a&vxp=mtr

[Inogame]

67-69 (maybe they moved it for 69 I'm not sure there actually) GTO/Cutlass had the NSS mounted to the duel gate, I have never had a chance to verify, but it looks the same as the stock NSS on the Firebirds with AT in the console. Same shape, size and wires from the pictures at least.
I bought a duel gate off ebay just because it was a decent price and was considering trying to fit it in my 67 some day. It's a the 2nd gen F-body model so it does not have the provision for the NSS like the GTO and cutlass models had. I'm hoping to find one of those to look at and take pictures of sometime so I can just try to mimic the mount.
As you can tell this isn't an active project, just one of those things I think would be cool and so if I find parts for a good price I'll buy em... you guys know how that goes.

[rexs73gto]

69firebird76mm, the shifter on the 73 GTO & SOME firebirds is considered a duel gate shifter. Not all of them work like that. It was part of an option. But it is considered a duel gated shifter & it does work the same as the earlier models it just doesn't have the face that the 67 & 68 But it does lock the shifter out of the next gear as long as you hold it over. You have to relieve pressure on it to allow it to go into the next gear. Again it didn't come on all firebird & LeMans & other A-body models.

[68blackbird]

Saw that Hurst shifter on Ebay as well. It looks awesome... the price is way to awesome!

Rich

[68blackbird]

No one with pics, part numbers and first hand recommendation?

Rich