Sheet metal 4spd shifter floor tower......
 

I am sure it has a more glamourous name.......but I dont know it. I have the original one from my first new '61 car (I think???) along with the rubber giz & its ring. I was always careful to re-install it no matter how many times I had the trans out.

A local wanted to borrow it to make one for his current four speed car project. That was last week???? anyway, he came by today to return the original, and left one of what he said were several that he made.

Pictures below........ Far as I am concerned, this is as good as it gets for hand made!!!!

By the way, shouldnt 1961 be included in '62-66 big cars??? Most everything is the same between '61-63, no comparisons to '60 & older.

PJH

Nicely done! They're officially called a porch, for some reason. That must be from a Catalina/Ventura with a bench seat - there were actually four different part numbers for 1961 (I imagine 1961-1964 were similar):

540317 Catalina and Ventura with bucket seats
540121 Catalina and Ventura with bench seats
540261 Star Chief and Bonneville with bucket seats
540227 Star Chief and Bonneville with bench seats

Catalinas and Venturas have a smaller transmission hump than the Star Chiefs and Bonnevilles, and the shifter in bucket seat cars is located a little differently than in bench seat cars (I believe the bucket seat porches have a square hole instead of a round hole, as well.)

This is the porch out of my 1961 Bonneville, along with a fiberglass copy I made:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...6&d=1168794743

That's a long standing question around here, no one seems to know why. :)

Thanks PJ......I consider that a compliment! I appreciate you letting me use yours.

If anyone out there in 'Pontiac Land' has an original GM, 61/62 Catalina bench seat shifter porch for sale I would be very interested in purchasing one to use as a "jig" in the fabrication of this part. Thought I may be able make up a few to sell in Smoke Signals if there is any interest.

Thanks in advance, JWW