[Nomad68]

I have a 68 GTO and the shifter is worn out. Went to order a Hurst Comp Plus shifter but they do not have a listing the 68 goats. In fact they show nothing past 66.Anybody know what shifter I need. It is a 451 Muncie M-21.
With the Hurst shifters, is a mounting plate needed or will it bolt straight to the transmission? I do not have a console.
Any other info is appreciated.
Neil in Tenn

[Nomad68]

I have a 68 GTO and the shifter is worn out. Went to order a Hurst Comp Plus shifter but they do not have a listing the 68 goats. In fact they show nothing past 66.Anybody know what shifter I need. It is a 451 Muncie M-21.
With the Hurst shifters, is a mounting plate needed or will it bolt straight to the transmission? I do not have a console.
Any other info is appreciated.
Neil in Tenn

[Alex]

I came across this site. I have never used him,maybe someone else has, maybe he could help you out ??
http://www.precisionpontiac.com/

[Ccass]

Neil, The Hurst competition shifters currently available are "flat stick" shifters. Your original is a "round stick" shifter. Since you do not have a console, it would be possible to get a flat stick shifter to fit, however, I would recommend letting Precision Pontiac restore yours. That way it is still original and if you added a console, clearance would not be a problem.

[Gene Davis]

Try Pete at Precision Pontiac He did my 68 GTO Hurst and it's perfect.

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Gene99

[Nomad68]

I wrote Hurst and here is there reply:

Sir, sorry but we do not offer a direct fit shifter for your application. The shifter in the vehicle ( if it is a hurst ) is most likly an original from the factory which we no longer offer. The only way to get a shifter for your application would be to use a universal shifter wich might require some modification. You can go to our Hurst online catalog and scroll through our shifter to see if any will work for your application.For price and delivery you can contact your local speed shop or mail order company
My shifter may be original, I do not know yet for I will pull it out in the next couple of days and inspected it. The shifter handle is not though. It is a flat hurst.
So here is my question now:
OK, so a direct replacement is not available. Explain to me the difference in the shifters for the 67-68 Firebird with the 451 Muncie transmission also or the 68 Chevelle with the 451 Muncie transmission. What is it that makes one different from the other.I cannot look through through your catalog and choose one if I do not understand what makes a shifter unique to a certain car. My car is in the shop getting a floorboard welded in at the moment. When I get it tomorrow I will remove my shifter completly to see if there is some kind of identifcation on it. Did Muncie make there own shifters back in 68 for my GTO? If you could provide me with some more info to help make a decision on what shifter I need I would appreciate it.
Perhaps I will send it to Pete at Pecision Pontiac in the end because of the positive feedback.
Thanks again,
Neil in Tenn

[Andre]

I'm pretty sure that even if you don't have an original shifter, that Pete at Precision Pontiac can come up with a core and restore it to new for you, or use yours, and swap in a correct arm.

[Peter Serio]

Hope this helps, this is a factory shifter for a 69 GTO, it is the same as the 68 shifter except the 68s have a special spacer for the reverse switch in the base.
The OEM chrome arm locks in as shown with special steel clips, the replacement(flat stick) unit has a bolt-on arm.





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Peter Serio
Owner, Precision Pontiac

[Peter Serio]

The OEM 68-9 firebird hurst shifter has a HUGE offset in the carrier as shown:

You can NOT use a firebird shifter in a GTO it will not fit the floorpan, likewise the replacement F-body 67-9 Camaro/firebird shifter hurst sells today also has that same exact offset in the carrier only it comes with a BOLT-ON FLAT chrome arm:

NOTE: all "factory" hurst shifters for Pontiacs had a round chrome arm.
Pete

[Nomad68]

Thanks for all the responses. I ended up purchasing a unit from Pete at Percision Pontiac. Thanks for all the info Pete and your time.
Neil in Tenn

['ol Pinion head]

BEAUTIFUL '68-69 Bird shifter, Pete!!

I realize the shifter bodies went from clear zinc to black phosphate look in '70?. What would be the correct color finish for the linkage for 70-71 & later?

[Half-Inch Stud]

Peter,

Very nice shifter work - as usual.

Mark

[Peter Serio]

"What would be the correct color finish for the linkage for 70-71 & later?"
Actually 1970 was a transition year for the plating unse on the shifters, Hurst supplied the shifters and Pontiac contracted out and/or made their own linkage. Early shifters dated 1970 I have seen many of them that still have the clear zinc, late 1970 cars and most all of the 71s I have seen the shifters out of are gray phosphate plated, Most of the linkage rods used in 1970-72 all of it that I have seen was gray phosphate as well, Levers can be either/or. Please note, though: THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS to every restoration "rule".



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Peter Serio
Owner, Precision Pontiac

[Nomad68]

Just wanted to say thanks to Peter Serio
at Precision Pontiac. I purchased a original shifter and shifter handle from him for my 68 GTO and it is beautiful. Fit great and looks great with all the documentation. Nothing but a class act as far as I am concerned. It looked so good I went ahead and pulled the transmission out and had it repaired, needed a bearing in it, kept falling out of 4th gear. I will post a pic of it later on in this post.
thanks again Peter
Neil in Tenn