[steveK]

I have been istalling the M-20 4 speed into my 69 TA. The maintenance manual shows the steering lockout linkage goes to the top section of the reverse lever on the tranny with the shifter linkage going to the bottom of the lever. My M-20 does not have the upper area on the tranny so it cannot support the reverse lockout to the steering column. A spare 69 M-20 trans I have does have what the book shows. What gives?

[steveK]

I have been istalling the M-20 4 speed into my 69 TA. The maintenance manual shows the steering lockout linkage goes to the top section of the reverse lever on the tranny with the shifter linkage going to the bottom of the lever. My M-20 does not have the upper area on the tranny so it cannot support the reverse lockout to the steering column. A spare 69 M-20 trans I have does have what the book shows. What gives?

[chas-3]

Steve, are you sure the M20 you are installing is a '69 unit? I can't remember if '69 was the first year for the lock-out or not. But if so, and your M20 is an earlier model, that could explain the absence of the upper part of the lever.

[steveK]

Chas, yes I'm sure it is the right year tranny. I did not remove it from the car so maybe it did not have it on it, but the steering column has the lever for the linkage. I also have the parts for the turnbuckle linkage back to the tranny. I could swap the reverse lever off my other 69 tranny and try that. I was just never saw it on any 69 Firebirds.

[chas-3]

Steve, I'll take a look at my '69 T/A and see how the lock-out linkage is set up.

[Half-Inch Stud]

....wrestled that issue in 1986..

should have taken a photo of that Saginaw assembly.
should have take a photo of the M21HD assembly.

I used the same factory Hurst Competition Plus shifter, but completely diff shift rods and levers.

[steveK]

For what it's worth, I recieved the car totally disassembled and all parts scatterd about in boxes-n-bags. Ihad another 69 4-speed tranny with all the linkage on it and correct. Well, the linkages are different styles. On the TA the swiveles mount on the shifter end and on the spare tranny, there are adjusting blockes on the spare tranny toward the front. The 69 TA was built May-June 69 and the other Firebird spare tranny was Nov-68. the latter linkages match the maint. manual correctly. I dont know for sure if the tA linkage is original but it fits and works correctly.

[steveK]

OK, I found out what was wrong. I had the wrong linkage as well as wrong shifter mounting plate. I pulled all the part off my spare tranny and mounted them on the TA. All gears are working including reverse. The shifter also is not flush against the trans tunnel floor pan. I guess these parts were placed in with all the other boxed parts inadvertantly by the previous owner. The shift linkage rods that were incorrect were 1.5 inches shorter when compared with the rods I had from my other M-20. Also the shifter mount made the shifter sit up 1 inch higher as well. I wonder what Pontiac model they were from?
Oh well, in the words of Marvin Martian....Delays....delays....!Thanks for all the help.

[This message has been edited by steveK (edited 12-03-2001).]

[Half-Inch Stud]

stevek, I bet it blows your mind.

I had a similar problem with my 69 Sprint firebird. Final analysis, the factory shift rods, shifter, were the absolutely best parts to use.

I had a box full of Reinforced shift rods, other shift rods, levers of all thicknesses and lengths, and a spare shifter. A manual Trans goldmine.

I sold those spare manual parts and never looked back..........until now; I've got manual Trans fever!

Thinking about using the TH400 with a manual valve body and clutch.