[1funride]

Does anyone know if a rally bump (not his/hers) shifter is the same from car to car in 1969? I understand the mounting feet and face plates are different for say a 1969 Firebird and 1969 Lemans/GTO, but is the base shifter unit the same?

Would it be possible to take the 1969 lemans shifter and put it in the stock console of a 69 firebird with a change over of the mounting feet and face plate?

The 69 firebird shifters go for 2X the cost of a 69 lemans, from the pictures I have seen the base units look the same.

[1funride]

I should have clarified, the shifter is intended to go into a 68 Firebird, I make reference to the 69 Firebird as I know I can adapt a 69 FB shifter into a 68 Firebird

[Formulajones]

Yes I've done this. The shifters are basically the same, you can simply change the bodies over to the mounting pedestal you need. Been a while since I've done it but if I remember right you just have to drill a couple of pop rivets, swap the parts and fasten back together with your preferred method (rivets/bolts)

[Chief of the 60's]

Never heard of a "Rally Bump". Is this something offered by PMD or was it aftermarket? Any photos of one?

[Formulajones]

I've heard it called many different names, but I believe the official name I hear more often is "rally" shifter. I call it a ratchet shifter myself.

Either way, it appears in every way as a stock standard shifter on the outside but it has a ratchet mechanism feature so it can be manually shifted one gear at a time if pulled back into first gear, it has the ability to be pushed sideways and clicks up one gear. Nothing on the outside of the shifter indicates that it does this, unless you physically try it. I actually like this shifter better than the his/hers.

Dad's 69 GTO came factory with the rally (ratchet) shifter and I've always liked it. He recently wanted a his and hers installed that he bought 45 years ago. His and Hers is currently in the car and I just haven't been a total fan of it, the shifts don't feel as positive to me like the rally shifter does and if you aren't precise and careful with the his/hers, you can still bump it past the gear you want, and the extra gate adds confusion anyway. Neat gimmick back in the day.

[antique69lemans]

Original woodgrain decal had 1 2 3 on them and easiest way to tell is push shifter to the right. It is spring loaded, ratchets up one gear and springs back. Just fyi shiftworks overdrive conversion is not compatible with them.

[Mike Davis]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

I've heard it called many different names, but I believe the official name I hear more often is "rally" shifter. I call it a ratchet shifter myself.

Either way, it appears in every way as a stock standard shifter on the outside but it has a ratchet mechanism feature so it can be manually shifted one gear at a time if pulled back into first gear, it has the ability to be pushed sideways and clicks up one gear. Nothing on the outside of the shifter indicates that it does this, unless you physically try it. I actually like this shifter better than the his/hers.

Dad's 69 GTO came factory with the rally (ratchet) shifter and I've always liked it. He recently wanted a his and hers installed that he bought 45 years ago. His and Hers is currently in the car and I just haven't been a total fan of it, the shifts don't feel as positive to me like the rally shifter does and if you aren't precise and careful with the his/hers, you can still bump it past the gear you want, and the extra gate adds confusion anyway. Neat gimmick back in the day.

On my 67 with the H/H shifter, if you are over in the manual (right) gate and push the lever to the right it will only go up one notch at a time. If you just push it forward it will go to far if not careful.

[Mike Davis]

Originally Posted by antique69lemans

Original woodgrain decal had 1 2 3 on them and easiest way to tell is push shifter to the right. It is spring loaded, ratchets up one gear and springs back. Just fyi shiftworks overdrive conversion is not compatible with them.

Beat me to it!!

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

On my 67 with the H/H shifter, if you are over in the manual (right) gate and push the lever to the right it will only go up one notch at a time. If you just push it forward it will go to far if not careful.

Yep, and you have to make sure you have firm right pressure on the shifter as you move it too, because if you're too gentle with it, it will skip a gear and not catch the notch to stop the shifter.

I just wasn't a fan from the get go. Never liked the idea that if you wanted the manual gate, you have to push the shifter up into neutral then over and back into gear again. Not something you want to do on the fly either. It's why I've grown accustomed to the new for 69 rally shifter design, it's all done in one gate with a simple spring.

["QUICK-SILVER"]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Nothing on the outside of the shifter indicates that it does this, unless you physically try it. .

Slotted hole in the dust shield on the rally shifter.

Clay

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by "QUICK-SILVER"

Slotted hole in the dust shield on the rally shifter.

Clay

Standard shifter has the slotted hole too, have a couple of those here. They use the same plastic insert, least on the originals that I have.

[1funride]

I just did the best comparison online that I could between a 69 firebird and 69 lemans shifter assemblies.
They look the same to me, except for the shifter shaft looks obviously longer on the lemans versions. Can the shifter shafts be removed and replaced between the units?

Is there an aftermarket 4 speed conversion kit that works with the rally shifter?

I will also mention that the bezel on the rally shifter is wider to allow the shifter to be pushed to the right, something else to consider.

[400 Lemans]

https://shiftworks.com/products/1968...conversion-kit

[Johnny99]

Never realized the 69 Bird Shifter used a shorter shaft.

As far as Shiftworks OD plate compatibility, they say no:
"The conversion was not designed for, and does not include any provision for, use of the "Rally" shifting option. Continued use of this option should be tested with the engine off. There will be NO STOP for the Overdrive. "

Not sure if you've seen this site http://thepartguy.com/shifters.htm. He may be able to answer some of your questions.