1970 Olds 442 w/ 455 automatic. Currently column shift no console. Looking at the build sheet I think it used to be floor shift. I'm going off boxes, 70, 74, 75, 77. Box 70 Strg Column = SE. when look this up it references floor shift. box 74 = SE, references non tilt floor shift automatic. box 75 Trani Linkage = TU-FL, references floor shift. Box 77 Carpet = EZ1, references 442 padding, black, buckets, and floor shift. Can anyone help clarify those boxes and codes? I have not peeled back the carpet yet or been under the car.

 

Just poke under the car to see if you have the cable hole in the floor (and possibly the trans pan bracket still bolted to it) - the hole for sure would confirm.

Seems strange someone would convert TO a column shift from a console auto, but stranger things.... Not all that cheap to go column to console, I did that to my column-shift ragtop - worth it but pricey

 

All floor shift AT cars had a console, so not only will the car have a hole for the shift cable, it will have the brackets for the console. If not, it's a factory column shift car. Keep in mind that if you ordered the optional automatic, you got a column shift, no matter if you had buckets or bench seat. You had to pay extra for the console and floor shift on top of the optional AT.

 

Thank you for tips

 

SL is the code for a non tilt column. That’s what you got with an Auto or Manual floor shift car.
SE is the code for column shift. There should be a yellow or white decal with the code and part number on it that’s on top of the steering column under the dash. You would have to drop the column to see it unless you are crafty with a light and mirror. This is the chart showing all the codes. Interestingly Buick used many of the same codes.

 

You can see my 70 442 4,speed build sheet shows box 70 is SL code

 

Thank you for that information. I guess Google search on the code is not always correct learning experience on my end.

 

That’s a given

 

Google collects bits of things posted on the internet. It knows nothing about true and untrue postings.
ChatGTP is the same way.

 

I think "rarely correct" is the term you are looking for. Here's a tip: Start with factory literature as the ground truth. About 80% of the crap on the interwebs is incorrect.

 

And AI regurgitates it as factual information.

 

Thus AI stands for Always Incorrect.

 

Another useful thing is to separate ego from knowledge. There are guys who think they are better than others because they know things others don't. These guys
tend to hoard knowledge, and, when they die, it leaves with them. Someone who wants to further the hobby shares knowledge, but also does not mind being
wrong, because he can grow by learning more himself. The guy that has his ego tied up in being right will argue to the death, especially when wrong, and
it sucks for everyone involved.