Is there anyway to tell if they are 3 speed or 4 speed from looking at the the 3 shifter rods? Talked to guy that has some and he said they were 4 speed but he took them out of a 1980 cutlass which only had 3 speed so just seeing if you can tell from looking at them.

 

You can tell. The main shifter (left side with the cable mount)will have 4 positions (P,R,N,D) on a 3 speed model, and will have 5 positions (P,R,N,OD,D)on the 4 speed version.

 

The lightning rod shifters were only available in the 1983-84 Hurst Olds, so if he pulled it out of an '80, it wasn't original to the car.

 

They were not only available in 83-84 H/O's but Hurst manufacturing sold them too, but the chances are that if it came out of an 80 cut then its a 3 speed aftermarket version, not an OE 4 speed one.