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Hi everyone, i have a 1971 cutlass supreme 2 door hardtop that was originally an automatic floor shift console car and i started the conversion to a 4 speed Muncie M22. I am now stuck. I have the console that originally came with the car (automatic). I bought the adapter kit from the parts place and made the cuts to properly make it a manual console. I have bucket seats and i am having a problem centering the console with the shifter. If i put the console back in the car where it originally mounted, i have clearance issues with the shifter ( if in reverse), if i try to center the console with the shifter, the console looks crooked and doesnt contour to the floor (almost like there will be too big of a gap from the floor to the console) Everything i bought for the conversion including the Hurst competition plus shifter came from the parts place. I even bought the tunnel hump (BP5541T) but it seems like there is no way that console will mount where it was without hitting. Am i missing something?? Im not sure if anyone else has done this? Maybe i need to move the brackets and re-weld them? The brackets seem to be the same whether its an automatic or manual console. Any help will be appreciated.
below are some pictures of the console. i know its not in the front bracket correctly, but thats where it looks center with no shifter issues. If i move the bracket over, the console itself will crooked though
The "tunnel hump" - It WILL work fine....BUT you will need to cut out a portion of the lower half of the console to prevent interference. The factory did this on the manual floor shift '70-2 consoles.
I'll try to snap a pic of the Assembly Manual page that shows the cutout area.
Realize that part of the lower/D side tunnel hump will "show" below the side of the console....these things weren't built like a Lexus. The carpet will cover all that up.
The interference problem - Can't tell yet. Seems like the shifter may be positioned slightly too far towards the L (driver) side of the car. Or....the handle may not be correctly bent (wouldn't be surprising with it being a repro part). Or...maybe the shifter mounting plate on the trans isn't correct?
Floor brackets - Same brackets used for both setups - auto floor shift and manual floor shift.
WHERE EXACTLY does the shifter handle hit on the plastic adapter?? At the front OR along the side??
Maybe some others will pipe in here.
I'll try to dig out an original console 4 speed shift handle and compare the bends in it to what I can see on yours.
Last edited by 70Post; April 14th, 2017 at 06:56 PM.
Pic of '70 Assembly Manual page showing lower half console cutout for shifter floor hump. The drawing shows the console in a "flipped upside down" orientation.
Don't know if these will help or not but I'm wondering what the "shifter handle receiver" portion of your shifter looks like. The first pic below shows an original '70 Olds 4 speed Hurst shifter....notice how the handle receiver is angle over towards the R side (P side) of the car.
I can't tell in your pics if your receiver is angled or instead, points straight up.
Second pic shows the original shifter handle from the same shifter.....this looking at it from "behind" as if you were in the middle of the back seat looking forward. I'm holding it down around the part that pushes into the shifter handle receiver in the shifter.
See if you can post a good clear pic of your shifter handle receiver for comparison....remove your console and take the pic from behind it looking forward (with the shifter in nuetral). That way it will make for a better comparison.
From OPGI. Says its for console cars but I haven't tried to install it yet. If yours looks like this you may try loosening the bolts that hold in the handle to the mechanism and put in some washers to move it toward the pass side some but that could cause bending of the tabs that wrap around the handle over time and you only gain about 1/4 inch. Picture of handle bolts loose ( on mine). If yours looks like mine you can see with washers put in the handle would be moved over some. Enough, I don't know?
I have the same shifter as gary. I also bought it from OPGI Part# C240927. Im going to be messing with the car today, ill try that washer idea and see how much that moves it over.
-With everything all buttoned up and together is the shifter supposed to rest (in neutral) in the center of the console? Or will it be more off set toward the drivers side?
-The cuts needed for the console by the tunnel hump, are they perforated on the back side of the console? Like it was for converting it from the auto console to the 4spd console?
And i just purchased a factory assembly manual online, so when I get it, ill look and see where the console needs to be cut. I just dont know how i feel about cutting up the console.
-The cuts needed for the console by the tunnel hump, are they perforated on the back side of the console? Like it was for converting it from the auto console to the 4spd console?
And i just purchased a factory assembly manual online, so when I get it, ill look and see where the console needs to be cut. I just dont know how i feel about cutting up the console.
How should you feel about cutting the console?? Bad, good, depressed??
Look at it this way....you ALREADY cut the console on the top for the adapter...so what the heck is the problem with cutting it LIKE THE FACTORY DID ON THOUSANDS OF THEM on the bottom half??
There are not any markings on the backside of the lower half for the tunnel hump clearance cut....but you don't need them.....LOOK AT THE PIC I POSTED ABOVE (POSTING #4). It shows measurements of where to cut.
Get on with it....cut away! If you were on the assembly line they would have already put you in the "time out" area for wondering about cutting the console!
Last edited by 70Post; April 15th, 2017 at 11:23 AM.
The ad says "manufactured to original specifications for perfect fit and superior function. "
You know as well as I do that THEY ALWAYS say that.
To their credit, if in fact the shifter handle can be moved side-to-side with washers/spacers and that eliminates any hitting on the adapter, then it's a nice piece.
I'm still wondering about the lack of an angled shift handle receiver like the originals have. They would have to make up for that with more angle or a longer distance of the angled portion in the chrome handle I guess.
Last edited by 70Post; April 15th, 2017 at 11:22 AM.
Is this picture taken with the console to the driver side of the front mount or with it mounted where it should be? Also in this picture is it in reverse or neutral?
If you look at your pictures the console shifter handle looks offset to the pass side at least an inch and a half or two from the edge of the shifter mechanism. The one Opgi sells is offset maybe an inch.
Do you know the measurement between the console shifter handle bottom (where it mounts into the shifter mechanism) in this picture and the surface it sitting on. That may help us know how far off the repop is.
Is this picture taken with the console to the driver side of the front mount or with it mounted where it should be? Also in this picture is it in reverse or neutral?
71OldsJoe,
can u measure from your shift handle (driver side of it) to the center of the console opening with the console mounted properly and post it?
I think the shifter in neutral should rest in the center of the opening so with that measurement I am going to talk to a machine shop I deal with and see if they can come up with a way to make it fit properly. I'll then post what they say. Thanks.
I will measure the shifter, but I wont be able to until saturday. I purchased the chassis manual per my442, and it does indeed show exact locations on where to cut the console. Saturday I will cut the console and mock it all up and see if all goes well. I will let you guys know ASAP! I appreciate all the help. If it still isn't centered in the console while in neutral, I would like to know what your machine shop guy would do gary, in order to correct that. Im assuming a metal spacer or washers like you suggested.
Did you see the pic Joe p posted in another 4 sp thread? It showed a bent L shaped piece of metal that offset the shift lever to the correct location. another option is to heat your shift and bend to fit, probably best done before a rechrome as there will be some discoloration.
Got a few options in the works. Was hoping for your measurement and a measure of the correct handle too. I'm buying one so Ill measure it and ask the shop.
Last edited by Gary M; April 19th, 2017 at 07:26 PM.
Hello, I know this is an old thread but I am attempting to avoid the above issue. I cannot seem to find an aftermarket shifter that will sit in the center of the console. Does anyone have a solution?
Hello, I know this is an old thread but I am attempting to avoid the above issue. I cannot seem to find an aftermarket shifter that will sit in the center of the console. Does anyone have a solution?
dang a dead end any luck on the rest of the solution
Actually I ended up finding a perfect fit and a pretty good price. Follow the link below and it will take you to the one I bought that now resides in my cutlass. It fits my console perfectly. It was from the Parts Place.
Actually I ended up finding a perfect fit and a pretty good price. Follow the link below and it will take you to the one I bought that now resides in my cutlass. It fits my console perfectly. It was from the Parts Place.
Wow I didn’t know these were reproduced. Another option in the past was to get the common 66-69 stick and have it bent to match the 70-72 console stick. I had one made years ago that had the 442 on it which was a pretty nice custom upgrade.
Actually I ended up finding a perfect fit and a pretty good price. Follow the link below and it will take you to the one I bought that now resides in my cutlass. It fits my console perfectly. It was from the Parts Place.
so the opgi hurst shifter and stick that I purchased are wrong and will not work and u have to buy the stick from parts place and install on existing shifter from opgi sorry just trying to save me some time since I didn’t save any money
so the opgi hurst shifter and stick that I purchased are wrong and will not work and u have to buy the stick from parts place and install on existing shifter from opgi sorry just trying to save me some time since I didn’t save any money
also I came to a dead end on all these threads on hump and hole for the four speed location I just purchased all the items listed above and am currently starting the project
April 14th, 2017, 03:34 PM
