Sarum

Hi from New Zealand
I have a TH350 trans in my 1965 Cutlass Sports Coupe with a T bar on the floor console.I have to press the button on the side of the T bar to select Low which gives me 1st and 2nd stage.This means that top gear is selected by shifting forward without a lockout and also means that you can easily go to far and hit Neutral as happened to me during some friendly drag racing (not ideal) As the lockout facility is operated mechanically is it possible to alter the trans so that a lockout button push is needed to select Neutral? I would be happy to lose the lockout on Low if required but I do want to keep the look of things as they are.Thanks for any response
PS I wasn't sure where I should post this query as it could have also gone into trans/drivelines etc Any comments?

MDchanic

Sure. You'll just have to create a new gear selector sector.

I can't say for certain in your car, but generally it is a quarter-ring of steel attached to the floor shifter with two bolts that engages the other end of that lockout button.

Watch it work, remove it, trace it, use the tracing to figure out the contour that you want, and then cut a new piece.

- Eric

oldcutlass

You can make an electro-mechanical stop or just a plain ol mechanical one. Jus need a bit of creativity.

2blu442

Eric, here's some photos of the 1964-66 automatic floor shifter. Of course, this one has the T handle broken off as so many of them do. But what I've called a detent, and I think this may be what your calling the gear selector sector can be clearly seen in these photos. John

P.S. this one looks like someone modified it, like they cut the notches differently than was factory.

P1010234.jpg

P1010241.jpg

P1010212.jpg

MDchanic

Yup, that's the part.

Thanks, John!

- Eric

Sarum

Thanks very much for your quick reply and modification idea. I figured it can't be too difficult and would have thought it was a commonplace modification but maybe not. Almost a safety thing to prevent over revving an already high rpm operating engine.
I had practiced shifting from Low to Drive and it only requires a small movement to start the shift happening as it feels spring loaded.Unfortunately in all the excitement of first time drag racing it proved to be a too subtle thing for my brain and coordination to attempt at the time!

Sarum

Thanks for your reply Eric.I think the KISS principle should be observed here and a plain mechanical change would be my preference.

Sarum

Very impressed with your reply and the explanatory images.I guess my set up will be a little different but the principle will be the same. The other good thing about the scenario is that I know some good engineers so I may not have to take the car to a transmission specialist now.
Have to ask, did you already have these photos or did you take them especially for my query?
I think it may be worth documenting what I end up doing with the modification as I believe there would be a lot of Old's owners that have cars with a TH350 transmission transplant.
Thanks again.

2blu442

Over the years I've had a lot of project and parts cars. I've taken lots of photos to use as references and when questions like yours come up its just a matter of locating the right photos. One of the things I appreciate about the community here is that between us we can respond to most questions that come up with these cars.

Sarum

This site is awesome for someone like me who is new to Oldsmobiles and lives at the bottom of the South Pacific. Cars like my Cutlass are rare down here in New Zealand.As an illustration of this is that I am yet to see ( in the flesh) ANY Cutlass's never mind a '65 Sports Coupe like mine. The closest I have come is when I was parked beside a white (like mine) '65 88 model Old's at a car show a couple of months ago. Pretty cool even so, looked like big brother and little brother.
Cheers