Cascade Crew

Xophertony · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 12:52 am Post subject: B&M ratchet shifter!!!

installed my ratchet shifter today. on the instructions it says:
82-92 Firebirds and Camaros *
*excludes 88-92 Formula.

i believe that to be a misprint. it should read "excludes 88-92 Firebirds.

the brackets DO NOT line up at all in the front. the back lined up. since i am installing it for use with a 4th gen console i allready knew i was going to have some "costomosation" ahead of me. here is what i did. the first image is the pattern i made of both the holes on my stock shifter, the holes on the "82-92 firbird/camaro" bracketry (labled "camaro") and the holes on JUST the B&M shifter. the second is of the bracket i made installed in the car.

MODIFICATIONS required to car:
i found out upon installation that the two rear holes could not be utilized by placing the shifter flat on the floor, the mechanism would be in the way. my solution was to drill through the firebirds factory shifter floor mount and add two holes where the shifter is suposed to mount to it's bracket. this allowed my to bolt the B&M shifter through my bracket AND the floor with the same bolts. i did have to find some washers and nuts.

the front right bolt hole on the shifter and bracket was blocked from below by part of the firebirds front shifter bracket. i first attempted to hammer this flat, then gave up and used a grinder to grind out a portion to allow the bolt to fit.

since the shifter was mounted so low the original shifter cable hole could not be utilized, it was to sharp a turn for the cable and i was concerned with it binding up. i used a dremmel and drill to mill a hole about 1-1/2" down the tranny tunnel, and ran the cable through there. i probably should have gone further but i was loosing light. it seemes to work.

4th GEN CONSOLE MODS: i had to hack a HUGE hole in the top of my console shifter plate. since i was going to cut it up i used an automatic shift plate. i do not know if you would have to cut up a manual shift plate, at least not as much. i will snap some pics of that once it is all done. it is not going to be prety, but i will get a six speed eventualy anyway... so what does it matter.

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/attachments/fabrication/117818-installed-b-m-ratchetx363226x-dscf0189.jpg
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/attachments/fabrication/117819-installed-b-m-ratchetx363226x-dscf0190.jpg

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:

Ratchet shifter fit Mike's '89 GTA and Brandon made it fit the '87 Formula.

Good job though. Glad it worked out for ya!

Xophertony · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 10:13 am Post subject:

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 10:59 am Post subject:

What B&M did you get? I'm looking to get one this summer for my z28. What do you think of it? Does it make a big difference?

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

It doesn't change the way the transmission acts at all. There is only one B&M Shifter available for our cars and that's the Mega Shifter as he posted about.

Xophertony · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject:

having driven with it today i can honestly say it is totally pointless. but then again so is a car that only comfortably fits 2 people Very Happy

i like it. it surves no purpose, but it is fun.

Schultzy89GTA · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: B&M ratchet shifter!!!

Glad you got it working. It is a bit more fun if your tranny is built up and you have an auto/manual valve body but still, nothing beats the manual trans for fun factor.

Xophertony · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject:

4th gen manual shift plate. i have a 4th gen console. but i will remember that and snag a thirdgen one if i ever see one in good shape.

Schultzy89GTA · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

ahhhh - missed that part. Do whatever you want with 4thgen stuff - dime a dozen Wink

-Schultzy