hurst shift linkages
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
It's all a matter of personal preference and driving style. A properly-maintained or new Muncie shifter is a delight - smooth and precise; a worn-out one is not. If you like banging gears regularly, a Hurst is probably a better choice. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: RI
I have rebuilt a bunch of both shifters and in my opinion the Hurst shifter was designed for banging gears.
The Muncie I don't think was designed for the same abuse.
The Muncie and Hurst 4sp basic design is 3 slide plates with a floating lever that can select a plate and move it forward or back.
The selector on the Muncie is about a 1/2 in by 1/4 inch fork
The selector on the Hurst is about a 1 1/2 in diameter pin.
The Hurst selector is probably at least 10 times the surface area of the Muncie selector and the rest of the Hurst parts are also as much times as strong as the Muncie.
The Muncie will work fine if set up right and not abused
The Hurst will take any abuse you can give it IMO
The Muncie I don't think was designed for the same abuse.
The Muncie and Hurst 4sp basic design is 3 slide plates with a floating lever that can select a plate and move it forward or back.
The selector on the Muncie is about a 1/2 in by 1/4 inch fork
The selector on the Hurst is about a 1 1/2 in diameter pin.
The Hurst selector is probably at least 10 times the surface area of the Muncie selector and the rest of the Hurst parts are also as much times as strong as the Muncie.
The Muncie will work fine if set up right and not abused
The Hurst will take any abuse you can give it IMO
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 18
From: Sparta Tennessee
I agree with John Z. My '64 has the stock shifter and although it is not 100% trouble free, I love the "click-click" of a gentle gear change. I bang gears in an '01 on roads when I'm all by myself. Just getting too old I guess. 
Greg
Greg
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
How did this thread get so carried away from the original question? All he wanted to know was whether or not he had to change linkages when he put a Hurst in his car. It was not a question as to which shifter was better.
Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
40 years ago Hurst linkage rods were heavier, but IMO they were never a match for the heavy GM rods.
PS I have been using an old Hurst shifter and GM linkage rods for 16/17 years now.
PPS The GM shifters are (buzz) noisy and prone to locking the trans in two gears.
Last edited by magicv8; Aug 9, 2007 at 12:32 PM. Reason: ps
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
My answer is no - you do not. I use the heavy forged GM rods and spring locks instead of the wimpy junk that is currently sold with a Hurst.
40 years ago Hurst linkage rods were heavier, but IMO they were never a match for the heavy GM rods.
PS I have been using an old Hurst shifter and GM linkage rods for 16/17 years now.
PPS The GM shifters are (buzz) noisy and prone to locking the trans in two gears.
40 years ago Hurst linkage rods were heavier, but IMO they were never a match for the heavy GM rods.
PS I have been using an old Hurst shifter and GM linkage rods for 16/17 years now.
PPS The GM shifters are (buzz) noisy and prone to locking the trans in two gears.
Thanks Magic,
I believe that you were the one who directed me to using the stock rods with the Hurst shifter. That's why I recommended it to Sundevil64.
Steve
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
i have a 64 with the stock hanger and hurst shifter and have plenty of clearance. maybe bad tranny mount???
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 382
Likes: 77
From: minnesota
I'll try it again this fall
I guess I'll have to give it another try this fall, once it cools off in my garage. To damn hot to be laying under the car now. Sure would be nice to have a lift.
Last edited by cramus; Aug 9, 2007 at 09:40 PM. Reason: spelling
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
ALL of mine worked VERY well but they all were transmission mounted. Have you ever driven a NEW car with a NEW Muncie with a NEW factory shifter? A New car with a NEW muncie with a NEW facrory shifter works better then a USED car with a USED Muncie with a USED factory shifter. A bunch, maybe most, of the old cars with 4 speed transmissions running around now are made up of parts from many different sources. In the past 43 years, Bubba really got around, and it's not fair to compare a car with parts from different cars, most likely installed by Bubba, to a NEW car with NEW factory parts.
Granted, a transmission mounted shifter is better then a frame mounted one and installing a Hurst is the easest way out, but you could install a factory transmission shifter in place of the factory frame mounted shifter. The Hurst is a great shifter, but that dosen't mean that a factory shifter is a POS. Just compare new to new, not new to used.
Granted, a transmission mounted shifter is better then a frame mounted one and installing a Hurst is the easest way out, but you could install a factory transmission shifter in place of the factory frame mounted shifter. The Hurst is a great shifter, but that dosen't mean that a factory shifter is a POS. Just compare new to new, not new to used.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 479
Likes: 95
From: Boca Raton FL
I have a 66 stock muncie with a frame mounted shifter. Can I convert it to the transmission mounted shifter by just changing the bracket? Will this improve shifter performance? I too have a shifter rattle above 3000 rpm.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
Well my 63 has a Hurst Competition Plus shifter mounted and I love it. It has been on my car a "real long" time;-) I drive my car pretty hard, and in more than 40 years I have never had a problem with my Hurst shifter, and only rebuilt my original transmission last summer.....out of boredom, not because it needed it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
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From: Washington Michigan
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
just thinking, maybe theres a difference in the aluminum mount plate between the shifter and trans???
i just looked at your pic again, my shifter actually looks just like that with the exception of the reverse shift lever, which is in line with the other 2 and 3/4 inch longer.
Last edited by mechron; Aug 10, 2007 at 04:58 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 382
Likes: 77
From: minnesota
Dawg gonit guys!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 32
From: Sarasota Florida
I bought one like John Z has...I was told they were sold in the 60s and they were a "direct replacement" (Designed for C2 Corvette) I bought one used for 40 bucks...I had the stick rechromed.. had the shifting unit rebuilt by HURST and bought the hurst linkage kit (Still available)
I have to say...I love the "old style" shifter looks and I like the response of clean crisp shifts compared to the rebuilt stock shifter that came with my Corvette.
Down side
Every "****" NCRS "wanna be" points out that the shifter "isnt" stock in my Corvette... I just look and smile...I say if I could go back to 1963 and bought this car new (Impossible born in 1968)..The "FIRST" thing I would do is take the "crappy" GM shifter out and put a solid HURST shifter in it!!!!! Besides there is a "cool" factor in my opinion when looking at that gleaming rechromed stick with the big white shifter ball.. Also fun speed shifting and going through the gears is also cool factor too..
just my .02
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 38
From: Massachusetts , USA,
Blk63Vette NCRS "wanna be" points out that the shifter "isnt" stock in my Corvette... I just look and smile...I say if I could go back to 1963 and bought this car new (Impossible born in 1968)..The "FIRST" thing I would do is take the "crappy" GM shifter out and put a solid HURST shifter in it!!!!! Besides there is a "cool" factor in my opinion when looking at that gleaming rechromed stick with the big white shifter ball.. Also fun speed shifting and going through the gears is also cool factor too..
just my .02[/QUOTE]
Blk63Vette , Simlar experience, got my 66 in 94 very nice / driver condition.... ( 1967 vinyl seats in perfect condition ) ........NCRS guys >> "eeek you have 67 seats in your 66"...........now many years later they ( 67 seats not NCRS guys)are tired / stiching pulling ect..so have new foam & 66 leather covers will put on this winter ............... regarding hurst competion plus i have had the look a like shifter so there has been no comments from NCRS dudes ........ sorry to drift away from the original topic ...but I like to Babble >>
I havebelonged to NCRS since 1988
2 cents from the Old Dog .............
just my .02
[/QUOTE]Blk63Vette , Simlar experience, got my 66 in 94 very nice / driver condition.... ( 1967 vinyl seats in perfect condition ) ........NCRS guys >> "eeek you have 67 seats in your 66"...........now many years later they ( 67 seats not NCRS guys)are tired / stiching pulling ect..so have new foam & 66 leather covers will put on this winter ............... regarding hurst competion plus i have had the look a like shifter so there has been no comments from NCRS dudes ........ sorry to drift away from the original topic ...but I like to Babble >>
I havebelonged to NCRS since 1988
2 cents from the Old Dog .............
Last edited by StrayDog; Aug 11, 2007 at 08:45 AM. Reason: spellin
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I believe that you can. You need the bracket and the 3 flat/Allen wrench screws that attach it to the tranny. Bolt up should be the same as the frame mounted one. Don't know if it will improve "performance" other than it should not bind as much when you power shift, if you dare to with the Muncie shifter. I don't think it will take care of your rattle though. That is simply a function of the shifter itself.
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Since this subject is so popular 
, I'm writing a photo-illustrated tech article right now on a step-by-step rebuild of a Muncie shifter to return it to its original smooth, precise operation. Took all the photos this morning while rebuilding a cruddy old one. Will be in the January '08 issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine, out in early November.
, I'm writing a photo-illustrated tech article right now on a step-by-step rebuild of a Muncie shifter to return it to its original smooth, precise operation. Took all the photos this morning while rebuilding a cruddy old one. Will be in the January '08 issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine, out in early November.