Is there a way to put an 82 into first gear while it is moving? Do I have to modify the shifter?

 

The 82 Corvette used the same basic automatic shifter, as 68-81 automatic Corvettes. As such, it only has 3 detents. I don't think that Chevrolet provided anyway of manually shifting the 82 Corvette, into first gear. If you have access to an owners manual, take a quick look at it and see what Chevrolet says about the operation of the transmission.

I'm guessing that if your talented or creative enough, you could modify the stock shifter, but I'm not aware how.

 

2 choices, modify the shifter detent yourself or you can buy a conversion kit from the vendors, Ecklers, willcox, Zip... etc.

 

yes, there is away to accomplish that, just downshift......but you cannot do that at any speed. I can't recall what speed you can manually downshift back into first gear (although I have down this myself) on my 82, but @ low rpm's & low speed. you also cannot or should not go from say, third to first either, but one gear at a time and only in its operating range.
another tip is to slightly depress on the accelerator (bringing the r's up slightly) when making a downshift, as to put less stress on the trans when doing this.
I will try to get the info on the operating range and get back to you.

update.....even though my console is still out of the car, looked at my shift plate (out of the car).....
it has: P R N D 3 2 and then a space where you can still move the shifter back another notch. I can move my shifter lever 6 positions: from the unmarked to 2 (1): from 2 to 3 (2): from 3 to D (3): from D to N (4)
from N to R (5) and from R to P (6)
the trans was rebuilt before I purchased the car, and may have had some mods done, as the PO never sent me the info after the sale. I will say that the trans (at least my trans) shifts different when starting out in "3" as opposed to "D", giving a more crisper shift, so there be some type of kit in mine, I don't know.....

 

No. There is no way to select Low gear in the '82 car. That was the first year for the 700R4 (overdrive) transmission, which has 4 forward ranges. With the new transmission, GM decided NOT to install the Low range detent position in the shifter gate, but kept the same gate as for prior years (with only 3 selectable ranges).

The '82 car started in low range, but you could not select that range and keep it there...nor could you downshift manually to Low range.

As mentioned above, you can remove the detent plate from the shifter and modify it for that low range position. Or you can purchase a detent plate for a C3 Corvette w/ 700R4 tranny from one of the aftermarket vendors.

 

Well 7T1, I have to disagree with you on that pertaining to my trans. The stock 82 trans may not be able to accomplish that, but on my rebuilt one, I have engaged 1st gear and held it in 1st gear from a stop and also with a downshift. As I mentioned above, since mine was rebuilt, from what you are saying, there must be mods and or slight shift kit in mine. I only wish my PO had sent me the info on the rebuild....
btw...I have 4 selectable ranges on mine, prior to this thread did not know if this was factory intent or not, now I know........

 

Will it actually "lock" in 1st gear position, or do you have to manually hold the shifter where it will engage in 1st gear?

If it will lock in ALL forward gears [separately], someone has modified or swapped out the detent plate {sometime in the past}.

I've been either 'mistaken' or 'dead wrong' on many occasions in the past...but I don't believe the '82 came with a 7-position detent plate.

It might be possible to make adjustment to the shift cable so that you could 'sneak' it into a 1st gear lock; but I don't think all the other positions would work as expected.

 

It looks like Ecklers sell a kit with every thing I need to do this. Much better than me with a dremmel tool. Thank you for all the advice.

 

Yes it will lock in all forward gears, so it appears that there were changes made during the rebuild. I don't use 1st gear that much other than to cruise through the neighborhood very slowly to let everyone know I am home.....

 

glad you found the parts needed to complete your task.....