Just had conversion completed (?) last week(in my 1981 Vette) from an automatic to a 1971 Muncie and am in process of getting the interior back together.
Via Email, Hurst had advised to use a 1971 linkage kit (373 8611) and a 1981 shifter (391 0028). That is what I supplied to the mechanic/installer.
Yesterday, I noticed that the hole in the tunnel is about 2 inches left of center in the indentation that was under the automatic shifter, that is for the 4speed shifter. I believe this is a Bubba-related problem.
I have sent this question to Hurst, but maybe I'll get quicker answers here: Should I replace the mounting plate (195 8008) that came w/the 1971 kit, with the 1981 mounting plate (195 0148)? or what else would you suggest to get the shifter "on center" to enable correct installation of the console ?
thanks in advance for your imput. jim

 

I do not understand the reasoning for the '81 shifter kit. I would have used the full '71 shifter kit and install kit for a Vette. If the console hole moved from 71 to 81, you could have issues but I don't know that it did. One thing I do know is that a Vette shifter kit for an '81 vette is not designed for a Muncie transmission at all so I think it would be a problem.

Try an all '71 setup.

-Mark.

 

I would have used an all 71 setup. I do not think that you are going to be able to place the shifter in the exact center of the console. Because of the linkage design on these transmissions, you will have to live with an offset shifter. But this should not be a problem with the proper shifter boot.

 

Thanks for the reply, Mark, Guam.
I believe the console is shorter for the 71 vs. the 81 but not positive. I have an older console top which is a little shorter...will double check tomorrow.
Also, the 4 speed used on the 81's were the T-10 which is very identical to the 71 Muncie in o/a length & location of trans.mount; but the holes for the mounting plate must be different because Hurst has different mounting plates for them. (I think you'uns are probably right)
There were other problems that may be related to the installer/mechanic. He had to cut the crossmember slightly for the reverse lever to clear/work.... and this is with about 1 1/2" of spacers between the transmission mount and crossmember. Also
the Hurst installation kit had two different reverse rods, one for the Muncie and the other for the BorgWarner. He used the rod for the BW
cause he thought it would work better...He's got a good reputation so I kept my mouth shut.
I've driven the car around the block a few times, and I love the 4 speed, but I'm very much against cutting my console top to be able to shift. Hope Hurst agrees w/you'all to make the choice simple. thanks again , jim

 

Does "on center" mean in the center of the console shift opening or the center of the trans tunnel? I could be wrong, but I don't think this changed much from 68-82. If it's in the same place (to the left of the trans tunnel center), the logical choice would be to go with the full Muncie shifter kit.

 

Thanks AC!
In the 81 Assembly Manual, the four speed in neutral is in the same place the automatic was in neutral. Matter of fact, there is a depressed, rectangular spot to cut out directly under the automatic shifter if a 4 speed (BorgW T-10) would have been installed. This is where I want the shifter to be and right now it is around a half to 1" inch left of that center location identified by the cut-out hole. thanks again..jim

 

The Hurst shifter would slap against the left side of the console opening every time I shifted into reverse on my ‘73. Everything was mounted correctly and tight and I even tried to shim it, but the tunnel didn’t allow much adjustment. Since it was more annoying than anything else I didn’t fuss with it much beyond that.

When I did a frame off a couple of years back I assumed that the problem would go away with all new body and engine mounts. In the end, unfortunately, it was the same.

I then ran a string from the front cross member to the pinion yoke on the rear. Centered it on the crank pulley and stretched it taunt. I discovered that my trans mount was about a half inch left of center. I was able to loosen the bolts and pry the transmission to the right and viola the shifter is centered in the console plate. My drive shaft is also centered now, even though there was no indication anything was amiss.

It might be worth a check, good luck.

GUSTO

 

GUSTO14 , you're the man!!! As a matter of fact, as I was reviewing/finishing up the job(crossmember bolts finger-tight only, retainers on shifter backwards, etc) the installer/mechanic done, I thought the driveshaft was off-center visually. But I noticed that the hand-brake cable would not allow it to come back much toward "center". The shaft is definitely NOT in center of the tunnel.
I believe you hit it
I drove the Vette for the first time to church today and it was soooo heavenly to have a 4speed again....the car is a different animal now....thanks again, jim

 

there is nothing like having a manual trans in a corvette....

 

back to the drawing board...if my line is located correctly, then the alignment from front to rear is fine.
Nope, haven't heard from Hurst yet!...and I was wanting to go to Florida next weekend...I wonder if I'll get to go to Carlisle next month? Thanks again, people., jim

 

Strange, I have the same issue Gusto had. When I shift into Reverse I rub against the left side of the cunsol opening. To the point that I am now creating a small hole in the shifter boot. Strange part is, I have had my transmission out 2x in the last 3 yrs and the Shifter hits the same spot. How weird is it to do an exact mount that many times with out any attempt to do so.

I too will have to look at my drive line and use the attitude bar.

 

Check and see if the transmission can be moved over to the right while still keeping within the original mounting holes. I seem to remember the same rubbing trouble until I loosened the mounting bolts and pryed the transmission to the right.

 

I originally gained a fraction of an inch by shimming the bottom bolt on the mounting bracket of the shifter with a couple of washers. Loosen the bolts that hold the bracket to the tail shaft and remove the bottom one. Place a washer between the bracket and the tailshaft. Snug the bolts and check the positioning of the shifter. I would not use more than about 2 standard washers as this would indicate to me another problem.

As Glen suggested, you could try to move the tailshaft right of center a little as well. I drove mine for 10 years misaligned slightly to the left with no adverse effects.

It's worth a try. Good Luck...

GUSTO

 

First , I have taken the problem to the best around..my top choic had a heart attack last year and had to give it up after 35 years of nothing but Corvette work...incidentially, something he told me that may be good to pass along. On the 81 the motor is offset 2 inches to the passenger side (?) anyway to line up w/the offset rear end.

In the parking lot of the last place I knew of that might be able to repair, I saw the problem!! The installer/mechanic/technican/Muncie Guru(supposidly) apparently did not review the Hurst diagram/picture/directions I gave him. The Hurst STICK for the 81 has a slight bend at the bottom, which will move the stick towards the pasenger side slightly, it was installed backwards...but..that was not the REAL problem.
Which was: there is a block spacer about 3/8" thick that is supposed to go on the drivers side of the stick. Guru had it on the passenger side of the stick which effectively pushed the stick too far to the left...causing inability to fit the console.
Problems solved, thanks again to all of you...by the way, Hurst never tried to offer a solution...Good product, sorry backup.