Doing some transmission work and I had to take the shifter out. I am wondering what aftermarket shifters are available. I looked at the B&M Megashifter and it seems like a shifter that would be nice, but I'm wondering how it fits. I don't really want to start modifying the center console. I think that means my only option is the stock shifter, but I'm not sure. Are there any options that fit in the stock console without modifications? Anyone have pictures of what they did with aftermarket shifters?

 

Not my car, but this video shows the B&M shfter doing its thing.

 

After seeing this video, now I want that shifter. So, what does it take to make it work? The pictures from Holley just show the box on the bottom. I assume that comes off and gets tossed. I read through the manual, but I don't understand all the details just reading through it. I'm probably capable of drilling some holes, but I'm not a fab shop. I watch the car shows and wish I could do all that metal work and body work, but I just don't have the tools or experience.

Anyone have some good pictures? An explanation of what it takes to make the swap?

 

Rob, I put the B & M Quicksilver shifter for a 70-81 Camaro in my 78 C3. Part 80688. I picked it because it seemed to be a little shorter than the Megashifter, but I am not positive. It works just like that one but does not have the handle in the front that has to be pulled up to get back in reverse or park. On the quicksilver model, you just pull up on the shifter itself in order to get it to slide forward for R and P. Everything else seems the same as the Mega. I had to place some spacers between the floor and the shifter housing, but that was the difference between the camaro and the vette floor. I can't speak as to how hard the change is for a stock C3 since I don't have the C3 console anymore. I am modding up a C4 console and it seemed to fit fine there. You most likely will need a new shifter cable, but B & M has those. Again, mine isn't typical since I also put a 200R4 trans in the car, which has the overdrive in it. It even came with a neutral switch and a back up light switch. The only other thing you will probably have to mock up might be the shifter lense set up so you can tell which gear you are in. I don't know how much of an improvement this will be to the car itself, but it sure looks good. And I needed to do something to get the 4th gear ( overdrive) set up for my application so I jumped right into it.

 

If anyone has any "under the console" pictures or insight as to what modifications it would take, I would greatly appreciate it. B&M doesn't have any vehicle specific instructions as to what to do here. I would think many here have swapped the stock shifter out for something different. I don't think it's very difficult, but that line of thinking is what usually gets me into big trouble.

 

side fiew to give an idea how high up the shifter is. Radio opening is stock height.

Side view at floor. Aluminum plate with spacers is mine. Bottom plate with bolt is B & M floor mount for Camaro, plate abot that is bottom of shifter assy. Plate with spring is also part of shifter assy.

From rear view showing shifter off center a few inches but almost aligned with hole in floor for cable.

As I said, not a typical install, but should be enough to give you an idea of what the shifter itself looks like.

 

mega-shifter fits in stock console but you need to do some modifications to it but it will install..............



i got mine to fit but i could not get the Camaro...Firebird console shifter so i opted for the universal shifter and the only real difference is the actual shifter handle sticking up is about 3/4 or so maybe 7/8ths longer and in this application it worked out just fine...did not sit too tall and look just foolish. I did some hand fabrication and even got the factory shift indicator to work and got it perfectly aligned to show what gear you were in even if ratcheting thru the gears because the stick in 1st...2nd and 3rd (Drive) is in the same position on the Mega-shifter.... so the mini cable connected to the underside of the factory indicator worked and nothing ever broke. It held together well even if slapping the shifter in excitement bangin thru the gears.
the universal model allows you to adapt it to either 3 or 4 speed automatics so if you ever opt for a 200-700R4 down the road or 4L60...4L65....4L80 etc. It will adapt to that as well.

photo attached of final results ... sorry i don't have any photos of when i did the install only the final product. The engine and airbrush work was the part everyone talked about with this car not the shifter even though it took me about 2 nights to do the install from removal of the boot and top plate...fabricating and installing everything to final boot and top plate reassembly so about 8 or so hours total to get it perfect and fit under factory console plate.
thanks

jennifur