When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have just completed a rebuild of my 1974 Corvette 4 speed shifter. I replaced a broken part called the shifter reverse interlock, but have no idea what its function is.
The t_handle prevents accidentally shifting into reverse.
The key interlock cable requires the key to be in the ON position to shift out of reverse.
Can someone enlighten me as what this part does???
That is the shifter interlock. It provides a fixed "gate" between the reverse lever and 1-4.
The R,1/2,3/4 levers line up against the fixed gate "square cutout" - when aligned properly the shifter operates very smoothly through the gears.
Over time, as you bang on the gears or due to decades of use the main shifter square body that the parts fit into gets enlarged/bent out of square.
This enlargement causes slop in the shifter and eventually you'll find that the bottom oval tip of the shifter will get stuck between the levers.
Most rebuild kits include 2 of these interlocks one being a bit thicker than the other with the idea that you'd use the thicker one to take up this slop.
I found though that you can chuck the shifter body into a vice and re-square it making the shifter as tight as you prefer.
4 speed shifter reverse interlock part
