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I have a 1978 SB coupe with a 4 speed manual and it has a very long throw and would like to install a short throw kit.
Can you give advice on the best and easiest way to go? Your experiences?
Thank you
The Muncie shifter on both my 71 and 72 had two holes in each of the 1/2 and 3/4 linkage. One for short and one for long throw. Not sure what years had this option. You can see the two holes on this photo. The linkages connect the rods to the body of the transmission. In this image the rods are connected to the outer or longer throw holes.
Making the change requires inserting a tool into shifter to hold the transmission in neutral, while you make the change. Then you'll need to adjust the rods to the correct length. There are other postings on this process.
I have a Hurst Competition Plus on my 1980 4-speed Super T-10. It's okay. The install kit is no longer available for 80-81 cars, but is for yours. I think you need the following:
The Muncie shifter on both my 71 and 72 had two holes in each of the 1/2 and 3/4 linkage. One for short and one for long throw. Not sure what years had this option. You can see the two holes on this photo. The linkages connect the rods to the body of the transmission. In this image the rods are connected to the outer or longer throw holes.
Making the change requires inserting a tool into shifter to hold the transmission in neutral, while you make the change. Then you'll need to adjust the rods to the correct length. There are other postings on this process.
Boy, that's exactly what it feels like. I'll check that out. It's way too long. Thanks for the image.
When I bought my Corvette the PO installed a Hurst Competition Plus with the Hurst lever. I changed it over to the stock looking lever for Hurst shifters. As you can see, the stock looking Hurst lever is considerable shorter. Shorter lever equals shorter throws.
Made a big difference.
(photo credit to Lobzila)
Sunflower, thanks, I never thought about that, I do have a tall shifter lever. I'll look for the shorter shift lever too.
Maybe I can avoid changing to a short shifter and save a bunch of money. Summit should have that right?
Thanks
Sunflower, thanks, I never thought about that, I do have a tall shifter lever. I'll look for the shorter shift lever too.
Maybe I can avoid changing to a short shifter and save a bunch of money. Summit should have that right?
Thanks
As long as you have a Hurst Comp Plus shifter, yes it will. Most Corvette specific vendors have that handle. Not sure about Summit.
WOW. The shifter with the white **** seems much longer than anything else I've seen. Neither my old 71 nor my new 72 were like that. Here are some images, my 2 then a 77 and a 79 from BAT.
If you have the original stock factory shifter then yes, the lever is much shorter. This is the lever that was on my car when I purchased it. A lot longer.
I drove my 77 for many miles with the long throw, and last year, switched to the short throw holes in the arms, and frankly, I didn't like it. Going back to long throw. One reason was leverage.....the short flow was HARDER to push between gears, and I guess I don't mind the distance. This was on my new Autogear M23 4-speed, which is based on Muncie, rather than the Borg Super T-10 that was originally in the car. The Super T-10 did not have two hole options, only the long throw.
Here's a picture of my shift lever, it's a Hurst, the car is in storage now so I can't get under it to see if it has two holes. I'll shop around with Ecklers or Midwest for a shorter Hurst lever.
It feels a heck of a lot longer than it looks here !!!
Yep, that's a Hurst shifter. That's how mine looked when I first got it. Just get the Hurst stock appearing lever and your good to go. Don't bother looking for 2 holes because the Hurst shift levers don't have them.
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the Hurst and the stock shifters are the same throw given the shift handle is the same length. shortening that will shorten the throw some, especially the OPs super tall shift handle. The 2 hole arms that Dher67 posted in the diagram that mount to the tranny are the shortest throw you can get. The Hurst arms hole is in between those 2 holes. You could find and buy the corvette arms or weld the Hurst holes shut and drill new hole closer to the pivot
Thanks everyone for your help. I'll look for a stock looking Hurst shifter while I wait a few weeks to get the car out of storage.
Here's a couple pix of the car, I was going to sell it but just got the urge to make some changes and keep it.
The Muncie shifter on both my 71 and 72 had two holes in each of the 1/2 and 3/4 linkage. One for short and one for long throw. Not sure what years had this option. You can see the two holes on this photo. The linkages connect the rods to the body of the transmission. In this image the rods are connected to the outer or longer throw holes.
Making the change requires inserting a tool into shifter to hold the transmission in neutral, while you make the change. Then you'll need to adjust the rods to the correct length. There are other postings on this process.
You could take yours off and drill holes where you want them. I don't think I would worry about welding up the old holes. This would give you the option of going back if you want. If you get a shorter handle AND use the lower holes, it may be a bigger change than you want.
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Short Throw Shifter
