[Navy Horn 16]

Does anyone know if the optional factory ratcheting shifters from the 70's early 80's will work with an OD Transmission?

I have a 77 Trans Am with an Art Carr 200 4R that performs really well. My transmission shop recommended a ratcheting shifter for track days. I didn't even know these existed until a few minutes ago.

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...s-video-proof/

I currently have the stock shifter that was with the TH-350 and it works fine. Basically I just have a decal that I swapped out that shows the new positions for the transmission.

[mach flyer]

The shift detents will not line up with the 200R4 trans detents. At least I couldn't get mine to line up perfectly. Close but no cigar.....
I used the Shiftworks kit and while it was close I never could get it just right and just finally gave up. Just don't use that function of the shifter.

[Steve C.]

The B&M Quicksilver. It will ratchet forward each time you want to make a gear change.

http://www.bmracing.com/products/806...ilver-4-speed/


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[ta man]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

The B&M Quicksilver. It will ratchet forward each time you want to make a gear change.

http://www.bmracing.com/products/806...ilver-4-speed/


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I have had this shifter since 2000>Its a great shifter much smoother and easier to operate than the t handle style.

[Steve C.]

Plus it will mimic a factory shifter....

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0712p...ans_am-shifter


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[Blued and Painted]

And you can scuff the shinny finish on the cover and re-paint.

[Steve C.]

Indicator Window for 4 spd application Part #:80898 is $12.97

The housing used for this shifter used to be molded with ABS plastic then electroplated with copper, nickel and chrome. The company I used to work for helped with the injection mold design and we produced them for B&M, it was my account. Sadly after a few years B&M went overseas to cut costs. Today I have no idea of the material and/or finish quality used.

A shiny chrome-like metallic finish on plastic can be done by either chrome electroplating or vacuum metallizing. We used actual electroplating that has real metal (copper, nickel, and chrome) deposited on it, and is much more complicated and expensive but much, much more durable than the other approach. Vacuum metalizing back then was only a thin shiny film applied to the part in a chamber then clear coated for protection, that protection is only as good as the paint applied. Hopefully B&M still supplies a electroplated part.



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[ta man]

I have had my shifter in three different cars.Quite a few dragstrip passes and backroad passes.

[Blued and Painted]

Woops. Was not commenting on the chrome durability. Only that i'm in the Flat Finish Camp.

[Navy Horn 16]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

Plus it will mimic a factory shifter....
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0712p...ans_am-shifter

It sure is nice of Hot Rod Magazine to keep an archive of photos of your car.

[Steve C.]

B&M typically produces a good product and I would be very surprised if there were quality issues with the current shifters.


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[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Navy Horn 16

Does anyone know if the optional factory ratcheting shifters from the 70's early 80's will work with an OD Transmission?

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...s-video-proof/

What kind of bonehead thinks the OEM shifters are a "ratchet" design? Clearly the idiot who wrote that article has never used a true "ratchet" shifter, or understands the operating principle. The OEM design has positive stops. It damn sure is NOT (and is not intended to be) a "ratchet" shifter.

Originally Posted by Steve C.

B&M typically produces a good product and I would be very surprised if there were quality issues with the current shifters..

The last I looked, the B&M shifters had been outsourced to China. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole, so I hope someone is selling eleven foot poles for anyone who still has some interest in their junk.

[Navy Horn 16]

Got anything nice to say?

[jonmachota78]

Originally Posted by Schurkey

What kind of bonehead thinks the OEM shifters are a "ratchet" design? Clearly the idiot who wrote that article has never used a true "ratchet" shifter, or understands the operating principle. The OEM design has positive stops. It damn sure is NOT (and is not intended to be) a "ratchet" shifter.


The last I looked, the B&M shifters had been outsourced to China. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole, so I hope someone is selling eleven foot poles for anyone who still has some interest in their junk.

Thanks I too was thinking that ain't no ratchet.

[Steve C.]

Semantics ? The wording 'ratchet shifter' may not be technically correct. The console mounted shifter on my original 1970 Trans Am with a TH400 transmission could be shifted manually. Drop it down to into first and as you kept pressure on the handle toward the right it would shift into second as you moved the shift lever forward. It had a detent to stop forward movement. Relax it, apply pressure to the right then same into third gear. It had stop detents and would not over shift. That's how I would describe it, the article maybe more technically correct in how it worked.

You can manually shift a 200R4 transmission with a B&M Quicksilver shifter.


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[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Navy Horn 16

Got anything nice to say?

Not about people who think a spring-loaded positive stop is a ratchet, and not about China.

[Bruce Meyer]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

Semantics ? The wording 'ratchet shifter' may not be technically correct. The console mounted shifter on my original 1970 Trans Am with a TH400 transmission could be shifted manually. Drop it down to into first and as you kept pressure on the handle toward the right it would shift into second as you moved the shift lever forward. It had a detent to stop forward movement. Relax it, apply pressure to the right then same into third gear. It had stop detents and would not over shift. That's how I would describe it, the article maybe more technically correct in how it worked.

You can manually shift a 200R4 transmission with a B&M Quicksilver shifter.


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I think back in the day they called the factory shifters "slap shifters". Not sure, might be a regional nickname.

[Steve C.]

It has been said a 'ratchet' is used figuratively for a situation where (by intentional design) you can move forwards, but can't (easily) move or slip backwards from that position. Another suggestion on how a ratchet works; it allows motion in one direction only.

A purist might suggest with a typical ratchet shifter the handle stays in the same position all the time. When you pull back or push forward on the shifter, the transmission will only move one gear position at a time until you let go of the shifter then pull or push it again to the next gear.

The slap stick shifter, the rally shifter... and yes even ratchet shifter. The latter, correct or not, a term used by literally THOUSANDS of Firebird enthusiasts over the years.


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[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

The slap stick shifter, the rally shifter... and yes even ratchet shifter. The latter, correct or not, a term used by literally THOUSANDS of Firebird enthusiasts over the years.


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I've heard it called a sport shifter too.

[Steve C.]

We will be in deep Sh&t here if we find old GM sales material that states ratchet shifter


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