[HWYSTR455]

What are the options for retaining OE back lock components when doing a 5 or 6 speed conversion? Would be nice to hear some ideas of how this can be done.

What are others doing with the back lock arm on the steering column if omitting the back lock feature?

Pics would be great, would like to hear from others on this topic.


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[Formulabruce]

What we are doing on my Buddies 1970 Formula is to leave the top end back drive alone and the swivel on the frame. Only the rod to the shifter is missing.
Reverse light wire to a spade and plugged into harness above the column.
So only thing to do is manually rotate the column to get key out and lock steering wheel position.
All I have so far. Tremec Silversport, No body mods at all.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah, that's what I've been doing too, rotating the collar. I did convert to a shifter mounted safety & reverse light switch, but that doesn't prevent the key from being turned off while in gear, or lock the shifter when key is removed.

Would be nice if there was some type of cable operated setup, or a way to use a soleniod, but maybe I'm dreaming. Would prefer to have the functionality of the back lock setup.


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[Formulajones]

No way to keep the back drive linkage functional as far as I know.

Have done a few of those swaps and currently have a 5 speed in my wife's 69 Z.

I basically have done what Formulabruce explained. I leave the column rod intact and hooked to the swivel down on the frame. I only removed the reverse rod that runs from the shifter to the swivel. Obviously because the modern 5 or 6 speeds are all internally shifted so there is no way to hook up that back drive rod.
I secured the swivel on the frame with wire in the parked position so it holds the column up in the parked (reverse) position and doesn't move. The back up lights are now functioning through a pigtail harness and switch off the 5 speed.

So the steering wheel still locks as it should when the key is shut off, it just no longer holds the shifter in reverse, and it's no longer necessary to park the car in reverse either. Nothing is modified that can't be put back to original.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah, I'm thinking something like a stepping solenoid, with maybe a throttle cable, mount it on the frame below the booster, and weld a tab on the column housing.

Could just have it step with key on or something, retract when power is removed.

I dunno, seems like a lot of effort for little gain. I will think more about it though, for a manual, the only gain would be the key-remove-while-driving safety feature, not sure it's worth it.


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[HWYSTR455]

So for overdrive autos, ShiftWorks does have a select shaft lever that has the provision for the rod, and universal rod kits, but that obviously doesn't help manual trans folks.

I was talking to a guy at Jake's, who responded to an email to support, and he pointed out that although the above selector shaft lever isn't offered in the GTO/LeMans kits, it is offered in the Chevelle kits, and can be used.

https://shiftworks.com/collections/c...=3259886665749

Now not sure if it will clear a header application or not, but that's another topic.


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