I know that B&M makes a console shifter for the 82-92 camaro's, but how about Hurst do they make one, and if so what are the pro's and cons to each shifter, any personal expierences, or install expierences would also be appreciated !!

 

I have a b&m Megashifter and I have not been pleased with the unit. The kit from B&M for my 86z-28 required that you cut the top of the console. They provide you with a template but how much money could it possible cost to provide you with a new console. Also the cable is 5 or 6 feet long a 2/3 feet foot cable would have be perfect. With the long cable you must loop the cable over the tranny. For a “custom” kit for third gen’s it is not very costume.

The actuall operation of the shifter is great, no complaints, except it is hard to put in drive and reverse. Other than that is has been great.

Hope this helps.

Ant

 

I just put the mega shifter in today, A little cheezy for my taste. I fabricate things all the time in my job, so it wasn't a big deal getting it in, but it took a good share of it. I did a few things different than the distructions said, and I am going to the junk yard to get a console top so I can keep my stock stuff for resale. It took a while to get the cable looped just right, but I finally got it just like they showed,and it shifts fairly smooth. I think the routing of the cable is critical to smooth operation. when it is all said and done it will work just like I wanted it to and have a clean look in the car. If you get one and don't want to cut the plug off your wiring harness, e-mail me and I'll tell you what I did to not butcher the wiring.

 

I put mine in last week. I sat there and thought about how the hell I was going to loop that stupid cable then it came to me. I looped it on the work bench and wire-tied it. I slid it right into place, hooked everything up and cut the wire-tie. It was easy as could be.

I also suggest that you don't cut the wiring. It sucks that B&M was too cheap to provide a harness to plug in, but in general they were too cheap to do a lot of things. They should have supplied the relay and a whole new console piece, and a bracket that uses the EXISTING front holes. The POS cable is cracked in a million places too.

Anyway, here's my wiring:

Did anybody else bother to use the relay like they suggested in the instructions? Nobody ever seems to mention it.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

I also used the relay... however I just cut the wires & soldered 'em onto the relay. My stock p/n switch started smoking one day - talk about me ripping the console cover off FAST! - so I'm not about to put that stock piece back in.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards

 

I use 3 Bocsh relays. One for BU lights, one for N switch and on for the TCC lock up. Overall I am happy with how it works but installation is a little cheesy.

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Mike Schwartz aka chevymike
'92 Z28, 5.7, Teal Hardtop

"Don't Outlaw High Performance Cars,
Outlaw Low Performance Drivers!"
Mike's Camaro Z28

 

What switch might you be referring to?

BTW, I soldered the relay too, but I had no interest in cutting into the stock wiring. I don't know why. It's not like the stock shifter is ever going back in, but I'm just **** that way.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Jim I took the **** thing one step further and made a plug, sort of, with silicone. Do you think there is a problem W/O re hooking the lockup swich? From your other post, I had to grind a little off the top of the shifter ratchet to keep it from hitting the console. Got my top plate at the junk yard today $5 ...Old Guy @netg

 

I would guess that by not hooking up the TC lockup, your torque converter won't, um, lock up. That'll be an issue in OD. The simple wiring they described didn't seem to encorporate anything for the lockup, and I didn't like that, so I bought the relay and wired it per their instructions even tho they were to friggin cheap to provide the relay in the package.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Jim, I'm talking about the stock park/neutral switch on the stock shifter.. it was the black piece on the side that got replaced by B&M's microswitch/relay combo.

I never found out why the thing was smoking... no wires got crossed, and the car worked fine after that. When I took the stock shifter out, I looked it over closely, and it didn't look burnt! Musta been one of those freak things? Anyway I'm glad it's out of the car now!

 

Hurst makes a Console Mounted Dual Gate shifter for 1983- 1992 automatic Camaros that allows you to use it as an automatic or switch to a manual where you can change gears and its protected from over-revving. It costs $240 from Summit Racing or Jeg's. Don't really know much else about it, but as soon as I get the money I'm buying it.

 

I didn't mean leave the wires to the lock up swich open, I put them together, and left them that way and drove the car to see if there was a problem, none that I can see. If any one knows why this isn't a good idea jump in. In the junk yard the older cars didn't even have them. Safty lock out maybe? It said something about changing the idle speed of the motor too, not much that I could tell. Shifter is working well so far.