I had a friend give me a regular B&M Megashifter (ratchet), without the specific Trans Am specific parts. I figured if nothing else, I could sell it on Ebay if it wouldn't work. Well, it did work, so here it is...







I had to use a uni-bit step drill bit to open up the hole in the bracket to accept the stock shifter cable connector. I used the right front stock shifter mounting hole, and started two more for the left side mounting screws (drilling pilot holes prior).

Other than needing to cut/machine down the shifter length (waaaaaaaay to tall for my tastes, and it's still 1/2" lower than B&M plans it without using their F-body mounting plates) and cutting/sewing a new boot, and clearancing the metal plate on the shifter when it goes into low gear by 1/8 of an inch to clear the console top plate, it's pretty much done.

Also shown, the dyed black console. Phase one, complete.

 

Looks kinda tall. How did you release the stock t-handle? I see a little clip looking thing in the shaft facing the dash but I can't figure out how to pop it out.

 

Yes, it's taller than it needs to be for this car. Perhaps the F-body specific ones come with a shorter chrome upper shifter portion, but from what I've seen of others installs, they're all fairly tall. This one will be cut and remachined for a 3" drop to put the handle right above the new boot I'm making.

The factory shifter **** is held in place by a U shaped spring clip. I put the shifter in low gear to get a good look at it, then used a very small pair of side cutters to grab it and pull it out. You could also use a small flat screwdriver to pull it out too. Just pull it all the way out towards you and the **** will slide right off.

 

So just pull that bad boy don't need to squeeze or anything to release it? For your handle all you would have to do is cut out a section of the shaft and weld it back together, pretty simple especially since you can hide the cut under the boot.

 

I just called home to remind myself to take a picture for you of the stock shifter clip so that you will know exactly what you're getting into. I'll post it here tonight after work, probably around 6PM Central time.

The B&M shifter will be easy to cut down. All I have to do is cut the chrome bar, probably an inch or so down from the little reverse lockout upper mount, then drill two holes for the stock B&M mounting screws to go through to hold it in place. It will be rather simple. At most, I may have to grind it down some or add a couple of small washers since the width of the material changes through the length of the shaft.

 

Stock shifter handle removal pics.

 

I bought a brand new Mega Shifter for my car..I'm going to install it next month. I'm going to try to use the stock cable too....by just cutting off the stock bracket and the B&M bracket (that holds the tranny cable) and swapping them...either screwing it or welding the stock bracket to the B&M bracket....a few guys have done it and said it is very easy....dosen't even need to be adjusted or anything at the tranny.

 

your console looks aswome in black, and it is giving me ideas...

i might try and do what you did and use the stock console plate also, i think it looks better than the plate B&M gives you, looks like a camaro peice and does not gow with the firebird interior

do you have the shift indicator hooked up ?

 

Looks awesome thanks for the info. I have been wanting the B&M shifter but wasn't sure I wanted to change the center console piece, you have a good idea.

 

My T.A. didn't have a shift indicator to hook up with the stock shifter window. It only had a light plugged into it, then you just line up the shifter position with the gear you wanted. I'll get something to work though, I just need to get that long *** handle chopped down to size first.

The only warning I have about using the stock shifter plate with this megashifter is that one piece of metal pops up into the bottom of the console cover plate. If you put your megashifter into the lowest gear, you can see that piece of metal pop up into it's high point as you ratchet down to first gear position. Cut that metal down about an 1/8" or so and it clears the plastic.

Cutting/welding the old bracket was my first idea too, but I was wanting to try this way first before cutting into my only known "good" stock shifter. If drilling out the B&M cable area didn't work, cutting a piece of 14 gauge steel, welding it in place, and then drilling a hole in it was my next plan of action before even thinking of cutting up the stock shifter. I didn't want the car to be stuck in the driveway if something would have gone wrong.

 

I know its an old post Im just saving the info