We know that the Super T-10 4-speed manual was available with the 5.0L V-8 in the 1982 Firebird and Camaro.

Might anyone know at what point during the 1982 model year the Super T10 was replaced by the Saginaw 4-speed? And why?

 

The manual transmission was more popular then expected and they ran out of supply. Since they were gearing up to produce the 5-speed, the GM corporate 4 speed was substituted.
Here is the Pontiac Dealer notice on the situation. I assume chevy had a similar notice.

 

Thank you, Jeff!

Ironically, I have this same letter in my Pontiac literature collection. I should have looked first!

 

Interesting! It's weird that they chose to reverse the reverse gear direction. I'm quite sure all four speeds from the 60's on up had reverse up and left. For 82 they must have repositioned the reverse lever from the down position to the up position for some reason.

I tried to find a picture of the actual configuration of the linkage and levers but only found this:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...eed-shift.html