Ok, used to Camaros, not Firebirds, so forgive me if this is a dumb post!

All my cars always had a solid shift rod with a threaded end for the ****.

The 83 Firebird (V6 base model) I just picked up has a cut threaded rod that had a cheesy shift **** on it.

I haven't seen this style shifter... is it normal or did someone do something weird here?

Here's a pic of the standard one I've always come across:



And here's mine!

 

Best guess is that it was the first year for the T-5, so the shifter may have been redesigned afterwards. Or someone swapped it out for some sort of goofy aftermarket piece...

 

84 thru 86 Camaro Berlinetta V6 T5 cars had a T5 shifter that used a bolt thru the middle of the handle similar to that. The bolt was hidden under a 5-speed pattern 'cover' to hold the shifter **** to the shifter.

I don't know about the early birds,... maybe they used something similar in the T5 cars too.

 

Have a pic of the shift **** you mean? Haven't seen one of those.

Do the aftermarket shifters for the V8 T5 fit on this? Might as well just upgrade if I'm pulling the thing anyways!

 

Sure,.... here's a pic:





I'm pretty sure that all Camaro/Firebird T5 shifters will bolt to any thirdgen T5 case...... not positive - but pretty sure !

 

hmm, bolt thread looks smaller. Now I'm just lost, thought we had that solved!