Ok, before I get flamed with "Do a search", I will say that I have spent literally hours searching TGO to try and get a straight answer, I have read countless posts but for everyone that says it can work there is another that says there is trouble.

So here is my situation.

I own a 87 IROC with a automatic 700R4 and I swapped in a manual console that came from a '98 Formula. I currently use my stock shifter which has a 4th Gen manual shift boot on it... it sorts of looks like I have a manual shifter but obviously it isn't.... I am fine with this setup.

However, I have always wanted to switch to a rachet/slap shift type aftermarket shifter. Something like a B&M Megashifter, or a Hurst Dual Gate, or something like that...I'm going to the track more and more and a good quality shifter is a must for me....

So I would like to hear from people who have went with a aftermarket shifter and also have a 4th Gen manual console. Pics would be awesome, install tips/tricks would also be very beneficial as well...

I plan to do this over the winter downtime so I would like to start sourcing the parts I need soon!

Thanks!

Stan

 

its NOT A direct bolt in. you have to hack up the shifter a bit. it has to be positioned right or it will look horrible, i took a couple attempts at this and this is the end result.
i am in the middle of switching to a powerglide tranny, so this shifter setup may be for sale in the next couple of weeks. im not sure if im going to stick with the swap or not.
B&M quicksilver with the stick cut off.
5/6 speed stick cut and modified to mate with the ratchet stick.
it looks super factory. people ask me WTF??? all the time at the track.

 

Hey Stage....Thanks for the reply. For a moment there I thought you owned a 4th Gen and thought "Well that's great that it fits in a 4th Gen but what about a 3rd Gen Camaro??", until I read your signature and saw that you actually own a 88 IROC! lol... that must have been a lot of work to convert over to a complete 4th Gen interior!

Do you reuse your stock tranny cable or is there one that comes with the shifter, ie: like the Megashifter

If you sell it I would be definitely interested.... I wasn't really looking to go with a stock looking shifter, was thinking about a big shiny piece sitting in the console, but hey, if it works then who cares what it looks like, I would be more than happy to have that setup in my 87!!

 

its got a cable and brackets and such.
i know the quicksilver works with an OD tranny.
i am not sure on the mods to make it function correctly.
just about all aftermarket shifters are setup to work with a 3spd tranny.
some you have to buy a gate for, which is only a few bucks. others you take a punch and remove a pin or drill out the "stop" in the gate supplied with the shifter.
ive got the new tranny bolted up. not sure if im going to keep it. should have some time to get it to the track this weekend.

 

Did you ever have this shifter work with a 700R4 tranny? That is what I have in my car now...

 

i have the shifter out of the car now and there is no gate or pin to change.
its only compatible with a 3spd.

might check into the hurst pro matic. its a close match to the quicksilver. same ratchet action. it may work with an OD.

 

I ran the B&M megashifter in mine (Hi TJ!!!), I went to an upholstery shop and they made me a snap on boot for it.

 

I know this is over a year old but any new info cause I'm sorta kinda interested in this subject

 

I have the 93-96 auto console and a b & m mega shifter. I cut out the section up to the ash tray that had the indicator and plastic slide thing that the oem shifter sat in. I then used a manual boot and glued it to the opening and at the new shifter, I used a very small wire tie to keep it secure. I also had to cut out a bit of the stitching at the top to clear that reverse lockout bar. As far as the shifter, it was the one that comes in the kit to use in a 3rd gen console. I simply removed the the brackets that raise it up some, and rebolted it down without those and made a couple new holes. Its not the greatest I have ever done, but from a small distance, it looks ok. One of these days, I am going to do a better job with the 97-02 manual console I traded for my old 3rd gen console. I just have to figure out what to do about the gap between the console and my 4th gen dash.

 

I managed to get a B&M Hammer Shifter installed in my 87 IROC which has a 6 speed console out of a 98 Formula.

It was definitely not "plug and play"... I had to shave a considerable amount of material off the shifter in the front so it would fit down into the stock console opening. I could have cut the console but I didn't want to chop it up, I wanted a "stock look", so the shifter needed some "shaving".

The shifter bolted to the floor half good but certainly not a direct fit, I needed to do some fabrication here as well, fabbed up a bracket that bolted to the floor in the stock location and had holes in it for the shifter to bolt to.

Had to unstitch the stock shift boot so it would clear the shifter trigger but that was it.

I will take some pics later of it installed.... looks good IMO... hope the rachet shifting don't get on my nerves after awhile,, lol.....

 

I had a BM Megashifter in my car for awhile before I converted to a manual.
Had to hammer down the trans tunnel for more clearance since the 4th gen console sits so low where the shifter is,

 

i know this is an old post...but where can i find the little pontiac panel near the front of the console? i have a 97 console like yours for my 88 ta and need to fill that panel hole

 

dealer. there are several versions depending what its optioned with. one hole and 2 hole versions. you can also get a "cubby hole" to go in that spot instead of a blank plate.

10-15 bucks retail if they are still available. i have a one hole in storage somewhere if you have a hard time finding one. its been dyed black to match 3rd gen camaro interior and no pontiac logo. if you get in a bind, lmk.

 

hey man, thanks. i'll try to find one and let you know! i may take you up on it. i could send you a 20 dollar bill, but i'll try and find one first.