it says on summit that the b&m Megashifter (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BM...RD&prefilter=1) isnt for the formula why is this? what makes it different from the standard firebird and the trans am?

 

i've wondered the same thing.

However, most people wont recommend the mega shifter, it can be a real PITA to use.

 

so i've heard but is there any other shifters out there other than this?

 

its actually great to use...


for the first few months.
after a while the novelty wears off and the fact that you have to continually take the handle off to polish it gets old.
the fact that you have to search for park and reverse gets old
the fact that you have to adjust two tiny switches to get reverse lights to work properly gets old
the fact that no matter how well you polish the handle, it looks like crap after two weeks gets old.

its great in theory, but needs some refinement
i loved mine for a long time but after a while, it got old.
it might be my climate, or maybe my shifter handle was f-ed from the factory, but it had absolutely no coating on it and i have to take it off once every other week to polish it

like i said, its great in theory, but most of the time, i use it like a typical automatic shifter, that is: put it into drive from park and drive away, then put it back into park when i am done.
if i had a manual valvebody, it might make more sense, but for an auto valvebody, its kinda, well, redundant

 

i love it in my formula 350... now a formula 383

it fits you just have to cut up the center shifter console a bit... but this has to be done for all firebird fitments. camaros are the only true bolt in.

i mean if your not gona race the car then its just for looks but at the track its WELL WORTH it!!! baning gears takes no thought wats so ever! and you cant miss a gear and F somthing up. it does look bad @ss tho and i get alot of compliments when ppl see it. if your worried about the handle then get a diff type, i believe u can get a ball to fit and even the pistal grip handle one to work from hurst. idk tho bc i dont mind the look of my unpolished T handle yet im too busy looking at the speedo goin VROOOMMM!! lol.

 

X2

Had mine a couple years and still like it. The handle does turn to **** after a while but you can get other ones. And the reverse light switch does need some adjustment but its nothing difficult.

 

alright well thanks is it really that hard to get the cable right?

 

it wasnt for me, but to some people, its like pulling teeth.
i had no trouble with it honestly.
i put the shifter in park and the trans in park, and adjusted it to fit in.
then i tried each other gear and made adjustments as necessary.
in the end, i think i had to decide between being one thread off in either park or 1, and i chose 1 to be off slightly.

 

do yo have an image of what the final product look like? what exactly do you need to cut out of the console?

 

this is all i got of the shifter lol. first 2 pics are before i installed the door bars and swing out kits.

the shifter was pretty straight forward. they give u a template to use to cut the console. u only cut the plastic insert that the boot connects to, but its all one piece with the window switches and cigarrette lighter etc. U have to CUT ALOT of it off tho, which weakens it considerablely and the console will eventually crack from stress or if u take it off alot like me

i have to say tho its totally worth it. and it works perfect still. i only had issues with the relay failing on me twice (10$ a pop for the relay they tell u to use) so use a 30-40amp bosch type relay found in cold start systems etc and they work like a charm.

 

I cannot say as I have had any problems with mine. I bought the chrome handle with the thumb button for my line lock, which eliminated the polishing act. I made installation even easier, I found a cover plate from a early model bird with no power options, and made a custom console (including the switches for my heated seats...). You can replace the shift indicator cable with B&M part number 80815 (Summit $13.95).