Doing a T56 swap on my 1984 T/A. Everything is going alright so far *kncks on wood* but I'm trying to be preemptive here. I see on the Hawks site that they don't send shift plates for the 1984 trans am if you were to buy their conversion kit, and I'm curious why. I don't know what to do for one right now. Thinking of possibly using a 5 speed one out of another 1982-1984 T/A but I'm not too sure. Will the Hawks one for 1985 on fit or no? What has everyone else in my position done? Any thoughts or experiences appreciated.

 

The firebird console changed in 85, the earlier ones wee similar to Camaro consoles, if not the same. I don't know much about the early consoles aside from the fact they are totally different from the 85-92 ones.

You cab try to modify your auto shifter plate, cut the opening larger and fit a proper boot to it for the larger opening.

 

I wouldn't hack up a hard to find part. The beauty of the 82-84 Firebird and Camaro consoles is the top plates are flat. You could fab a plate from ABS plastic, or sheet aluminum, etc and it'd likely turn out as well as the modded auto plate.

 

I put a t56 in my 87. I had a B&M shifter on my auto so my plate was already hacked up so my stick is going through that mess. I see a guy parting out a stick car on the forum but I can't ask about it cause I'm new I guess, really killing my TGO experience here. What trans and bell housing are you using, going stick is the best mode I've done in years.

 

That's a good point, I'll pick up a sheet of ABS since the texture is pretty similar to the existing panels. Hardest part is going to be keeping the edges looking decent since there's no really good way to hide it.

 

I've got a T56 out of a 95 z28. Took what I needed for the swap from the car. Still trying to get rid of it if anyone happens to be looking