Hey guys, I have an 85 2.8 with the 700-r4 and i had an idea to do something with my shifter...

I have the T handle auto shift handle in it now but i hate pressing the button and i hate the akwardness of the handle so heres my plans..

1) Remove the button components from the shifter so it just shifts smooth and tap the handle to put a manual tranny shift **** on it

2) Get one of the round Auto shift ***** out of a camaro that kinda look like a manual tranny ****

Will either one work? Anyone try em? I heard that the round camaro shift **** needs mods to go onto the firebird shifter. Any help would be appreciated

 

I like the idea but I DO NOT ADVISE IT!! Notice how, with the button up, the car won't shift between certain gears? Won't downshift..won't go from Neutral to Reverse.. Well if you put a handle on with no ****, you keep the button depressed, which disables this safety feature. You may think 'oh I'm not dumb enough to kick the transmission into reverse or something'....but it doesn't take dumb....all it takes is one elbow across to the passenger seat reaching for a CD or something...you could easily bump the shifter over and, if you're unlucky enough, bye bye tranny..... Just my 2 cents...I almost put a button-less **** in my Camaro but decided against it last minute!

 

Well thats true.. but i hate the button and the shift handle with a passion

So what about the Round Iroc shift ****..? is it a direct bolt on? or pin on or something

 

also on my car if the button is still pressed down, you can't remove the ignition key. Have you guys experienced this. I just got myself an aftermarket shifter with a button. Its white to match my car's exterior.

 

The round shift ***** could be adapted but I'm not sure how..never taken the base off a firebird shifter, but the press-down plastic piece could be more complicated or angled to do a 90 degree at the top...the Camaro shifters the piece runs straight up and the button just presses it straight down.

 

Heres a quick sketch of what the shifter itself looks like and what im almost positive the inside of the shift handle looks like.

The button has the angled piece on a spring that pushes the yellow/white thing down through the shifter shaft and releases the shift lock

The line on the shift handles shaft is a U pin that clips onto the shaft to keep it on the shaft.

 

If thats true then fitting a Camaro thing on should be easy..it'll just be a button that depresses the piece straight down...just might not fit on the shaft right..not sure.

 

The shift **** i want is this one ..

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/att...?postid=858569

http://www.thirdgenparts.com/ebay4/85leathknob.jpg

But i think only the square type ones will work..

 

Why do you want the 8 ball ****? Ok, it's leather...that adds to it a little..but I saw a plastic one of those on a 2.8 and it was the ugliest thing I've ever seen!

 

I just like the looks and feel of the 8ball **** (leather or not leather dont matter) plus i have a manual shift plate so it would go real good with it.

 

in my 90 RS i changed the shifter **** to a blue neon one from wal-mart heh... the plastic piece inside the shaft wasnt long enough to reach the spot that it has to hit to be able to shift, so i made one out of a bar.
i cannot pull my key out, but that is because i have my shifter **** screwed down as if it were holding in the button, so it doesnt let the shaft pop up when u put it in park.

 

hmm i wonder if a manual steering column w/ that safety pull think to get the key out would help you.

 

you need either a new or a used z gate with reverse lockout on ebay.

 

you can use pretty much any GM auto shift **** on your firebird. i put a **** off of a buick regal on my friend's iroc. just remove the retainer pull it off and install the new one.