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4 speed bench seat?

7K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  steve392 
#1 ·
Im putting a Muncie 4 speed in my 81 malibu with a bench seat, i know they came with Saginaw's but prob had buckets. Does anyone know a shifter handle that would work? My Muncie has a Hurst super competition shifter on it now, although the handle wont clear the seat. Ive been to the Hurst website and also summit. Is this something i would have to make or modify? Thanks.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Seems like all you would need is the correct curved stick?? Have you tried looking at the different sticks offered?? Just offhand guess is the 64-72 Chevelle with bench seat stick, or 65-70-ish Caprice/Impala with bench seat.

Do you have the Super Shifter, or the Competition Plus shifter? The Super Shifter won't fit under a stock floor due to its high mount.
 
#3 ·
Yeah i was curious if something like that would work. Just wondering if anyone knew for sure what handle would work. I could order and check and just send it back if it didnt fit but that might take a couple try's, just hoping i can order it and get it right the first time is all. Also its the competition plus shifter
 
#5 ·
The 78-79 El Camino with a Saginaw trans came with a bench seat. Hurst lists stick for this shifter application as fitting with or without console. It looks like it is going to be really close to the correct piece to me just looking at the form of the stick on their catalog page, but the stick for the 64-67 and 68-72 Chevelle is very similar. A little taller(5/8"), but it looks like it has a better curve as far as a bench seat is concerned. I know the Chevelle piece clears a bench seat in 68-72 Nova.

Nice thing about GM is the shifter body mounts in about the same spot on all 4-speeds, there are only a few different sticks total.
 
#7 ·
Picture to me looks like two different sticks cut and welded together, the lower half cut right at the knob end, and the upper half right near the end that originally bolted to the shifter body.

Looks way too tall to me for your application, looks like something made to fit a truck with a bench seat. Shifter knob will be near as high as the top of the dash in your Malibu, and that long stick means long shifter travel between gears.
 
#13 ·
Mr Gasket /Hurst has service parts pages on their website.

I believe I used a 64-67 Chevelle hurst stick in my 59.
That would be a stick for a bench seat car

I have the Hurst bucket stick in my 66----don't really care for it --
gears 2-4-R are too low and second almost hits the seat.

I'll probably put a bench stick in that car later
 
#14 ·
For what it's worth, I had a '69 Chevelle Malibu with 4 speed Saginaw and bench seat. I put in a Hurst Competition Plus shifter and had no problems with the seat clearance. So maybe if you find that application, that shift lever style would work for you.

Hope this helps,
Steve
 
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