Trimming tunnel for Hurst RamRod

[NorCam]

I thinking of buying a Hurst Ramrod Shifter and would like to know if anyone here has installed one in their 69 Camaro?

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b437/napa68/006_zpsztdexemh.jpg

More specifically, I'd like to know how much metal needs to be trimmed off a stock 4 speed hole or if it needs to have a box built onto the tunnel to fit one of these shifters when using a Muncie trans. I just finished restoring my floors and I'm not sure I want to start cutting and welding a shifter box onto what has just been freshly painted inside and out. If the mods fairly minimal cutting and moving the opening left of the original location, I may do this to finish the car off with a day II theme versus using the stock console.

Any advise or feedback appreciated?

[rszmjt]

MAJOR Butchery is required to floor to put that shifter in, you will end up with a big ugly hole, plus I think you have to slot floor pan for 3-4 shifter Rod. This is hardly a day 2 shifter for a 69, it probably wasn't released till 1971?. It also requires holding the "T" up when shifting slower for normal street use as it will go rite into 4 th gear, unless ramming/yanking all the time, down shifting is very near impossible . Consol will never fit also unless you hack it to pieces.
Back away from the cut off wheel forest grinder !

[NorCam]

MAJOR Butchery is required ...
Back away from the cut off wheel forest grinder !

I was actually thinking of using the torch??? :bs:

[X66 714]

I had on in a 68 Camaro & major cutting is an understatement...Joe

[NorCam]

Well that really sucks. I was hoping I could find something leaning towards a drag inspired theme but will keep looking for something other than stock. Doubt I will install the console at this point so that's a non issue.

[anodyne33]

I had one on a '69 (actually a Comp Plus shifter, plus a hand machined plate to move the shifter body up to work with the linkage and a WAY chapped down handle) and the floor was all hacked to hell and back. However, the car also came with a Hurst Super Boot (non-console car) and aside from the boot being way over to the left of the tunnel you couldn't see the butcher job from the top.

[L78steve]

Dont do it. I had to fix that mess on my old 69Z.

[68l30]

I had a V-Gate in my 68 RR, Let's just say the boot is no where near big enough to cover some of the holes I've seen .... Do it if you must, but use extreeme caution.

BIG

[NorCam]

I should have left it as a race car from the get go. Tunnel was already cut and boxed in as it was.

[Tommy]

The Hurst Super Shifter is the next best thing. Less invasive but you'll still probably do a little trimming to get things working. The straight rods and reverse lockout are great and it looks good too. I have used them in Novas without consoles. Not sure how much work it will involve on the console of a 69 Camaro.

Tommy

[rszmjt]

The Hurst Super Shifter is the next best thing. Less invasive but you'll still probably do a little trimming to get things working. The straight rods and reverse lockout are great and it looks good too. I have used them in Novas without consoles. Not sure how much work it will involve on the console of a 69 Camaro.

Tommy

Allmost the same amount of butchering/cutting the floor is involved in a Camaro for the Super Shifter, brkt and rods are allmost identical, big difference is the Ram rod has horizontal stop bolts front and rear as well as a separate reverse lever, and body of shifter a bit bulkier .

[69 Post Sedan]

Yes.......you will have to cut the floor quite a bit.......but.......if you get past that issue, the RamRod is an amazing shifter and if set up correctly, you don't have to hold up the tee handle when shifting unless you really shift it slow. The only time you have to use the tee handle is for first or second gear.

Here is a short video of me shifting my car around town.......it will only work if you or someone you know has Facebook.

Kurt

https://www.facebook.com/kurt.burdick.92/videos/10203939465274386/

[69 Post Sedan]

The RamRod is a perfect Day-2 addition even though it wasn't out until 1971 or so....a lot of people didn't modify their car the 2nd day it was purchased.......it's just a term. For example, the MCACN show allows modifications up to 5 years after the car was originally built.

On a side note......a Mr. Gasket V-Gate requires more room because of its design.

Kurt

[67 Nova Boy]

The RamRod is a perfect Day-2 addition even though it wasn't out until 1971 or so....a lot of people didn't modify their car the 2nd day it was purchased.......it's just a term. For example, the MCACN show allows modifications up to 5 years after the car was originally built.

Kurt

100% correct! You saved all month to get a new set of headers or manifold or wheels and tires but not unless you had lots $$$$ no one did day 2 the next day. Pro racers did like the Grump but not your average Joe. Well said Kurt!

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[Lynn]

Dont do it. I had to fix that mess on my old 69Z.

Ditto here. You could have run a dog through the hole in my floor.

I might consider it on a beater, but not on a car with nice floors.

[NorCam]

I'll do it on the next street machine build, which I'm sure will be right around the corner. Bought some Centerlines last night, have a couple spare engines going here, another Muncie with under the bench and an Ansen bell on the way. I think a 69 Nova or Chevelle is waiting to find me?

[rszmjt]

I'll do it on the next street machine build, which I'm sure will be right around the corner. Bought some Centerlines last night, have a couple spare engines going here, another Muncie with under the bench and an Ansen bell on the way. I think a 69 Nova or Chevelle is waiting to find me?

Theres no way I'd cut up your REAL 22,000 mile 69 Z28 with Canadian Bullet Proof Documentation verifying such, go buy a clone or base car with no real value in the collector car market to butcher up if you just have to have that so called day 2 look. I was around when these mods were done back in 70/71, and many a person regretted cutting a garbage can size hole in their floor. Just sayin.

[njsteve]

Since it was a 1971 manufacture that would make it a Year 2 modification. :-)

I had one in my 1969 Z11 Pace Car back in high school. It took a ton of hacksawing the entire side of the tranny hump to get it to fit. I had to remove the 6" by 10" section that was up against the side of the shifter, and then sawing a big slot out horizonatally to allow the straight rods to not rub against the side of the tunnel.

[anodyne33]

Taking a better look at the Super Shifter linkage I'm starting to wonder if it I had that rather than the Ram Rod linkage. Regardless, I don't know about a dog, but I could definitely have passed a cat through there. Probably most importantly, that was on a no frills X11 car and not something that we'd look back and and lament the fact that someone destroyed a RS/SS or a Z. I still wish I knew how it ended up with the Comp Plus mech.

[NorCam]

So called Day II?

Lakewood 3 point roll bar, a good set of Stahl Headers, Moroso Tach (cable driven on the dash even), Mr. Gasket, Mallory or Accel dual point CD dizzy, aftermarket shifter (cut and diced in), Slapper Bars (bright yellow), Drag Wheels (Centerlines, Cragars, or Street Tricks) and some old M&H Racemasters with Pizza Cutters on the front. Next stop, pick a solid cam from the bottom of the page and work the hell out of the heads with some Harland Sharp rockers and a set of guide plates w/ studs. That's what I'm talking about. Day II, Year II...I don't care which style applies or what you want to call it, it's freakin cool on these cars and was right for the 70's and the early 80's. Kym Miller certainly didn't care that he was hacking and stick welding all over his original sheet metal, so why should I be concerned?

Might be worse to keep it as a clean polished car that seldom gets driven or thrashed on while it sits tucked away in the confines of a heated shop. Life speeds on by here buddy...and we gotta have fun while we're here with the living. When's the last time this car went down the track or had some Day II performance goodies on it. In fact, when's the last time if was taken out and thrashed on? Don't hate on me for wanting what I still think is cool on these cars. Too many of these cars are over restored, under appreciated, and parked to collect dust I say :naughty:

I'm taking a page from Grady, Dans & Mikes book. Mine's going Day II

[NorCam]

One last thing while hijacking my own thread...this is what inspires me! (nuff said)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-2974-53009-grady_copo.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-2974-53290-dscf6670.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-2974-53328-dscf7113.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-2974-53389-dscf6885.jpg

[NorCam]

And a little dose of this...

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-2974-53371-dscf6838.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-2974-53374-dscf6788.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-2974-53377-dscf6798.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-2974-53474-dscf6873.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

My vote..... (I am an A-Body guy so maybe I can't vote for Pony cars?)

My vote is go for it, cut the floor, drive the car, race the car, enjoy the car. You will get 10 thumbs up for driving it vs 1 thumb up at a car show.

The original owner of my Cutlass put in a Super Shifter and the hole wasn't cut too much, I intend to make one hump for Super Shifter, and or RamRod and one hump for the stock Competition Plus. I will make either bolt in so I can switch from DAY-1 to DAY-2.

Ryan.

[NorCam]

That's a great idea Ryan. Cut the floor cleanly. Flange the edges and make a couple professionally made filler plates that secure with Zeus fasteners to allow a quick change between a Super shifthole and a stock hole conversion.

We're onto something here ��

[rszmjt]

So called Day II?

Lakewood 3 point roll bar, a good set of Stahl Headers, Moroso Tach (cable driven on the dash even), Mr. Gasket, Mallory or Accel dual point CD dizzy, aftermarket shifter (cut and diced in), Slapper Bars (bright yellow), Drag Wheels (Centerlines, Cragars, or Street Tricks) and some old M&H Racemasters with Pizza Cutters on the front. Next stop, pick a solid cam from the bottom of the page and work the hell out of the heads with some Harland Sharp rockers and a set of guide plates w/ studs. That's what I'm talking about. Day II, Year II...I don't care which style applies or what you want to call it, it's freakin cool on these cars and was right for the 70's and the early 80's. Kym Miller certainly didn't care that he was hacking and stick welding all over his original sheet metal, so why should I be concerned?

Might be worse to keep it as a clean polished car that seldom gets driven or thrashed on while it sits tucked away in the confines of a heated shop. Life speeds on by here buddy...and we gotta have fun while we're here with the living. When's the last time this car went down the track or had some Day II performance goodies on it. In fact, when's the last time if was taken out and thrashed on? Don't hate on me for wanting what I still think is cool on these cars. Too many of these cars are over restored, under appreciated, and parked to collect dust I say :naughty:

I'm taking a page from Grady, Dans & Mikes book. Mine's going Day II

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd418/DBL_NKL/Hugger1.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd418/DBL_NKL/Hugger2.jpg

When Kym Miller cut up your car it was just another new GM 1969 Camaro what happened to be a Z28 bare bones muscle car that was mass produced and readily available back then and probably had a retail value of around $4,200. These days when 69 Z28 collector and other muscle cars bring over $125,000 K+, I just question the Sanity of cutting up a recently restored and returned to original condition un hit, not rusty 69 Z28 with Canadian docs and 22,000 miles to boot. You spent countless $$ to put new floor pans etc in just to go and butcher it again? Its your car, do with it what you will and enjoy it if that's what turns your crank, I don't care. Guess you can re restore it again at a later date.

Yes I have not driven my own Z28 since Sept/2014, but it will see the streets again, and I assure you that it wont be all hacked up to day 2 trim. I did hot rod the car back in the 70,s but with just bolt on parts, no hacking, and I retained all the original stuff which went back on it in the mid 80,s, after I got tired of tickets and not going fast enough with a double duty street driven racer, that's when I got into real race cars.

I am done with this post.

[NorCam]

Just spoke to a fabricator I know and he said he will make me two plates for the car. He can cut the hole and roll the edges, and he'll then fabricate two sheet metal plates to encompass a Super Shifter or RamRod, and a second that snaps in to put it back to stock using Zeus clips to secure it.

At the same time, he'll fab a remake of the Lakewood 3 point roll bar that I'll secure with one of the new epoxy's so I can heat it up and remove it without any cutting or grinding should I want to take it out down the road. Add new carpet (cheap) and it's right back to stock if I want the stock shifter and console back in there.

Thanks for chiming in Ryan. Now I have to find a nice clean restored shifter as I missed out on Tim's RamRod yesterday.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I bought a chunk of 4 speed Cutlass floor for the 4 speed hump. I cut this way bigger than the original torch cut (Oldsmobile) opening in the floor and now bought a spot weld cutter to remove the half of the original hump left. This will allow me to use this hump on top of the floor with my original shifter.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

For the Super Shifter and RamRod I plan to use a................................................. ......................... oh wait for it......................................... 1969 Chevelle hump :-) I know that will make somebody upset:-) this will also bolt down using the same holes in place of the stock hump:-)

That is a lot of humping, and a lot of shifting.

Ryan