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Post Info TOPIC: Muncie 4 Speed Shifter Restoration


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Muncie 4 Speed Shifter Restoration


A while back there was a thread here on 67 and older shifters which included an eBay source for replacement parts. My 1968 Acadian / Nova Muncie shifter was prone to binding & locking up. After stripping it down it appears the 3-4 lever is the problem. The eBay seller lists his parts as 64 - 81 Corvette. His 3-4 lever looks like mine so I contacted him but he doesn't have any interchange info to confirm. 

Hoping someone here can help me before I order one.

thanks in advance.



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68 350 4speed 



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Your lever is listed as 3980718. It fits 68-72 Acadian/Nova as well as Beaumont/Chevelle but isn't the same as the full size cars or any Corvettes according to the GM parts book, sorry.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)

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t3.jpg



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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)



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Thanks very much, I really appreciate the info.



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68 350 4speed 



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If you would like to post pictures of your's with measurements I could compare it to one from a 67 and older shifter I have. Maybe we can figure out what is different, maybe there's a way it will work?

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)



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I've attached some pictures for reference. There is some wear in the same area on the 1 / 2 lever but nothing like on the 3 / 4. 

The lever measures about 2" side to side and 4.5" end to end. The pivot shaft is 2.25" long and it's opening in the lever is 0.625" diameter.

thanks again for your help.

my Muncie - 021.jpg

my Muncie - 019.jpg

my Muncie - 017.jpg

my Muncie - 016a.jpg

my Muncie - 018.jpg

 



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68 350 4speed 



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Ok, I'll take mine apart and do the same. It will likely only be tonight though. I hope it's not a panic.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)

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20210428_190731[1].jpg

20210428_190758[1].jpg

20210428_190841[1].jpg

20210428_190918[1].jpg

20210428_191013[1].jpg

 



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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)



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Thanks for posting, looks like they may be the same. Do I understand yours is from a pre 68 shifter? Wonder if that is the same as what Chicago Corvette has available.

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68 350 4speed 



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I agree, even though the GM parts books say it's not the same part it sure looks the same. Yes that is a 67 and older Muncie shifter I posted the pictures for. I don't know for sure that a Corvette shifter is the same as the pictures I posted. This one I believe is from a Chevelle or an Impala. However other than the handle the Corvette shifter is very similar no doubt. It almost looks like it would be worth a try for you.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)



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Thanks again. I do appreciate your help.

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68 350 4speed 



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No problem, any time. If you wouldn't mind, could you keep this thread updated if you do decide to try the Corvette part in there?

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)

Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
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I will. With shipping & exchange it's about $50 Cdn to my door. Not a huge amount so I'll probably chance it.

The locking up got so bad over time that I decided to swap out the Muncie for a Hurst. I'd like to get the Muncie back in proper working order but time isn't an issue. I didn't mention that it's a console shifter but I'm thinking the bodies are the same, just different control levers.

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68 350 4speed 



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While I'm waiting for parts I decided to reassemble everything and bench mount it for testing.

The 1st picture is what I'm using for reference and it appears I have the second design. Shifting from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 works but I can't for the life of me get reverse to engage. I haven't removed the lockout assembly (parts 17, 18, 20) from the bracket assembly (part 19) and I'm sure the reverse lever interlock (part 23) is positioned correctly. In neutral the control lever (part 2) should move left and up to engage reverse but it won't move.

This is the first time I've disassembled a shifter and it seems pretty straight forward but I must be missing something.

9 pictures attached, hoping they load in sequence  pray.gif

 



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68 350 4speed 



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It's sometimes a bugger to get the shifter to sequence properly off the transmission. You go for reverse, and if one of the other two levers move even slightly out of neutral your path gets blocked. If you end off in 3rd or 4th to neutral, you have 2 gates (1/2+ shim) to cross to drop into the reverse lever notch.

I've looked a little further at your setup, and one thing I see is that the reverse gate shim is able to move back and forth in the housing. I remember when I put a new shim in mine, It had to be cut to basically fit without any back and forth. You might be hung on this shim.

my Muncie - 024b.jpg

Try and line up all the half moons or slots and see if you can get the lever across to reverse. All 3 levers and the shim will have it along with a hole in the body. it's a quick visual. You also have the neutral slot to insert a square tool to calibrate neutral. Look through it with a flashlight and see how things line up.

my Muncie - 005a.jpg

my Muncie - 026.jpg

shi.jpg



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 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 69 Parisienne Convertible.
 


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cdnpont wrote:

It's sometimes a bugger to get the shifter to sequence properly off the transmission. You go for reverse, and if one of the other two levers move even slightly out of neutral your path gets blocked. If you end off in 3rd or 4th to neutral, you have 2 gates (1/2+ shim) to cross to drop into the reverse lever notch.

I've looked a little further at your setup, and one thing I see is that the reverse gate shim is able to move back and forth in the housing. I remember when I put a new shim in mine, It had to be cut to basically fit without any back and forth. You might be hung on this shim.

my Muncie - 024b.jpg

Try and line up all the half moons or slots and see if you can get the lever across to reverse. All 3 levers and the shim will have it along with a hole in the body. it's a quick visual. You also have the neutral slot to insert a square tool to calibrate neutral. Look through it with a flashlight and see how things line up.

my Muncie - 005a.jpg

my Muncie - 026.jpg

shi.jpg


thanks Mark, I haven't checked in on this post lately so I'll try it again using following your suggestions.

My parts from Chicago Corvette came today and they are not the same as mine. If anyone can use them I'll sell for my cost and ship them no charge.

3 & 4 gear lever B7315, pivot shaft B7309



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Is the part anywhere close? No chance of modifying it to fit?

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)

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It's a bit thicker making everything so tight in the housing the levers won't move. Funny thing is the lever pictured in the exploded diagram looks more like mine than what they shipped. Picture of them side by side. New one is on the left.

Still can't engage reverse on the bench. I wonder if that's why it was locking up in the car. 



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68 350 4speed 



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If it was thinner is there a chance the rest would be workable?

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)



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I think so although it does not have the half moon notch used for alignment.



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