Reverse backdrive rod
 

is there a way to tell if the long backdrive rod is original or repro

I think the repos have numbers stamped in them and originals do not.
Also most of the repos are silver cad where as originals are dark grey or black phosphate.
My car has 100 % known originals and have no numbers.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.
Mike.

Yes, I assume you are talking about the SB 5773 rod

I have a few "long backdrive" rods for 69 chevelles that I believe are originals and they have numbers stamped into them

Everything in the Leman's Blue car that I cleaned up last year was original looking including the back drive. The car had 49,000 miles and nothing had looked to have ever been changed or restored. When I had the shifter and rods out to clean and inspect them I found nothing for numbers on any of the rods. Everything was totally original in appearance it all looked 100% factory as seen in the first 2 pictures below.

https://i.ibb.co/DzDgnPS/020.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/w7xKj0G/IMG-7099.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/qntDQQ4/IMG-0407.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/vQy01SN/IMG-0448.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/YyrzJ3J/IMG-0403.jpg

5773 rod
 

5773 rod