Nova 4 Speed Hole Location

[NorCam]

Can any of the Nova guys (Marlin or Tom) tell me if the bench seat cars had the hole cut in the stock tunnel, or if I'm supposed to have a formed hump where the shifter goes through. This car was cut up for the Ram Rod that was in it and I just sectioned in a patch plate.

I'd like to know if I'll need to add a formed hump before I finish welding it in. Or did they just cut the shifter hole through the stock tunnel on 70 Nova's? Also, anyone have a hole measurement they can share? Location and size if anyone knows.

Thanks in advance.

[L78steve]

Formed hump was for console only.

[Schonyenko2]

That is correct. You do have extra holes there that you might weld up.

[NorCam]

All done welding it in now and also filled the holes.

Thank you for the info on the shifter opening. I'll mount the trans and mark it out for the hole.

[Igosplut]

The non-console shifter opening in a third generation Nova was cut with a torch.

[Flying Undertaker]

Graeme: Don Martens here. I own a very low mileage '71 Nova bench seat car that also had a Verti-gate or Ram Rod shifter in it back in the day. Hurst Competition Plus shifter now resides there.

[NorCam]

Hello Don,

I have a complete Comp Plus 3138 sitting here as a spare. It has the offset for a Camaro and would probably work great but I want a short throw shifter in this car and opted to use a Hurst Super Shifter with the 8" handle. Should look good in there and function well too.

[WILMASBOYL78]

As mentioned the hole was cut with a torch, and not very nice.

The opening is offset on the tunnel towards the driver...there are some folks on Steve's Site who have listed the exact dimensions before and images. I also noticed that the original factory paper floor insulation had a 'knock out' for the shifter hole...there were perforated lines showing the exact spot. They used the same paper for both floor shift and column shift cars...of course locating an original one may be difficult. I wonder if repro ones have this feature???

A Super Shifter may require a little massaging to the opening to get the room needed. I installed one ages ago in my first L78 car, a bench seat 70...seems we needed to enlarge the opening. Of course, that was 45 years ago

-wilma

[NorCam]

Thank you for that info Wilma. As always, it's very much appreciated!

Earl Haubrich was also kind enough to send me this picture (below) of his L78 4-speed tunnel last evening. Looks very original and completely unmolested. It shows the hole a couple inches ahead of the support brace which is where I thought it would be. My car didn't come with the original Nova shifter and everything in terms of the Ram Rod tunnel patch work was hastily performed.

Now that I have welded in and sealed up a metal patch, I'm waiting for this Hurst Super Shifter to arrive from Summit before I cut the opening to match. Being that it has no offset and a straight little stick, it should be close to the original hole location but likely smaller in diameter? I'm going to clean up and paint the underside of the tunnel today and will be ready to drop the engine and trans in tomorrow. I'll cut a new hole early next week when the rest of the parts arrive.

Here's Earl's car that he sent me reference pictures of. Thanks Earl.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I think you will find the Super Shifter does not have the amount of offset the factory Muncie shifter has...and the Hurst unit will mount directly to the tranny unlike the Muncie. So, I'm thinking the shifter position will be closer to a factory console car install...much more centered on the tunnel.

*I would mount the shifter to the tranny and then 'sort of' line it up with the floor on a jack, mark it and start cutting a little at a time...I think you will see what I'm talking about regarding the location.

-wilma