3 Speed Saginaw Questions

[G8rN@te61]

I have a 3 speed saginaw floor shift in my 61 step side. Its hooked up to a 250IL6. Years ago the original 236IL6 blew and my uncle in his "wisdom" switched it along with the engine from 3 on tree to the floor. No idea why. Anyways, I don't mind the floor shift but the shifter has a really long throw and almost hits the dash, seems to be a little wore out, and the rubber shift boot on there is ripping from the long shifts.

Can anyone recommend a replacement shift kit, arm, and boot that would be a better setup? I think I will remove engine over winter to change out to an offy, 12bolt dual exhaust and edelbrock carb so thinking why not do this at same time.

Also, on another note, when at speed and I lift off the gas I feel a vibration through the shifter as if something is not aligned. Could that be U-joint? It goes away under throttle....

[geezer#99]

Your vibration could be motor mounts or pinion angle.
How’s your motor and trans mounted?

Any 3 speed shifter will have a long throw.
You could modify the handle to make it work better.
What shifter is it?

Pics help.

[G8rN@te61]

not sure where it came from.

[geezer#99]

Looks like a ‘spectre’ handle.
That was the cheapest and weakest of the ones available.
Mr. Gasket was a bit better.
Hurst was the best.

[G8rN@te61]

Figures. My uncle is a notorious shade tree "engineer". I am thinking on this shifter and shift kit:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HURST-53886...b/302569617734

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hurst-36700...r/163408392770

thoughts?

-Nate

[geezer#99]

While those are good parts they might not work with the shifter you’ve got.
If the stick bolts onto the shifter housing with two bolts then you could use the handle.
The spectre shifter didn’t have a bolt on stick.
And that install kit is for a hurst. Likely won’t work with yours.
You need a hurst mastershift with install kit. The bench seat shifter handle would work to replace the stick on the hurst.
Here’s the hurst.

https://www.summitracing.com/int/par...6809/overview/

Mind you even with a shifter change your shifter throws won’t change. They’ll still be long.

[G8rN@te61]

Ya I forgot to mention the master shifter too..

Now that I think of it the current handle is bolted on vertically with 2 bolts the same as hurst.... Unfortunately the linkage is about done so it all needs to be replaced. Even the saginaw needs rebuilt because it has a very minor leak.

[AcampoDave]

I got tired of those cheesy rubber boots so I reused the trim ring and sewed up a cone style boot out of fake leather like the newer cars use. It's held up with a zip tie on the stick. I don't know how to sew but somehow I managed it with a needle and thread.

[Ken Cook]

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

I got tired of those cheesy rubber boots so I reused the trim ring and sewed up a cone style boot out of fake leather like the newer cars use. It's held up with a zip tie on the stick. I don't know how to sew but somehow I managed it with a needle and thread.

If you put the zip tie on the inside it will not show. S
Slide the boot onto the rod inside out. Then tie it and roll the boot back over the zip tie. That's the way it was don on a 2010 Camaro I had. It will look factory.