Cheap 4 Speed Parts & Progress Report

[MPRY1]

Seems like swapping over to a 4 speed is pretty popular. My car was converted to a 4 speed very badly by the previous owner and I have been gathering parts to make it right ever since I bought it.

Well I had finished getting all the big parts needed and it came down to the small stuff, firewall boot and retainer, linkage springs, fork boot etc... I did alot of searching and found the best prices at NPD. National Parts Depot. http://www.npdlink.com/ I have not ever heard them mentioned here so I figured I would. :grin:

They don't deal with Buicks as they are basically a Furd / Chebby outfit, but for all the Chevelle/ A body parts that will swap over they are by far the cheapest I have found. Best part was I ordered the stuff I needed on Monday morning, and it all showed up the next day!!!

BTW, I redid the firewall opening today on my car and put the new boot and retainer ring in. (I should have taken pictures of the original butcher work hole that used a rag tied around the rod for a seal) :laugh: I also put new bushings in the clutch and brake pedals. Things are finally coming together on my car. :grin:

Next week comes the big swap, scattershield/block saver, and a rebuilt M-20 with a Hurst Comp Plus shifter & linkage.

I can't wait to get it finished. :3gears:

I have to say that this forum and you fellow gear bangers have made gathering parts and info ALOT easier!! Thanks y'all. :TU:

[Pontiacpete]

Please post pictures as they are invaluable to those of us still doing the swap. I have heard pretty consistently that chevy 4speed linkage and such will not work on BOP cars. SOunds like you might prove one way or the other.

Please postem if you gotem! :Smarty:

[MPRY1]

Please post pictures as they are invaluable to those of us still doing the swap. I have heard pretty consistently that chevy 4speed linkage and such will not work on BOP cars. SOunds like you might prove one way or the other.

Please postem if you gotem! :Smarty:

Well, Chevy linkage will not work on the big block Buick cars, from what I have read,(no personal experience with them so I can only go by whats been posted) but the stuff I ordered from NPD is universal to all "A" bodies.

My car already had the proper fork, Z bar, pedals, and upper rod. I will be reusing most of these parts. I do have a "pin" style clutch fork that came with my Lakewood Bell which I will attempt to use instead of the clevis rod big block one. I see no reason why this style shouldn't work since the forks are the same length.

I should really be taking pictures of this process, but I must admit that the ones posted in the "Operation 4 speed" thread really have everything one would need to do the swap. :grin:

[MPRY1]

**Another Update**

I tore into the car yesterday to begin the swap from the Saginaw that the previous owner had installed to the Muncie.

Well things were alot more butchered then I realized. Alot of stuff for the clutch linkage was modified from other cars. There was no block stud on the engine and a bracket with a ball was fabricated and bolted to the BOP bellhousing. :error:

The floor was hacked up badly, to fit a Hurst shifter that was not correct for an "A" body so I will be fixing that as well.

I spent most of the afternoon having to drill and tap a hole for the Z bar block ball which my engine didn't have. I have heard many times that only the 75/76 blocks were not drilled. Well, I can tell you from experience that there must be other years in this as well so be ready to drill and tap if anyone undertakes an auto to manual conversion. My block has a 72/74 casting number and like I said, no tapped hole. :Dou:

I will be needing another Z bar as mine was one of those cobbed together pieces I mentioned above.

My question is do the repopped Z bars, like Dave Kliener's, Year One, or OPGi, come with the frame side ball or will I need to get one of those as well?

[greg davis]

The frame side ball stud was already placed inside the z-bar i bought from Dave Kliener.

I saw at BG he had a set of pedals on display but I didnt get to speak with him this year.

Sorry to hear about the block not being drilled and tapped for the ball stud. I bet that was fun.

Hang in there, it will be worth making it right.

[MPRY1]

**UPDATE**

I talked with Dave Kleiner over the phone, and I decided to order the Z bar and both linkage rods from him. I figured that it isn't worth the hassle of hoping the parts I already have work. This way everything will work. The only part I will reuse is my factory clevis type big block fork. :grin:

I should get the parts next week and hopefully by the weekend after I should be :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: . :bglasses:

I might even be able to drive it to Bruce and Shirl's picnic!!! :beer