I'm putting a manual LS1 style center console in my 86 auto TA. The part to the right of the shifter sits too high and won't let the shifter plate of the console sit properly. Also, the radio pod is squished and getting distorted in order for the console to sit properly. Whats the deal?

 

I know that you been on these board for somtime now and i not trying to question your knowledge neither but, do you think that its a direct bolt on?? I know for sure that it needs to be modified some bit to fit right. sorry if it sounds mean Good luck

 

Trimming the console is no big deal- I'm more concerned about the fact that this never came up that I'd need to butcher that shifting piece for it to look right. What a pain in the butt.

 

The fact that our auto shifters don't fit correctly with the 4th gen shift plates has been brought up several times. You can either drill new holes to move your shifter so it lines up correctly or buy a manual shift plate for the console.

Good luck

 

Actually mine was a direct bolt in, the only thing I had to do was cut off the triangle piece on the front of the console.

astoria18 - as he states in his post, he is using a manual console.

firebirdjosh - All you should need to do is to trim off the big triangle piece off of the front, and then use the 2 original 10mm bolts in the center console compartment to bolt it in.

 

My bad.

And mine from a 95 Camaro was pretty much a direct bolt in as well. Very little modification was needed, except to modify it to use the Megashifter shift plate.

 

after reading about the 4th gen console installation on this board, i assumed that it wasnt a direct bolt on. (Sorry )

 

It's a bolt in on the 85-92 Firebirds but not the 82-84 Birds and the Camaros.

 

If you are really having that much trouble, I will buy it from you and you can have my really good condition Firebird automatic one I have been searching forever for a fairly priced one.
Good luck and keep me in mind,
Dennis

 

in the firebirds its a bolt on, if ur using a manual console. Even then, it might look a tad out, (bulging from the shifter boot) if you're using an automatic console lid, its not a bolt on, no matter what you put it in. Getting the actual console base in, yeh, just about a bolt on, moving your shifter, drilling new holes, knocking down the trans tunnel, trimming your actual shifter, and then trimming the back of the console plate and making a million test fittings so you get it "just right" will take you a little bit of well earned and deserved time...but the end result is worth it...trust me, i know.

 

Hmm... I've got an 83' maro and i was told a 4'th gen console should bolt directly in.. i'm just finishing my t-56 swap so i was thinking of just getting the entire console, shifter plate and everything, would it be more hastle then it's worth? can i just get a 6 speed shifter plate that bolts right in? if so, where?

thanks for any input!

 

does ur 83 have seperate radio and center console? or is it like the later model maros where the centerconsole and radio pod are combined in one unit?

For a firebird, the radiopod and console are seperate, and as a result, all you do is remove your old console, and go forward with installing your new one.

Using a manual shifter console takes away some of the trouble of getting the console in place, while the automatic console will require more modification to the shifter, shifter mounting location, and shifter plate (top of the console)...

 

the console and the radio dash desk and stuff is a diffrent piece, yeah. will a 4'th gen console / shifter plate just bolt in?


EDIT: upon further searching i have discovered the console is not.. but the shifter plate?

 

that's a negative for your bolt in....you'll be looking at buying a firebird radio pod to replace your camaro console/pod combo....then installing the radio pod, and then installing your 4th gen console unit.

 

Does anyone make 6 speed shifter plates that could bolt in? aftermarket or anything?

 

of course they do....the factory

 

so the factory lt1 6 speed shifter plate will bolt into my 83, just confirming.. right? heh

 

They are NOT and have never been absolutely perfect bolt-in mods to the firebird. In order for it to look flush, in order for it to look perfect - you need to be able to take a dremel to it, take a hammer to it, get your imagination going.

Absolutely zero of these conversions that I've seen have looked perfect - and they all say they were direct bolt-ins. I think mine is pretty spot on, but I probably spent about 3 days worth of time getting everything just right.

 

um, you mean the shifter plate or console

 

All but one of my installs where direct bolt in with no problems.


T5 in my 86 Trans Am


Auto in my 88 Formula


T5 in my 88 Formula

I did have problems when I did this install though, the Megashifter would hit the frontal part of the shiftplate and pop it up when I'd ratchet down to drive quickly.

Auto in my 88 Formula with the B&M Megashifter

 

mine went in no problem aside from the cutting the triangle piece off like Dave said. I think it looks pretty damn good too.

 

mine fit...but took a little modification.

 

Thank you, I just did the swap myself last week. It came out of 2002 WS6 (manual). It wasnt hard, but it wasnt easy. I should have taken pictures of everything I had to trim down for you guys. but here goes.

Cut the front right metal part of my shifter (scary, but no harm done)
Trimmed down the shifter plate in the front right and in the front middle to clear parts of the shifter.
Cut a mouting piece in front of the console lid that was rubbing.
Made my own custom power window switch plate out of plexi.
Made a cover to cover the hole that normally houses the traction assist button in the newer cars.

Painted it metallic silver, and voila, one the best upgrades I have done yet!

Pics:

 

the areas that I have seen that do not fit properly unless some kind of clearancing is done:

**The upper console plate does not sit flush with the lower console (typically the manual shift plate)
**The shift boot is not fully secured to the shift plate
**Gap between 4th gen console and 3rd gen radio pod

This has mostly been evident wen people use the 98+ consoles. Maybe I'm just dead wrong here - but I've only seen one perfect install that I'd say looked like the factory put it there - and that genetleman did some fiberglassing to his shifter plate to get it just right.

 

I have no gap between the console and radio pod in fact I wish there was one so the cup holder would slide out more easily)

My shift boot, after some modification snapped into place and is very secure.

My shift plate sits perfectly on the driver side, but the passenger side is not perfect. I'm working on it, but I dont think there is much I can do.

Pics:

 

good job. That area is where mine doesn't sit flush either. It bothers me so much that I'm going to switch back to the original style consol with an alluminum shift plate (think Powermite).

 

I like powermite's.

Let me know how yours comes out.

 

think i had my 98+ console sitting flush all the way around. But there was excessive trimming made to the console lid, along with the factory shifter itself...can't really remember where the changes were made, and don't have that console in the car right now (couldn't find the 98+ dash to go w/ it).....good luck.