Nova with Long V Gate Shifter

Wayne Scraba · 08-12-2018, 07:49 PM

Hi. I'm building a 1970 Nova as a "for fun" car. The plan is to use a G Force G101A transmission along with a Long V Gate style shifter. I'm using BBC engine and trans mounts that shove everything over 1/2-inch or so to the passenger side. I know a big hole will be needed for the shifter, but does the side of the tunnel have to be cut away for the shift rods too? If you've done a '68-72 Nova, can you let me know what was required and maybe share some photos?

Thanks!

Wayne

Nmbr1GMfan · 08-12-2018, 08:00 PM

'76 nova small block Jerico, shifter at the rear of tailhousing.

Mike Pearson · 08-12-2018, 08:31 PM

Yes you will have to cut most of the drivers side of the tunnel out. I had to in my 68 Camaro

Wayne Scraba · 08-12-2018, 08:59 PM

Thanks Mike. Was yours a small block or big block application with the offset?

The '76 Nova that Todd posted has a different floor pan than the '68-72 ('73 and '74 too I'm guessing) cars. But thanks anyway Todd.

Wayne

Mike Pearson · 08-13-2018, 10:43 AM

Small block with standard mounts. I had the engine pushed as far as the headers would allow to the passenger side.

Wayne Scraba · 08-13-2018, 10:59 AM

Thanks Mike! I appreciate it.

Wayne

BILL TAYLOR · 08-13-2018, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Scraba

Thanks Mike! I appreciate it.

Wayne

When I put my Jerico in my '69 camaro 396, I had to make a little tunnel for the 3-4 shift rod. Now that I'm running a G-force, the extra clearance was needed also. You may have more of the tunnel cut-out than I did, but the 3-4 rod goes past there as you know. Bill Taylor.

Wayne Scraba · 08-13-2018, 09:21 PM

Thanks a bunch Bill. This is the stuff I needed to know.

Wayne

Rory McNeil · 08-14-2018, 12:47 AM

Not a Nova, but when I put Jerico DR4s and Long V gate shifters in my 78 Ford Fairmont and 85 Mustang, I sliced the top of the trans tunnels , near where the drivers side of the tunnel meets the top, bend the side wall straight up enough to clear the shifter linkage, and then welded in a strip along the top to fill in the gap, which in my case, was about 3 1/2 " wide. That said,an ealry FOX body Ford has a fairly narrow trans tunnel to start with, as the only manual transmissions available were internal rail shifter models, or a C4, with the AOD coming out in the mid 80s.Since a 70 Nova could have had a TH400 or Muncie with external shifter linkage, the tunnel is wider, but appears lower in height than the FOX body. Regardless, the side of the tunnel will need quite a bit of room for the high mounted shifter box unit.
Wayne, are you coming to Mission in 2 weeks for the "Smoke Fire & Thunder " race? If so, our stick group has races both days, so you could check out some trans tunnels there. Not sure if they are the same, but one of our guys has a 77 Camaro with a G101A and Long V Gate shifter.

Dissident · 08-14-2018, 01:29 AM

Howdy Wayne,

FWIW -

Don't have measurements on Long stuff albeit Cadillac equipment,
but a Hurst/Mr. Gasket V-gate shifter mechanism measures 7" long x 4" high x about 1" thick. That is the shifter mechanism only and does not include any bracket to bolt to transmission.

Good luck on your build old buddy.

Regards,
HB2
Dissident

08-12-2018, 07:49 PM	#1
Wayne Scraba Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 139 Likes: 266 Liked 147 Times in 42 Posts	Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Hi. I'm building a 1970 Nova as a "for fun" car. The plan is to use a G Force G101A transmission along with a Long V Gate style shifter. I'm using BBC engine and trans mounts that shove everything over 1/2-inch or so to the passenger side. I know a big hole will be needed for the shifter, but does the side of the tunnel have to be cut away for the shift rods too? If you've done a '68-72 Nova, can you let me know what was required and maybe share some photos? Thanks! Wayne

08-12-2018, 08:00 PM	#2
Nmbr1GMfan VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1,766 Likes: 1,197 Liked 1,957 Times in 492 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter '76 nova small block Jerico, shifter at the rear of tailhousing. __________________ Todd Greene

08-12-2018, 08:31 PM	#3
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,318 Likes: 546 Liked 1,629 Times in 502 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Yes you will have to cut most of the drivers side of the tunnel out. I had to in my 68 Camaro __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

08-12-2018, 08:59 PM	#4
Wayne Scraba Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 139 Likes: 266 Liked 147 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Thanks Mike. Was yours a small block or big block application with the offset? The '76 Nova that Todd posted has a different floor pan than the '68-72 ('73 and '74 too I'm guessing) cars. But thanks anyway Todd. Wayne

08-13-2018, 10:43 AM	#5
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,318 Likes: 546 Liked 1,629 Times in 502 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Small block with standard mounts. I had the engine pushed as far as the headers would allow to the passenger side. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

08-13-2018, 10:59 AM	#6
Wayne Scraba Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 139 Likes: 266 Liked 147 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Thanks Mike! I appreciate it. Wayne

08-13-2018, 09:21 PM	#8
Wayne Scraba Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 139 Likes: 266 Liked 147 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Thanks a bunch Bill. This is the stuff I needed to know. Wayne

08-14-2018, 12:47 AM	#9
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,257 Likes: 244 Liked 937 Times in 258 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Not a Nova, but when I put Jerico DR4s and Long V gate shifters in my 78 Ford Fairmont and 85 Mustang, I sliced the top of the trans tunnels , near where the drivers side of the tunnel meets the top, bend the side wall straight up enough to clear the shifter linkage, and then welded in a strip along the top to fill in the gap, which in my case, was about 3 1/2 " wide. That said,an ealry FOX body Ford has a fairly narrow trans tunnel to start with, as the only manual transmissions available were internal rail shifter models, or a C4, with the AOD coming out in the mid 80s.Since a 70 Nova could have had a TH400 or Muncie with external shifter linkage, the tunnel is wider, but appears lower in height than the FOX body. Regardless, the side of the tunnel will need quite a bit of room for the high mounted shifter box unit. Wayne, are you coming to Mission in 2 weeks for the "Smoke Fire & Thunder " race? If so, our stick group has races both days, so you could check out some trans tunnels there. Not sure if they are the same, but one of our guys has a 77 Camaro with a G101A and Long V Gate shifter. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

08-14-2018, 01:29 AM	#10
Dissident Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Colorado hills Posts: 123 Likes: 11 Liked 73 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Nova with Long V Gate Shifter Howdy Wayne, FWIW - Don't have measurements on Long stuff albeit Cadillac equipment, but a Hurst/Mr. Gasket V-gate shifter mechanism measures 7" long x 4" high x about 1" thick. That is the shifter mechanism only and does not include any bracket to bolt to transmission. Good luck on your build old buddy. Regards, HB2 Dissident