In my mind this seems to be a simple swap of shifters.

From the (B-body 71-74) bucket seat / non-console shifter (short stick) to the bench seat B-body 71-74 shifter which is about 5-6" longer.

I also see that they had different floor tunnels which leads to new linkage, etc...

Would anything other than a quick swap be needed if it stays a bucket car?

Wow, I'm surprised the floor tunnel is different. I've got a '70, so maybe things are different. I "thought" there was just one Hurst linkage and the only difference was the shifter. I mean, I've only seen one linkage type. I would think you could just swap the shifter arm and be done.

The bench seat shifter is closer to the dash than the console bucket seat shifter.The bench shifter is longer because it bends back so you can clear the dash.The shifter mount is also different it has a dogbone mount closer to the bell housing.The console is like an E body mounts closer to the tailshaft with the flat style mount.

I would like to convert to the bench seat shifter.

At a minimum. What is needed? I don't see a reason to change the floor tunnel if I can simply mount this shifter in the same location as the the short shifter.

Thanks
John

Going off memory I believe the minimum will be the 71-74 b body bench seat floor hump, the 71-74 bench seat shifter, handle, rods and dog bone. Being as the shifters from bench seat to bucket seats mounted in different places on the transmission that was the reason for the different floor humps. 71-74 B body bucket seat set up is basically the same as the 70-74 E body set up.
Give Brewers performance a call they can answer your questions they are very helpful.
Matt

Had originally done that. Got a response back stating it will bolt in. Just might sit further back than I might like.

So. Bolt in and see I guess.

Thanks everyone.

There are two tunnels listed; 2963107 (71 Body w/o console & E-body) and 3445010 (71 Body w/ console)

They have nothing to do with a bench seat or linkage

You want to put the bench seat shifter in place of the console/non console, bucket seat/E body shifter, and put it in the rear shifter location ... do you have the bucket seat slid all the way back and have tyrannosaurus rex like arms?

The bench seat shifter uses the forward B body location on the trans tail shaft , with an adapter that lifts the shifter up and moves it rearward so it will clear the dash, and the bench seat.

Shifter doesn't mount in the same spot. At least it's not supposed to. If you leave the shifter back there but put in the (way) longer bench style shift handle, you better have someone sitting in the back seat to do the shifting for you.

Like John said the Bench seat shifter mounted about 10-12" farther forward so it needed a handle that was set about 10-12" farther back

In this image the "B" body location is the bench seat location. The E body location is the bucket seat location.



This is a B Body Console Shifter Installed on the transmission



This is a Shifter Similar to the Bench seat shifter.



Notice the Bucket seat shifter is also mounted higher to help the linkage clear the transmission cross-member.

Putting a bench seat shifter in the location of a bucket seat shifter will result in lots of problems.
If you change just the handle, the handle top will be higher and farther back, meaning an uncomfortable shift.
If you change the shifter and the handle the linkage may not clear the transmission cross-member.

It will bolt in but probably not be what you want.

Why do you wish to make this particular swap? You have free parts? Think it might be fun? Current shifter too short?

Well. Sounds like a bad idea seeing that illustration.

Like the looks of the bench seat shifter but. Dislike the level of work even more

Thanks

the bench seat pic is incorrect for the 71-74 b body. for the 71-74 b body there is a dog bone that mounts the shifter half way between the front trans mount and the rear trans shifter mounts, and the linkage is longer than what is shown. I've got a complete set in my spare parts i'll try and get pic up tomorrow.

Bench seat 71-74 tunnel used because shifter is on the forward mount used with the dog bone adapter. This information is Right off brewers website.
FT161 FLOOR TUNNEL 1971-74 B-BODY (BENCH SEAT) 20 GAUGE
FT161 FLOOR TUNNEL 1971-74 B-BODY (BENCH SEAT) 20 GAUGE

Details



Steel 20 gauge floor tunnel fits 1971-1974 B-body cars using foward shifter location (bench seat) shifter opening 5 1/4" wide by 5 3/4" long. For bucket seat/console applications see our FT160 or FT160HD tunnel.


Price: $159.95
Add to cart

the bucket seat 71-74 B body or E body hump.



FT160 FLOOR TUNNEL 1970-4 E/1971-4 B-BODY (BUCKET SEAT) 20 GAUGE
FT160 FLOOR TUNNEL 1970-4 E/1971-4 B-BODY (BUCKET SEAT) 20 GAUGE

Details



Floor tunnel fits all 1970-74 E-body and 1971-74 B-body (bucket seat/console cars utilizing rear shifter location) pre-drilled for shifter boot and bezel. 20 gauge steel reproduction. For bench seat 1971-74 B-body applications see our FT161 steel tunnel.


Now shifters: SP71B NEW SHIFTER PACKAGE 1971-74 B-BODY PISTOL GRIP (BENCH SEAT/NON-CONOLE)

New shifter package for 1971-74 B-body cars, utilizing foward shifter location (Bench seat/Non-console). Includes new shifter mechanism (SM-BOLT-E), steel mounting plate & hardware (SMP668), linkage kit (LRS-LB), operating levers (OL-LB), and Hurst pistol grip shift lever PG611.

SP70E NEW SHIFTER PACKAGE 1970-72 E-BODY/1971-72 B-BODY PISTOL GRIP

New shifter package for 1970-72 E-body and 1971-72 B-body cars, utilizing rear shifter location (for console and non-console applications). Includes new shifter mechanism (SM-BOLT-E), billet mounting plate & hardware (SMP316), linkage kit (LRS-E), operating levers (OL-E), and Hurst pistol grip shift lever (PG612).
Maybe this will help

OK I fixed the earlier post. It should have said similar to but the idea is the same.

Now that I know you just like the looks then I see a way to make it work and be cost effective.

Leave the bucket seat floor pan as is but patch the existing hole for the shifter. Cut a hole in the tunnel farther forward to match the location of the bench seat shifter. (This will take some measure twice cut once engineering). Install an entire Bench Seat Shifter assembly (Linkage, Handle and all) on the forward location of the transmission.

Most transmission shifter mounting locations on the transmission extention housing were only tapped at the forward or reward location. You may have to tap the holes but not too much else and it's easily reversible.

#1 Thing is ignore those who claim it isn't Original. If you like it it's right.

That photo from Brewers above showing both shifters must only be a little deceiving then?

It, the bench shifter for the most part, seems to stand straight up with a little bit of a back bend then up again.


I do like the idea of just cutting a new hole. Of course that would also include the carpet.

If you are careful on how you cut and the carpet isn't that faded you can use carpet tape to patch the removed carpet into the old hole.