Muncie shifters tended to be sloppy and sometimes jam in two gears at once. Not a pretty picture. Yes, they did have a "T" on the shifter shaft just below the knob that you had to pull up to allow shifting to reverse. Kind of like a reverse lock out.
Most guys tossed these and replace them with Hurst Competition + shifters. They were much better, but still not perfect. Put a T handle on a Hurst and it is pretty good. If you want nostalgia, go for the Muncie. If you want to enjoy shifting, get the Hurst comp +.




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Dave
69 Chevelle
454 500+ HP
M21 4spd.

"Fire all your guns at once and
Explode into space."
Steppenwolf "Born to be Wild"

 

many of us have grafted Muncie handles onto Hurst shifters for the look and the postive feel.

 

Chuck,
The 68-72 MUNCIE shifters were OK when new. Almost, but not quite, as good as a hurst. In time they went bad, and the older and more used they got, the worse they became, until finally they were not much better than junk.
The last year for a T-handle for reverse was 67. The 68-72 were a flat handle, with MUNCIE stamped on them. To go into reverse, a person had to push with a little extra effort toward the left to overide a spring for going up into reverse (just like you do with a Hurst). Here is what I have done with several 68-72 cars and it works beautiful and looks just like it did the day it left the factory. I use the Hurst shifter which is made specifically for a 68-72 Chevelle. It is made with a dog leg so that the handle comes up perfectly through the original boot (bench or console). Then the Hurst handle is bolted to the shifter with 2 bolts. A FACTORY 68-72 MUNCIE handle has a 90deg angle on the bottom of the handle (or L shaped) with 2 holes going down. I cut off the angle right at the bend, drill 2 holes to match the holes in the shifter (drill one hole first, install a bolt, then position it where you want it and drill the second hole) and bolt it up. After the boot, console, etc are installed you have the looks of a factory shifter and the smooth, positive shift of a Hurst.
Now, let me say this, the purists don't like it when they here that I cut off the end of a MUNCIE handle, but ask me if I care.
If you choose to do this, it may take some shopping around to find a MUNCIE flat handle, but in my book it is worth it. If you are at all interested in seeing one of these Muncie/Hurst combos, I will be at Chevellabration with my 70 conv.

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Tom Parsons

 

I did the same thing as Tom. Works great. Muncie handles ARE hard to find. Saw some at Super Chevy swap meet for $100. I paid $50 for mine.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS

 

Thanks guys and yes Tom I will be at Chevellabration with my 70 SS 454 that has the 4 speed. I look forward to seeing your car and understanding better how it works and looks. If anybody out there has a muncie shifter handle for a 68-72 I am in the market to buy. Email me at he above address.

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1970 SS 454 Hardtop
1970 SS 396 El Camino
1970 SS 396 Hardtop
1986 SS Choo Choo Elky
TC Gold #155

 

Chuck,
I'll have a blue 70 Malibu conv with a CI hood.

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Tom Parsons

 

Also, keep in mind on your search...that the muncie shifter for a bucket seat/console car is different than a bench seat car shifter.

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Dave C.
70 402 4spd Monte Carlo (factory)
72 350 Monte Carlo
69 427 Corvette roadster
86 Grand National
96 Impala SS

 

Chuck,

FWIW, there are a couple of Muncie handles currently up for auction on eBay. I know one is for a bench seat car, not sure about the other one.

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Bill Pritchard
69 SS396 Convertible
"Doing my part to help the disadvantaged - My Chevelle was for sale by a blatant liar. Didn't trust him, so I hired a blind man to inspect it before I bought it."

 

Thanks Bill, I will look on Ebay. I need a bucket seat shifter.

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1970 SS 454 Hardtop
1970 SS 396 Hardtop
1986 SS Choo Choo Elky
TC Gold #155

 

Thanks Bill, I will try Ebay. I need a bucket seat shifter.

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1970 SS 454 Hardtop
1970 SS 396 Hardtop
1986 SS Choo Choo Elky
TC Gold #155

 

Almost forgot...Ground Up is also reproducing the entire muncie shifter assembly for either bench or bucket cars, and I was told that they would also be selling just the handle seperately as well. You may want to check with them.

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Dave C.
70 402 4spd Monte Carlo (factory)
72 350 Monte Carlo
69 427 Corvette roadster
86 Grand National
96 Impala SS

 

Thanks Dave, I will check with them in the next day or so and check their catalog tonight.