B&M PRO RATCHET SHIFTER User Manual

Inst allation Instructions

Pro Ratchet Shifter

Part Nos. 80840 and 80841

© B&M Racing & Performace Products 1993

The B&M Pro Ratchet shifter is a full
ratchet shifter that is equally at home on the
strip and on the street. It will work with most
popular three speed automatic transmissions.
It has a positive ratchet design so that you will
not miss a shift, either up or down. It works
with both standard and reverse pattern valve
bodies. It has a unique “one hand” reverse
lockout feature that meets NHRA and IHRA
requirements. You don’t need to use two
hands to shift into reverse.

Part No. 80840 is for use only with alumi­num Powerglide transmissions. 80841 is for
use with three speed automatic transmis­sions: GM TH-400, TH-350, TH-250 and
TH-200; Ford C-4 and C-6; and Chrysler
1966 and later Torqueflite A-727 and A-904.

Your B&M Pro Ratchet comes equipped
with a Neutral safety and backup light
switches, transmission brackets and levers
and a five foot shift cable. Optional shifter
cables in 2 ft. (80830),3 ft. (80831), 4 ft.
(80832), 8 ft. (80834), 10 ft. (80835) and 12
ft. (80836) are also available.

Please read the instructions and review
the illustrations thoroughly before beginning
the installation.

The mechanical components of this
shifter are precision made and assembled at
our factory. Any modification or disassembly
of these parts can cause the shifter to mal­function and will void the warranty. You should
disassemble only those items outlined in the
instructions.

The vehicle should be about 2 feet off the
ground for ease of installation. Use jack
stands, wheel ramps or a vehicle lift. Make
sure the vehicle is firmly supported before
attempting to work on it.
IMPORTANT: If your vehicle is equipped
with a locking steering column. Securing the
column lock lever in the engine compart-

ment in the full up position will allow the
steering wheel to be locked and unlocked
and the ignition key to be removed.
WARNING: This allows the steering wheel
to be locked WHENEVER the ignition key is
turned to the “lock” position WHILE THE
VEHICLE IS MOVING, OR AT ANY OTHER
TIME. Securing the steering column lock
lever in any other position will both PRE­VENT the steering wheel from locking and
removal of the ignition key.

INS TALLATION

STEP 1. Remove stock shift linkage;
Column Shifters: Remove all rods, levers or

cables from column and transmission. Place
column shift lever in “Park” position. Remove
pin holding shift lever in column and remove
lever assembly. If your vehicle is equipped
with a locking steering column, secure the
column lock lever in the full up position.
WARNING: This allows the steering wheel
to be locked and ignition key removed WHEN­EVER the ignition key is turned to the “lock”
position WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOV­ING, OR AT ANY OTHER TIME.
Console Shifters: Remove shifter mecha­nism from console. Disconnect rod or cable
from transmission. Remove cable bracket if
equipped. If there is a cable or linkage from
the console shifter or transmission to the
steering column lock, it must be blocked in
the “Park” position as described above.
NOTE: Shifter installation may require con­sole modification or complete console re­moval depending on the space available in
your vehicle.
STEP 2. Pull the carpet, if any, away from
the floorboard where the shifter is to be
mounted. If the vehicle has a bench type
seat, move seat to the full forward position.
Place the shifter on the floor with the stick

shifted to the rearmost position. Locate the
shifter for ease and convenience of opera­tion. See figure 2 for shifter dimensions.
(The rear mounting hole of the mechanism
must be at least 1¾” from the front of the seat
when the seat is in the full forward position.)
Make sure the knob clears the dash with the
shifter in the forward position. Mark the posi­tion of four mounting holes on the floor.
STEP 3. Drill four 9/32" mounting holes
where marked. Temporarily mount the shifter
in place using washers as required to get it
level. Mark the location for the shifter cable
hole, 3" ahead of the front shifter mounting
hole. Drill or cut 1½” diameter cable hole in
floorboard. NOTE: Some floorboards are
extremely thin and will not adequately sup­port the shifter mechanism when bolted to
the floor. For those vehicles we recommend
that you fabricate a stiffener plate for addi­tional strength.
STEP 4. Install (but do not secure) carpet
back to it’s original position. Cut holes in the
carpet for the mounting holes and a 1½” slit
for the cable. DO NOT use a drill bit to make
holes in carpet.
STEP 5. Install the cable on shifter as
shown in figure 1. The cable attachment tab
should be bolted to the outside surface of the
shifter base using ¼” X ½” bolt, lock washer
and nut. Install E-Ring to secure the cable.
STEP 6. Install the backup light switch and
the neutral safety switch in place on the
shifter mechanism. Install using two #4-40
screws, nuts and lock washers, as shown in
figure 1. If necessary bend the fingers slightly
so that they engage the slots. Beware, Over
tightening the switch attachment screws will
crack the switch housings. Adjust switches
so that the neutral safety switch (the lower
switch) operates in Neutral and Park only
and so that the backup light switch (the

Printed in U.S.A.

9500513-02

Cover

Pointer

Reverse lockout

handle

Cable

E-ring

Figure 1

upper switch) operates in Reverse only by
loosening screws and sliding switch as re­quired. Then retighten screws.
STEP 7. Install the shifter mechanism into
vehicle. Slide the shifter cable through carpet
and hole in floor. Bolt shifter down using four
¼” hex bolts and nuts. If required use ¼”
washers as shims between the shifter mecha­nism and the floor to level shifter. Do not
bend the shifter mounting tabs. ROUTE

CABLE AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 3, AVOID
SHARP BENDS WHICH WILL KINK AND
DAMAGE CABLE. Use cable clamps or tie

wraps to secure the cable housing to the
chassis to avoid contact with hot engine or
exhaust system. Seal cable hole shut to
avoid the entry of exhaust fumes or water.
For General Motors vehicles with three speed
transmissions go to Step 8, For Ford ve-
hicles got to Step 13, For Chrysler vehicles
go to Step 19. For aluminum Powerglide
equipped vehicles go to Step 25.

Knob

Backup light

switch

(Upper)

Neutral safety

switch

(Lower)

GENERAL MOTORS

STEP 8. If you have not already done so,

remove the stock selector lever nut and selec­tor lever. Discard stock lever and stock shifter
linkage. Install B&M selector lever in position
using stock selector lever nut, see figure 4.
Torque nut to 23 lb. ft. The lever should move
smoothly from front to rear with a positive click
in each gear position.
STEP 9. Remove two transmission oil pan
bolts from the middle of the left side of the oil
pan. Install cable bracket in position, see fig-
ure 4.) The bracket must be installed with two
spacers between the pan and bracket. (If your
transmission is equipped with a cast alumi­num oil pan, these spacers should be omitted
however the cable bracket may have to be
modified.) Install the two 5/16-18 x 1.00" bolts
supplied and tighten 12-13 lb-ft. Do not over­tighten as this can damage pan gasket.

STEP 10. Route the shifter cable according to

figure 3. Avoid kinks and sharp bends and

route the cable away from hot engine or
exhaust parts.

Remove the two rubber boots, one
large nut, and a large lockwasher her from
the threaded end of the shifter cable. Slide
the end of the cable into the cable bracket,
Install large nut and lockwasher loosely
over end of cable. Install two rubber boots
onto end of cable. Install the swivel on the
threaded end of the cable and position it in
the center of the threaded portion.
STEP 11. Move the transmission selector
lever by hand to full rear position (LOW).
Operate the shifter lever to the low gear
position (ratcheted all the way back). Ad­just the large nuts on the cable so that the
swivel will slide into the rear hole on the
selector lever. Tighten the large nuts com­pletely. Be sure that the swivel will slide
freely in and out of the hole in the selector
lever. Note: The shifter will not operate

correctly unless the rear hole in the
shift lever is used.

Leave the swivel out of the hole and
move the selector lever to PARK, all the
way forward. Also move the shifter to PARK
position (all the way forward). Reinsert the
swivel into the rear hole in the selector
lever. Check to see that the swivel will slide
freely in and out of the rear hole in the
selector lever in this position. If it does not
slip in freely, adjust the swivel slightly until it
will slip into the hole in the lever.

Move the shifter back to the low gear
position and check that the swivel will still
slide easily in and out of the rear hole in the
selector lever. (If you do not use the rear
hole in the lever, it will be impossible to
correctly adjust the cable.) Operate shifter
through all gear positions. Check to make
sure swivel will slide in and out of the rear
selector lever hole in each gear position.
The shift cable is now correctly adjusted.
Install cotter key supplied with shifter into
swivel and spread key ends.

If you have a problem, DO NOT FORCE
THE SHIFTER, this will damage the cable,
the shifter or the transmission. Simply start
at the beginning and check all your steps.
STEP 12. On GM vehicles, the Neutral
safety/backup light switch is located on the
console shifter or steering column. Locate
and identify the Neutral safety switch (the
engine will not crank unless these wires are
connected together). Disconnect Battery
ground cable before beginning to wire the
Neutral safety switch. Reroute the wires to
the B&M Pro Ratchet.

On GM vehicles the neutral safety switch
may be located on the shifter (steering
column or console), or it may be a me­chanical interlock in the steering column
that prevents the key from turning to the
Start position unless the shifter is in the
Park or Neutral position. Identify the type of

2

neutral safety system you have. If the key will
not turn to the Start position unless the stock
shifter is in Park or Neutral, you have a
mechanical interlock, otherwise you have a
neutral safety switch. With either type, dis­connect battery ground cable to prevent
accidental shorts. If you have a neutral safety
switch, locate and identify the neutral safety
wires (engine will not crank unless these
wires are connected together). Extend the
wires from the GM switch to the shifter. Strip
1/4" insulation off the wires and install slip-on
terminals supplied in kit. Crimp terminals
onto wires using a crimping tool or pliers.
Connect the Neutral safety wires to the
LOWER switch and the backup light wires to
the UPPER switch, see figure 1. Tape termi-
nal connections and all other connections to
prevent shorts.

If you have a mechanical interlock cut the
wire that goes from the start position on the
ignition switch to the solenoid on the starter.
This wire is usually a 10 or 12 gauge purple
wire. Run wires from both ends of the cut
wire to the B&M Pro Ratchet. Put slip-on
terminals on the ends of the lengthened wire.
Crimp terminals onto wires using a crimping
tool or pliers. Connect the wires to the
LOWER switch on the shifter. The backup

Figure 2

Figure 3

3

GM cable bracket

Spacer

Use these two holes for
TH-400 transmission. Use
other two holes for other
GM transmissions

Spacer

Cable swivel
Cotter pin
(Use rear hole)

light switch is usually located on the steering
column behind the instrument panel.
Lengthen these wires and run them to the
UPPER switch on the shifter. Tape terminal
connections and all other connections to
prevent shorts.

Reconnect battery ground cable, dis­connect coil wire and set the parking brake.
Check switch operation by attempting to
start motor in each shifter position. The

starter must crank only when shifter is in
the Park or Neutral position. Check

Backup light operation when the shifter is
shifted to the Reverse position. Adjust
switches if required. Reconnect coil wire. Go

GM lever

5/16 x 1" bolt and spacer
(Metric trans use M8 x 25 bolt)

7/16" nut

GM cable bracket (Trimming of bracket
required if used on cast aluminum pan)

Figure 4

to Step 37.

FORD

STEP 13. If you have not already done

so, remove the nut and lockwasher holding
the downshift linkage onto the downshift
lever shaft. The downshift lever is the outer
lever on C-4, C-5 and C-6 transmissions.
Pull the lever off the shaft and allow the
linkage to hang free. Remove and discard
stock shift linkage rods. Some C-6, late C-4
and all C-5 transmissions have a neutral
safety/backup light switch on the transmis­sion shift lever. If your transmission is so
equipped, remove the two bolts holding the

1/4 x 1-1/2" bolt, lockwasher and nut

switch in place and slide it off the shift shaft.
Disconnect the switch at the factory plug and
discard it.

STEP 14. Install the B&M selector lever, see
figure 5 or 6. Note: The B&M lever must

point downward for proper operation. If the
stock shift lever on your transmission points
down, you will have to remove the lower part
of the stock arm by cutting it off to clear the
B&M lever, see figure 5. Install B&M selec­tor lever onto shift shaft of transmission. Align
selector lever so when it points straight down
it travels equal arcs in both directions from
center, then tighten ¼”-20 x 1 ½” pinch bolt
and nut. The lever should travel smoothly

Ford lever

Cable swivel
Cotter pin

Figure 5

C-4 cable bracket

4

7/16" nut

Remove shaded
portion of lever

from front to back with a positive click in each
gear position. Make sure O-ring is in position
on downshift shaft and install downshift lever
in position on shaft. Install lockwasher and
nut and tighten securely. Downshift lever
must operate smoothly. Reconnect down­shift linkage.

STEP 15. Cable bracket installation:
C-4, C-5: Remove the two lower bolts from

the rear servo cover. Install cable bracket in
position, see figure 5. Install two servo cover
bolts as removed and tighten 12-13 ft. lb. Do
not overtighten as this can distort servo cover.
C-6: Remove the two transmission oil pan
bolts from the left rear corner of the oil pan.
Install cable bracket in position, see figure 6.
with two spacers between the pan and
bracket. (If your transmission is equipped
with a cast aluminum oil pan, these spacers
are omitted.) Install the two 5/16-18 x 1.00"
bolts supplied and tighten 12-13 ft-lb. Do not
overtighten as this can damage pan gasket.
STEP 16. Route the shifter cable according
to figure 3 Avoid kinks and sharp bends and
route the cable away from hot engine or
exhaust parts.

Remove the two rubber boots, one large
nut, and a large lockwasher from the threaded
end of the shifter cable. Slide the end of the
cable into the cable bracket, Install large nut
and lockwasher loosely over end of cable.
Install two rubber boots onto end of cable.
Install the swivel on the threaded end of the
cable and position it in the center of the
threaded portion.
STEP 17. Move the transmission selector
lever by hand to full rear position (LOW).
Place the shifter lever to the low gear position
(ratcheted all the way back). Adjust the large
nuts on the cable so that the swivel will slide
into the hole on the selector lever. Tighten
the large nuts completely. Be sure that the
swivel will slide freely in and out of the hole in
the selector lever.

With the swivel in the selector lever,
move the shifter to PARK position, as far
forward as the shifter will go without forcing
it. (The shifter has further travel that is used
to reach the GM park position but is not used
on Ford transmissions. Trying to force the
cable will damage the cable.) The shift lever
on the transmission should be all the way
forward. Check to see that the swivel will slide
freely in and out of the hole in the lever in this
position. If it does not slip in freely, adjust the
swivel slightly until it will slip into the hole in the
lever in both LOW and PARK positions.
Operate shifter through all gear positions.
Check to make sure swivel will slide in and
out of the selector lever hole in each gear
position. Install cotter key supplied with
shifter into swivel and spread key ends.

If you have a problem, DO NOT FORCE
THE SHIFTER, this will damage the cable,
the shifter or the transmission. Simply start at
the beginning and carefully check all your

1/4" x 1-1/2" bolt,
lockwahsher, nut

Ford
lever

Cable swivel
Cotter pin

5/16" x 1" bolt
and spacer

Figure 6

steps.
IMPORTANT: Do not froce the shifter to
over travel into the Park position. This will
move the shifter into GM Park position and
will damage the cable or transmission.
STEP 18. On Ford vehicles, the Neutral
safety/Backup light switch is located on the
transmission (or on the steering column on
some early vehicles). If the vehicle has an
AOD transmission the Neutral safety/Backup
light switches on the B&M shifter will NOT be
used. The Neutral safety/Backup light switch
on the AOD transmissions will continue to
function normally.

On the C-4 and C-5 transmissions it is
necessary to completely remove the stock
Neutral safety/Backup light switch in order to
install the B&M transmission shift lever. On
C-4, C-5 and C-6 transmissions, it will be
necessary to hook up the Neutral safety/
Backup light switches on the B&M Pro
Ratchet. Locate and identify the Neutral
safety (the engine will not crank unless these
wires are connected together), and Reverse
light wires. Disconnect Battery ground cable
before beginning to wire the Neutral safety
and Reverse light switches. Reroute the
wires to the B&M Pro Ratchet . Strip 1/4"
insulation off wires and install supplied slip­on terminals. Crimp terminals onto wires
using a crimping tool or pliers. Connect the
Neutral safety wires to the LOWER switch
and the Reverse light wires to the UPPER
switch, see figure 1. Tape terminal connec-
tions to prevent shorts. Reconnect battery
ground cable, disconnect coil wire and set
the parking brake. Check switch operation
by attempting to start motor in each shifter

C-6 cable
bracket

7/16" nut

position. The starter must crank only when
shifter is in the Park or Neutral position.

Check Backup light operation when the shifter
is shifted to the Reverse position. Adjust
switches if required. Reconnect coil wire. Go
to Step 37.

CHRYSLER

STEP 19. If you have not already done so,

loosen pinch bolt on throttle lever on trans­mission. This is the lever on the small diam­eter shaft. Pry the lever off with a screwdriver
and allow linkage to hang free. Remove and
discard stock shift lever and stock shift link­age. Install B&M selector lever in position and
tighten pinch bolt securely, see figure 7.
Make sure lever is not pushed down so far as
to touch the transmission case. This will
cause the lever to bind on the case. The lever
should travel smoothly from front to back with
a positive click in each gear position. Install
stock throttle lever in position on small diam­eter shaft as removed and tighten pinch bolt
securely. Throttle lever must operate
smoothly.
STEP 20. Remove the two transmission
oil pan bolts directly below the shift lever.
Install cable bracket in position, see figure 7.
with two spacers between the pan and
bracket. (If your transmission is equipped
with a cast aluminum oil pan these spacers
can be omitted.) Install the two 5/16-18 x

1.00" pan bolts supplied and tighten to 12­13ft-lb. Do not overtighten as this can dam­age pan gasket.
STEP 21. Route the shifter cable according
to figure 3 . Avoid kinks and sharp bends and
route the cable away from hot engine or
exhaust parts.

5

7/16" nut

Chrysler cable
bracket

5/16" x 1" bolt and spacer

Figure 7

Remove the two rubber boots, one large
nut, and a large lockwasher from the threaded
end of the shifter cable. Slide the end of the
cable into the cable bracket, Install large nut
and lockwasher loosely over end of cable.
Install two rubber boots onto end of cable.
Install the swivel on the threaded end of the
cable and position it in the center of the
threaded portion.
STEP 22. Move the transmission selector
lever by hand to full forward position (LOW).
Place the shifter lever to the low gear position
(ratcheted all the way back). Adjust the large
nuts on the cable so that the swivel will slide
into the hole on the selector lever. Tighten
the large nuts completely. Be sure that the
swivel will slide freely in and out of the hole in
the selector lever.

With the swivel in the selector lever,
move the shifter to PARK position, as far
forward as the shifter will go without forcing
it. (The shifter has further travel that is used
to reach the GM park position but is not used
on Chrysler transmissions. Trying to force
the shifter will damage the cable.) The shift
lever on the transmission should be all the
way back. Check to see that the swivel will
slide freely in and out of the hole in the lever
in this position. If it does not slip in freely,
adjust the swivel slightly until it will slip into the
hole in the lever in both LOW and PARK
positions. Operate shifter through all gear
positions. Check to make sure swivel will
slide in and out of the selector lever hole in
each gear position. Install cotter key sup­plied with shifter into swivel and spread key
ends.

If you have a problem, DO NOT FORCE
THE SHIFTER, this will damage the cable,
the shifter or the transmission. Simply start at

Chrysler lever

1/4" x 1-1/2" bolt,
lockwasher, nut

Cable swivel

Cotter pin

the beginning and carefully check all your
steps.
IMPORTANT: Do not froce the shifter to
over travel into the Park position. This will
move the shifter into GM Park position and
will damage the cable or transmission.
STEP 23. Check operation of throttle link­age again. Linkage must operate smoothly
with no bind. All transmissions using auto­matic valve bodies must have the throttle
linkage connected and operating or trans­mission damage will result.
STEP 24. Neutral Safety/Backup Light
switch.
’66-’68: The Neutral safety switch will con­tinue to function normally. It will not be nec­essary to hook up the Neutral safety switch
wires on the shifter. Disconnect the battery
ground cable before wiring the Backup light
switch. Locate the original Backup Light
switch on the steering column or console
shifter. Run these wires to the UPPER switch
on the B&M Pro Ratchet, see figure 1.
Reconnect ground wire and check light for
proper operation. Adjust switches on the
shifter if required.
’69 and Later: The Neutral Safety/Backup
switch is located on the transmission and will
continue to function normally. It will not be
necessary to connect any wires to the
switches on the shifter. Go to Step 37.

POWERGLIDE

STEP 25. Disconnect the throttle to trans-

mission linkage, if any and discard. The
Powerglide shift lever supplied with this shifter
has no provision for a throttle linkage.

STEP 26. Drain transmission oil pan. Cau­tion: Be sure transmission is cool before
attempting to drain oil. Place drain pan

under transmission. Remove drain plug, if so

equipped. If your pan does not have a drain
plug, remove oil pan bolts one at a time,
working towards the front. As you loosen the
last two bolts, the oil pan will tilt down and
allow the oil to drain. Note; If your oil pan
sticks to the gasket, pry it down with a screw­driver before loosening the last two bolts to
break it free. Remove oil pan and set aside.
Step 27. Remove manual valve guide plate
by removing two bolts. See figure 8. Un­hook and remove detent roller spring. Allow
detent roller to pivot out of the way. Not how
the pin on the manual valve selector en­gages the groove in the manual valve.
STEP 28. If your transmission has a throttle
valve lever on the outside of the shift lever,
loosen the inner pinch bolt on the throttle
lever. Slide the throttle lever and shaft out of
the transmission. Remove the inner throttle
valve lever. Discard these parts.
STEP 29. Loosen the pinch bolt on the se­lector lever. This can be either an Allen head
bolt of a 12 point bolt head. Do not remove
the pinch bolt. Slightly pry the manual valve
lever and slide selector shaft from the trans­mission. Discard selector shaft.
STEP 30. This transmission includes the
B&M Powerglide Pro-Lever shift lever, which
is a two piece lever with separate lever and
shaft. Install B&M selector shaft into trans­mission with the lever pointing down. Hold
the stock selector lever in position in the
case, engage the pin on the selector lever
with the manual valve and rotate the B&M
shaft until the flat on the shaft engages the
serrations on the lever. Push B&M lever
firmly into the transmission until lever stops
on shoulder of shaft. Tighten pinch bolt se­curely.
STEP 31. Install manual valve guide plate in
place. (Make sure that pin on selector lever is
engaged in groove in manual valve.) Install
the two bolts and tighten to 15 lb-ft. Install
detent roller spring. Hook spring to detent
roller and tab. Selector lever must travel
freely and smoothly from front to back with a
positive click in each gear position.
STEP 32. Clean oil pan and scrape old gas­ket off of pan and case. (Note: if your pan
does not have a drain plug, you may wish to
install a B&M Drain Plug Kit, part number
80250, at this time.) Old gasket can cause
leaks. Install oil pan with new gasket. Install
pan bolts except for the two center bolts on
left side of pan. Tighten pan bolts to 8 lb-ft. Do
not overtighten as this can damage the pan
gasket.
STEP 33. Install cable bracket in position
with the two remaining pan bolts. See figure

8. Install the B&M lever onto the shaft with the
lever pointing down. If your cable comes
from the front (usually a rear engined car) the
lever is installed pointing upwards. You will
have to make your own cable bracket for this
installation.
STEP 34. Route the shifter cable according

6

Cable bracket

mounts on outside

of oil pan

Detent roller spring

Manual valve guide plate

Manual valve

Note that pin on

selector lever fits in

groove in valve.

B&M shifter lever

B&M selector

shaft

Figure 8

to figure 3. Avoid kinks and sharp bends and
route the cable away from hot engine or
exhaust parts.

Remove the two rubber boots, one large
nut, and a large lockwasher her from the
threaded end of the shifter cable. Slide the
end of the cable into the cable bracket, Install
large nut and lockwasher loosely over end of
cable. Install two rubber boots onto end of
cable. Install the swivel on the threaded end
of the cable and position it in the center of the
threaded portion.

STEP 35. Move the transmission selector
lever by hand to full rear position (LOW).
Operate the shifter lever to the low gear
position (ratcheted all the way back). Adjust
the large nuts on the cable so that the swivel
will slide into the hole in the selector lever that
is labeled "B&M 2". See figure 9. Tighten the
large nuts completely. Be sure that the swivel
will slide freely in and out of the hole in the
selector lever. Note: The shifter will not

operate correctly unless the B&M2 hole
in the shift lever is used.

WARNING

PERIODIC INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR SHIFTER

IS RECOMMENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE MECHANISM IS WELL

LUBRICATED, FREE FROM DIRT OR RUST AND THAT THE CABLE

IS PROPERLY ADJUSTED. LACK OF MAINTENANCE COULD RE-

SULT IN A FAILURE INCLUDING A FAILURE OF THE REVERSE

LOCKOUT SAFETY FEATURE.

Selector lever

pinch bolt

Use this hole for Hurst
shifter and B&M Ban­dit shifter

Use this hole for B&M
Pro Stick, Megashifter
or Street Stick

Use this hole for B&M
Pro Ratchet, Quick
Silver, Star Shifter, Z­gate, or Quick Click

Use this hole for Turbo
Action shifter

Figure 9

7

TOOL LIST

1 Phillips screwdriver
1 7/16 socket
1 Ratchet or speed handle
1 7/16" wrench
1 1/2" wrench
1 9/16" wrench
2 11/16 wrench
1 3/32" Allen key
1 1/8" Allen key
1 9/32 drill bit
1 drill motor
1 1-1/2" holesaw
1 Crimping tool
1 Torque wrench 0-50 ft.lbs.
1 File
1 Tin snips
1 Wire strippers
1 Ruler
1 Dividers
1 Electrical tape
1 Hacksaw
1 Hammer
1 Drift pin
2-4 Jackstands
A/R Cable ties

CHECK LIST

__ Locking steering column lever is permanently fastened in the full up position. Step 1.
__ Shifter is convenient to reach and has ample room for your hand in both park and low gear.

Step 2.
__ Carpet covers floorboard holes. Step 4.
__ Cable is securely fastened to the shifter and held with E-Ring. Step 5.
__ Shifter is securely mounted to floorboard. Step 7.
__ Shifter cable is clear of exhaust system, engine and any moving parts. Step 7.
__ Throttle lever and shift lever are tight on transmission. GM step 9, Ford Step 14, Chrysler

Step 20, Powerglide Step 30.
__ Oil pan bolts are tightened to 12-13 lb.ft. GM Step 10, Ford Step 16, Chrysler Step 21,

Powerglide Step 33.
__ Shifter is properly adjusted. Cable boots are installed, cable nuts are tightened and swivel

is secured with cotter key. GM Step 11, Ford Step 17, Chrysler Step 22, Powerglide

Step 35.
__ The Neutral safety switch is connected and properly adjusted to prevent engine starts

in drive gears and reverse. GM Step 12, Ford Step 18, Chry not required, Powerglide

Step 36.
__ There is no debris in the shifter mechanism.
__ Cover installed. Step 37.
__ Shifter moves freely in all positions as described in Shifter Operation.
__ If your shifter is not working properly do not attempt to drive your car. Make sure you have

followed all instructions. If the shifter is broken or defective return it to your B&M dealer.

Leave the swivel out of the hole and
move the selector lever to PARK, all the way
forward. Also ratchet the shifter to PARK
position (all the way forward). Reinsert the
swivel into the B&M2 hole in the selector
lever. Check to see that the swivel will slide
freely in and out of the B&M2 hole in the
selector lever in this position. If it does not slip
in freely, adjust the swivel slightly until it will
slip into the B&M2 hole in the lever.

Move the shifter back to the low gear
position and check that the swivel will still
slide easily in and out of the B&M2 hole in the
selector lever. (If you do not use the B&M2
hole in the lever, it will be impossible to
correctly adjust the cable.) Operate shifter
through all gear positions. Check to make
sure swivel will slide in and out of the B&M2
selector lever hole in each gear position. The
shift cable is now correctly adjusted. Install
cotter key supplied with shifter into swivel
and spread key ends.

If you have a problem, DO NOT FORCE
THE SHIFTER, this will damage the cable,
the shifter or the transmission. Simply start at
the beginning and carefully check all your
steps.
STEP 36. Disconnect battery ground
cable to prevent accidental shorts. Identify
the neutral safety wires (engine will not crank
unless these wires are connected together).
Extend the wires to the shifter. Strip 1/4"
insulation off the wires and install slip-on
terminals supplied in kit. Crimp terminals
onto wires using a crimping tool or pliers.
Connect the Neutral safety wires to the
LOWER switch and the backup light wires to
the UPPER switch, see figure 1. Tape termi-
nal connections and all other connections to
prevent shorts.

Reconnect battery ground cable, dis­connect coil wire and set the parking brake.
Check switch operation by attempting to
start motor in each shifter position. The starter

must crank only when shifter is in the
Park or Neutral position. Check Backup

light operation when the shifter is shifted to
the Reverse position. Adjust switches if re­quired. Reconnect coil wire.
STEP 37. With the shifter bolted securely
to the floor be sure that the shifter operates
correctly. Check to see that There is a piece
of insulating tape on the inside of the brushed
aluminum cover on the drivers’s side. This is
to prevent the terminals on the switches from
shorting out. Install the brushed aluminum
cover over the shifter. Put the cover over the
stick and then push the stick forward. Hook
the front of the cover over the front of the
shifter mechanism and then put the rear of
the cover over the rear of the mechanism.
The cover is secured by two button head
#10-32 screws. Install the handle on the
Reverse lockout lever using the #8-32 but­ton head screw, The handle should stick out
to the left of the shifter for easier one hand
operation. Screw the red indicator pointer
through the slot in the cover into the threaded

IMPORTANT

Before installing the knob onto the
shifter put Loctite on the threads of
the stick. The knob may gall on the
threads of the stick and make it im­possible to remove the knob from the
stick. If this occurs it can cause the
stick to break if you use excessive
force while attempting to remove the
knob from the stick.

8

end of the indicator lever. Use loctite to keep
the indicator pointer from turning. Select the
correct indicator tape from the sheet and
install it to the left of the pointer.
STEP 37. Tighten knob onto stick se­curely. Thread sealer will help keep the knob
from loosening. Position knob insert on top
of knob and align Pro Ratchet logo. Push
down on insert to snap it in place. Secure
carpet to floorboard and door edges. Your
shifter is now ready to use.

OPERATION

The B&M Pro Ratchet is a ratchet shifter.
You push the stick forward for up shifts and
pull it back for down shifts (with a standard
pattern valve body). The ratchet shift allows
firm, positive, no-miss upshifts and down­shifts. Move the knob forward or backwards
as far is it will go to select the next gear. Then
let the spring return the stick to the central
position. When you shift from Drive to Neu­tral the reverse lockout prevents the shifter
from shifting any further (to prevent acciden­tal selection of Reverse). To shift to Reverse
the reverse lockout lever must be pushed
forward. When the reverse lockout lever is
pushed forward (with the shifter in Neutral)
the lever snaps into the up position and is
held there until the shifter is shifted to Re­verse, so only one hand is needed.

On GM TH-200, TH-250, TH-350, TH­400 and Powerglide transmissions it is nec­essary to shift the ratchet twice to get from
Reverse to Park. These transmissions have
twice the travel from Reverse to Park as
between the other gears. If you only ratchet

once out of Reverse you will not be fully
in Park gear and the car may move.