B&M STARSHIFTER-RT HND DR User Manual
Installation Instructions
StarShifter
Part Number 80675
©2000 by B&M Racing & Performance Products
The B&M StarShifter can be used in
vehicles equipped with most popular
three speed automatic transmissions.
Your B&M StarShifter comes equipped
with a neutral safety switch, 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 compartment 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.
INSTALLATION
STEP 1. Remove the stock shift linkage;
Column Shifters: Remove all rods, lev-
ers or cables from the column and the
transmission. Place the column shift lever in the Park position. Remove the pin
holding the shift lever in the column and
remove the 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 the 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 the shifter
mechanism from the console. Disconnect the rod or cable from the transmission. Remove the cable bracket if
equipped. If there is a cable or linkage
from the console shifter or the 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 away from the
floorboard where the shifter is to be
mounted. If the vehicle has a bench type
seat, move the 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. (The rear mounting
hole of the mechanism must be at least
1-3/4" from the front of the seat when the
seat is in the full forward position.) Make
sure the trigger and the T-handle clear
the dash with the shifter in the Park 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 re-
quired to get it level. Mark the location for
the shifter cable hole, 1-3/8" ahead of the
front shifter mounting hole and 2-1/4" to
the left of that hole. Drill or cut a 1-1/2"
diameter cable hole in the 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
a stiffener plate for additional strength.
STEP 4. Install (but do not secure) the
carpet back to it’s original position. Cut
holes in the carpet for the mounting holes
and the cable. DO NOT use a drill bit to
make the holes in carpet.
STEP 5. Install the plastic indicator traveler and link onto the T- plate track. The
bent end of the link goes through the hole
in the traveler from the left side of the
shifter. Install the cable on the shifter as
shown in Figure 1. The cable attachment
tab must be bolted to the
of the shifter base using a 1/4" X 1/2" hex
bolt, a lock washer and a nut. Put the end
of indicator link on the cable pin outside
of the shifter cable. Install the e-clip to secure the cable and the indicator link to the
cable pin.
STEP 6. Place the shifter in first gear
ratchet mode (stick all the way back). Position the backup light switch on the inside of the T-plate and the neutral safety
switch on the outside of the T-plate with
the long fingers on the switches towards
the plastic traveler using the forward pair
of holes in the T-plate. Assemble the
backup and neutral safety switches to the
shifter using two #4-40 screws, nuts and
lock washers, as shown in Figure 1. Be-
ware, over tightening the switch attachment screws will crack the switch housings. Adjust the switches so that the neutral safety switch operates in Neutral and
Park only and the backup light switch op-
outside surface
Printed in the U.S.A.
9500071-14
Trigger
Indicator
traveler
T-plate
Cable
Backup light
Figure 1
erates only in Reverse. Do this by loosening the screws and sliding the switches
as required. Then retighten the screws.
STEP 7. Install the shifter mechanism
into the vehicle. Slide the shifter cable
through the carpet and the hole in the
floor. Bolt the shifter down using four 1/4"
hex bolts and nuts. If required use 1/4"
washers as shims between the shifter
mechanism and the floor to level the
shifter. ROUTE THE CABLE AS SHOWN IN
FIGURE 2, AVOID SHARP BENDS WHICH
WILL KINK AND DAMAGE THE 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 the cable hole shut to avoid the
entry of exhaust fumes or water. For General Motors vehicles go to Step 8, for Ford
vehicles got to Step 13, for Chrysler vehicles go to Step 19.
GENERAL MOTORS
STEP 8. If you have not already done so,
E-clip
Link
Cable bolt, nut
and lockwasher
Bolt tab to OUTSIDE
surface of shifter
Neutral safety
switch
switch
remove the stock selector lever nut and
the selector lever. Discard the stock lever
and the stock shifter linkage. Install the
B&M selector lever in position using the
stock selector lever nut
Torque the 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 the two transmission
oil pan bolts from the middle of the left
side of the oil pan. Install the cable
bracket in position (See Figure 3). The
bracket must be installed with two spacers between the pan and the bracket. (If
your transmission is equipped with a cast
aluminum oil pan, these spacers should
be omitted however the cable bracket will
have to be modified). Install the two 5/1618 x 1.00" bolts supplied and tighten to
12-13 lb.ft. Do not overtighten as this can
damage the pan gasket.
STEP 10. Remove the two rubber boots,
one large nut, and a large lockwasher
from the threaded end of the shifter cable.
Route the shifter cable according to Fig-
(See Figure 3).
2
ure 2. Avoid sharp bends and route the
cable away from hot engine exhaust
parts. Slide the end of the cable into the
cable bracket, install the lockwasher and
the large nut over the end of the cable.
Position the cable so the threaded portion of the cable housing is centered in
the cable bracket. Tighten both large nuts
to hold the cable in this position. Install
the two rubber boots onto the end of the
cable.
STEP 11. Move the transmission selector lever by hand to full rear position (Low).
Operate the shifter lever to the Low gear
position (all the way back). Adjust the
large nuts on the cable so that the swivel
will slide into the center 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 center 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 the
Park position (all the way forward). Reinsert the swivel into the center hole in the
selector lever. Check to see that the swivel
will slide freely in and out of the center
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 center hole
in the selector lever. (If you do not use the
center hole in the lever, it will be impossible to correctly adjust the cable). Operate the shifter through all the gear positions. Check to make sure the swivel will
slide in and out of the center selector
lever hole in each gear position. The shift
cable is now correctly adjusted. Install
the cotter key supplied with the shifter into
the swivel and spread the 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 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 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 type, otherwise you have a neu-
tral safety switch type. If you have a neutral safety switch, locate the switch and
identify the neutral safety wires (engine
will not crank unless these wires are connected together). With either type, disconnect the battery ground cable to prevent
accidental shorts. If you have a neutral
safety switch, disconnect and extend both
wires from the GM switch to the switch on
the shifter. 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 switch
on the shifter. Put slip on terminals on the
ends of the lengthened wire. Crimp the
terminals onto the wires using a crimping tool or pliers. Connect the wires to the
OUTER switch on the shifter. Idenify the
wires for the backup lights and run them
to the INNER switch on the shifter. Tape
the terminal connections and all other
connections to prevent shorts. Reconnect
the battery ground cable, disconnect the
coil wire and set the parking brake. Check
the switch operation by attempting to start
the motor in each shifter position. The
starter must crank only when the shifter
is in the Park or Neutral position. Adjust
the switch if required. Reconnect the coil
wire. Go to step 25.
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
Figure 2
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 the stock shift linkage rods. Some
C-6 and all (late) C-4 and C-5 transmissions have a neutral safety/back-up light
switch on the transmission shift lever. If
your transmission is so equipped, remove the two bolts holding the 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 4 or 5). 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 4). Install the B&M selector lever
onto the shift shaft of the transmission.
Align the selector lever so when it points
straight down it travels equal arcs in both
directions from the center, then tighten the
1/4"-20 x 1 1/2" pinch bolt and nut. The
lever should travel smoothly from front to
F
Cable swivel
Cotter pin
(Use center hole)
R
C
GM lever
GM cable bracket
5/16 x 1" bolt and spacer
(Metric trans use M8 x 25 bolt)
7/16" nut
Figure 3
3
Spacer
Use these two holes for
TH-400 transmission. Use
other two holes for other
GM transmissions
Spacer
GM cable bracket (Trimming of bracket
required if used on cast aluminum pan)
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