All

Just a query about something I've never been able to confirm for certain.

Over the years I've seen many HQ-WB that were originally Aussie 4spd and have had the little extra cut in front of the hole in the tunnel with a small plate over it held by two screws. In all HQ-WB parts catalogues it shows the plate and screws but it only lists a part number for the screws and does not mention the cover plate.

My assumption is only vehicles originally FLOOR shift, possibly only those with bench seat floor shift got this extra cut and cover plate? This would mean CONSOLE shift vehicles would not have the extra cut and the cover plate? Most of the vehicles I have played with over the years that had have been console shift have been auto, with some 4spd. None of those have the extra cut and cover. Where I have normally seen the extra cut and cover plate have been commercials where there is a far higher prevalence of floor shift manual with bench seat. The assumption is the extra cut is to allow a body drop in the Assembly Plant onto the chassis with a bent stick 4spd shifter that the floor shift, bench seat cars had. Console shift 4spd had a straight stick and would not have this problem.

Thoughts?

My assumption is the same as yours. I've only seen those cut-outs on bench seat 4-speed commercials.

Having done 2 chassis swaps on HQ-HZ vans, the cut-out is exactly in that position& came in very handy.

Dr Terry.

Too many years ago !! Didn't take any notice at the time.

40 years ago these things were just cheap transport, not like now.

Dr Terry.

4spd bench seat? What body and assembly plants?

I found the best reference for this, in the early HQ parts catalogue from later in 1971 when ute, van and cab-chassis were released where the plate actually has a part number, 2820683. Suits manual 801, 802, 803 and 804 except 37. I think the key here is there was no console shift in any of these at this time in 1971 except in Monaro. So it only suits hockey stick style floor shift. Can't post up images here, too hard.

Just to get this straight, is the extra hole thought to be added (cut out) at the assembly stage?

Is there any evidence to say that a console shift had a different straight shifter applied?

Why would exactly the same gearbox have a different shifter? my assumption from looking at the parts page is that once a 4 speed gearbox had been assigned to a vehicle the cut out would be applied?

Is there evidence of a straight gear shifter in any early HQ parts catalogues?

The bent shifter is so due to the driving position in relation to the gearbox and makes life easier to get it up into reverse regardless of wether or not its a console or floor shift?

Any auto console would not have it due to the straight arrangement?

if anything a bench seat 4 speed would have a straight shifter due to the bench being present leaving less room for the driver?

Yes, later HQ parts catalogue lists floor shift and console shift with a different part number for both the MOUNTING & LEVER ASSEMBLY (bottom half of the shifter) and the LEVER & YOKE ASSEMBLY (top part). In the early HQ parts catalogue the MOUNTING & LEVER ASSEMBLY was called the MOUNTING ASSEMBLY and it was the same for both floor and console shift but the LEVER & YOKE ASSEMBLY is listed different for floor and console shifts. To me this means that all floor shift (bench and buckets) had the bent stick and all console shift had the straighter stick. Later parts catalogues get more confusing as they start to talk about bench and buckets and I think this gets mixed up with console shift getting pretty much standard with buckets late in the piece but it is pretty well spelled out in HQ.

Thank you 5.0l fan, HK and Dr Terry.

You have to be mindful of timeframe when reading Parts Catalogues - prior to Sandman there was no console shift in a HQ commercial or a HQ Belmont or Kingswood for that matter (aside from XV2 (SS)). That scan is from a 1971 catalogue, and at that time the only vehicle in the model groups 801, 802, 803 and 804 that had console shift was the Monaro models (ie 80337 (Monaro) and 80437 (V8 Monaro)). Which means console shift didn't have the little cover but floor shift did and why the rear bracket is only shown for wagon (Premier), coupe (all) and sedan (Premier and Deville).

The plug is near to the seat separator front screw hole. That plug is there on all HQ, I think it was for the body dip crap to get all though that underbody member. The seat separator bracket is also used for the console rear bracket. The bracket is there on ALL bucket seat HQ's except for 4spd floor shift. Either the seat separator or a console is screwed to it using the same screw, the only time it was deleted was if a vehicle was 4spd floor shift.