Hello everyone, my son and I bought a 1969 Firebird last month. Car is a roller, currently with no motor or transmission and will be a father/son project. My question is the car has the factory console mounted shifter for the auto trans yet it has what looks like a transmission linkage arm at the end of the steering column too. I originally thought maybe someone has installed a column shift steering column from a different car but I see no signs that the column ever had a shifter on it. Ive looked around for an answer but I am still stumped. Can anyone enlighten me as to what this arm on the end of the steering column is for on a console shift car?

Not sure if this forum is geared towards factory restoration only but our plan is to keep the car mostly stock but use a late model GM LS engine and electronic automatic overdrive trans.

Thanks in advance, Chris

Welcome,

Most of us are stock. Despise Chevy motors! lol

What you have planned looks good. You can get plenty help here on your build. I would recommend you build your own engine. Very cool to here the engine startup for the first time and you made it! GM autotrans /w OD is a good idea.

The thrill of these cars is the look, feel and sound. Put a repro part in there and it sounds like your mumma's car.
Like those bias ply winter tires, got a set myself. Got studs in em?

Cheers and good luck!

Hi and welcome!

If you're talking about the linkage from the transmission to the steering column inside the engine compartment, then that is necessary equipment. Even with a floor shifter, the linkage from the transmission to the column rotates the column for the backup tail lights to come on. I don't remember if it is tied to the neutral safety switch or not, but the linkage between the trans and column is needed for the reverse lights to function properly.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I think KCfirebird nailed it. I assumed (you know what that gets you) that the floor shifter just used a cable that goes straight to the auto trans. Now I see the shift cable ties into the column for the backup lamps and neutral safety switch. I will have to figure out a way to integrate that into the overdrive trans that will be going in.

The old bias ply tires on the rear make me laugh, they are super aggressive and look like mud terrrain tires. PO had a set of 10" wide Cragers on the rear and they rubbed on the quarter lip so we put the narrow bias plys on just to load and tow it home and not do any damage to the quarters. Car has skyjackers in the rear in typical 1980's fashion and they no longer hold air so there was a lot of rubbing with the wide rear tires. No studs in them, just aggressive tread blocks.

We will be finding a new home for the Cragers and putting on either some 15" Torque Thusts or 15" repro rally 2's. Neither of us are a fan of the current trend of dropping the cars to the ground and using rubber band 17 or 18" wheels.

Yes, neutral safety switch too on the column. If you don’t need operating backup lights you can leave that linkage off as long as the rotating part of the column is in park so the neutral safety switch will work. I have to have backup lights in NY to pass inspection. My 69 goat 4 speed has that stupid linkage to the column

There is one more thing connected to the linkage going to the steering column, besides the neutral/backup light switch. The ignition key locks the gear shifter in Park (or reverse if you have a manual trans), when you take the key out. The steering wheel is also locked at the same time.
I think 1969 was the first year with steering wheel and gear shifter locks.

also if you don't have it in the park position you will not be able to remove the ing. key
If you have the factory shifter still, Shift works as different kits to make the factory shifter work with out the driveback linkage and still have backup lights and netural safety switch, you just need to tie up the arm on the lower colunm so it stays in the park position. They also have a kit to adapt the factory shifter for use with the overdrive trans.
I have headers so I can't use the driveback linkage, so I installed the NS and BU switch relocation kit, it works great

https://shiftworks.com/collections/firebird-products

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Thanks for the info and link to shiftworks Wade. Thats exactly what I need to adapt in the 4L80E trans I want to use.

Bought my 69 (4 spd) in 1976. The very first night I drove It was on a date. We pulled into a 7-11 to get drinks, but while trying to leave the shifter was locked up and we were stuck in the parking lot. It was a first date, and she began to roll her eyes. A somewhat “crusty” looking guy holding a tall Budweiser came up to the window. As the eye rolling continued, he asked what was the problem. As I explained, he reached in my window (more eye rolling) twisted my steering column, to the left I think, and walked away.
The shifter was free, and the date was saved.
I too, pitched the linkage when the headers went on, and think I owe the guy a beer!