[SCG] Why is there a Fisher Body Accessory code for 4-Speed Transmission?

[Kent Sullivan]

Bill,

 

Good research.

 

My thinking has been that other Chevy car lines had differences between
their various transmission options and that was carried over to the Corvair.
Did not need to be, but was. For example, other Chevys had manual
transmission options that were not on the floor, so they would needed to
have a code for any floor-mounted transmission situation.

 

--Kent

 

From: scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com
[mailto:scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com] On Behalf Of Bill Hubbell
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:27 PM
To: Stock Corvair Group
Subject: [SCG] Why is there a Fisher Body Accessory code for 4-Speed
Transmission?

 

This is a mystery that I have never solved.  We know that the accessory
codes on the Fisher Body tag were only there for the RPOs that required some
action on Fisher Body's part before turning the car over to Chevrolet.  At
first glance, it seems that all of the actions required to replace the
standard 3-speed transmission with the optional PowerGlide or 4-speed
transmissions are done by Chevrolet.  However, we eventually figured out
that Fisher supplied the front carpet and had to know in advance whether to
cut a hole for the shift lever or not, and hence the reason for the
PowerGlide accessory code (2M) became apparent.

 

However, we still are not certain of the reason for the 4 speed code (2L).
I have been studying the 1964 assembly manual and have come up with a
"possible" explanation.  If you study the chart below, it is apparent that
there are different part numbers for the shift lever housing for the 1964 3
and 4 speed transmissions.  The levers are also different, depending on
whether the car has bench or bucket seats, but the housing is transmission
specific for all years except, oddly, 1961, in which it is Model-specific.
Of course, the parts book could be wrong, as it occasionally is.

 

Anyway, since the housing assembly is just about the ONLY part that is
different between the 3 and 4 speed transmissions in any way that could
affect Fisher Body, I am wondering if that is the key; in other words, is
there something about that difference which might require Fisher to cut the
front carpet shifter hole differently?

 

Does anybody have access to both 3-speed and a 4-speed Corvairs (preferably
same years, 62-65) that can be checked to see if this is the case?

 

If this is not the reason, than can anybody else thing of another one?

 

Bill Hubbell

 

 


Part #

Name

Years

Model

3-Spd

4-Spd

Buckets

Bench

Lever Part #


3784295

Housing Assy, Lever

60-64

Monza

x

 

x

 

3712703


 

 

61

Monza

 

x

x

 

3784297


 

 

61

Monza

 

x

x

 

3812701


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


3787016

Housing Assy, Lever

60-63

Corvair

x

 

 

x

3780349


 

 

61-64

Corvair

 

x

 

x

3796141


 

 

62-64

Monza

 

x

x

 

3812701

 

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