ConcoursMustang Forums
1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1969 Mustang => Topic started by: Bossbill on April 07, 2020, 04:44:22 PM
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I've seen numerous non-lockout handles on ebay purporting to be 69 3/4 speed. Since I knew nothing about 69 shifters, I went looking.
It appears that in 69 Ford developed a shifter box that mimics a Hurst box.
Although information is sparse, it appears (see pic) that there may be a (U-shaped) torsion spring of some kind that makes reverse a spring loaded detent style, like the Hurst.
So, this one year box (as implied in a VMF thread) would not have a T or round reverse lockout on the handle. Many vendors state the 3 and 4 speed handles are identical, and without any lockout in the handle, in 69.
As for the shifter box otself, he VMF post indicates the rod welding looking like an owner mod is actually stock.
See pic
Hopefully someone can add to my lack of details.
Update subject to specify the chrome shift handle.
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I ordered a 69 Sportsroof (351W) with a 4 speed in February 1969. The shifter came with a reverse lockout "T". As far as I know, the Hurst type was not offered. I sat with the salesman in the dealership and he went down the list trying to get me to order more options.
The Ford shifter was replaced with a Hurst about a month after I took delivery.
Jiom
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A Hurst type shifter box. Not a Hurst itself, just Ford's attempt at replicating some of the Hurst features. The most prominent is that to engage reverse you produce a higher effort to go past a spring loaded detent in order to get into reverse. This removes the requirement to have a T or round reverse lockout.
As for your 69 Jim, was your T-style a round knob version (still looks like a T in profile)?
There are many places online that show the 69 4 speed shifter handle without any lockout.
https://classicautomotiveltd.com/products/1969-shifter-lever-4-speed-manual-california-pony-cars
I'll fix pic in previous post in a bit ...
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As for your 69 Jim, why would Ford go from a T style, then a round style and then back?
I don't think you got my post correct. I got the Ford reverse lock out pull up "T" with two fingers (I don't know how to describe it any different) type handle, black round knob shifter as the standard shifter with the 4 speed toploader. I replaced that Ford shifter with a Hurst shifter about a month later. It had a white knob (Bob Gaines had to remind me the original was black. All the 4 speeds I've owned had a Hurst shifter, including my 69 VW). The salesman never mentioned an optional shifter as he went down the list of options trying to induce me to spend more money. I missed seeing the Mustang being built in Milpitas as I was in a meeting with the Air Force customer on a AF contract I was involved with on that day. I worked at Ford Aerospace in Palo Alto.
Jim
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I don't think we're tracking.
What I'm saying is that Ford went away from their 65-68 shifter box and in 69 went to a shifter box that no longer required the reverse lockout on the handle. See pic of this shifter box above. No T, no round disc. Just a plain handle.
It mimicked a Hurst shifter in that it had a spring loaded detent for reverse.
But it was not a Hurst, just had that feature.
I went web surfing and found many 69 examples with this no "T" handle, including this 428 CJ car:
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I don't think we're tracking.
What I'm saying is that Ford went away from their 65-68 shifter box and in 69 went to a shifter box that no longer required the reverse lockout on the handle. See pic of this shifter box above. No T, no round disc. Just a plain handle.
It mimicked a Hurst shifter in that it had a spring loaded detent for reverse.
But it was not a Hurst, just had that feature.
I went web surfing and found many 69 examples with this no "T" handle, including this 428 CJ car:
I've never seen a 69 4 speed with the pull up reverse so I am surprised that one ordered in February of 69 would have come with it. Not disputing it; just surprised.
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The new 69 only c9oz 4-speed shifter setup was one year only and all the parts were 69 one year only unique parts both boots rods levers c9oz shifter box and handle and the difference between 69 3 speed and 4speed chrome handles is the size of shifter knob threads as 3speed is smaller threads than 4speed otherwise the handles are the same. Also the 69 shifter tailshaft mounting plate and the reverese lites wire switch is 69 unique also so if you try putting a 67 T style shifter in a 69 u have to change everything including the wireing .