B&M 80841 PRO RATCHET SHIFTER - Manual

9500513-02 Printed in U.S.A.
Installation Instructions
Pro Ratchet Shifter
Part Nos. 80840 and 80841
© B&M Racing & Performace Products 1993
The B&M Pro Ratchet shifter is a full
ratchet shifter that is equally at home on the
strip and on the street. It will work with most
popular three speed automatic transmissions.
It has a positive ratchet design so that you will
not miss a shift, either up or down. It works
with both standard and reverse pattern valve
bodies. It has a unique “one hand” reverse
lockout feature that meets NHRA and IHRA
requirements. You don’t need to use two
hands to shift into reverse.
Part No. 80840 is for use only with alumi-
num Powerglide transmissions. 80841 is for
use with three speed automatic transmis-
sions: GM TH-400, TH-350, TH-250 and
TH-200; Ford C-4 and C-6; and Chrysler
1966 and later Torqueflite A-727 and A-904.
Your B&M Pro Ratchet comes equipped
with a Neutral safety and backup light
switches, 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 mal-
function 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 compart-
ment 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 PRE-
VENT the steering wheel from locking and
removal of the ignition key.
INS TALLATION
STEP 1. Remove stock shift linkage;
Column Shifters: Remove all rods, levers or
cables from column and transmission. Place
column shift lever in “Park” position. Remove
pin holding shift lever in column and remove
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 ignition key removed WHEN-
EVER the ignition key is turned to the “lock”
position WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOV-
ING, OR AT ANY OTHER TIME.
Console Shifters: Remove shifter mecha-
nism from console. Disconnect rod or cable
from transmission. Remove cable bracket if
equipped. If there is a cable or linkage from
the console shifter or transmission to the
steering column lock, it must be blocked in
the “Park” position as described above.
NOTE: Shifter installation may require con-
sole modification or complete console re-
moval depending on the space available in
your vehicle.
STEP 2. Pull the carpet, if any, away from
the floorboard where the shifter is to be
mounted. If the vehicle has a bench type
seat, move 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 opera-
tion. See figure 2 for shifter dimensions.
(The rear mounting hole of the mechanism
must be at least 1¾” from the front of the seat
when the seat is in the full forward position.)
Make sure the knob clears the dash with the
shifter in the forward position. Mark the posi-
tion 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 required to get it
level. Mark the location for the shifter cable
hole, 3" ahead of the front shifter mounting
hole. Drill or cut 1½” diameter cable hole in
floorboard. NOTE: Some floorboards are
extremely thin and will not adequately sup-
port the shifter mechanism when bolted to
the floor. For those vehicles we recommend
that you fabricate a stiffener plate for addi-
tional strength.
STEP 4. Install (but do not secure) carpet
back to it’s original position. Cut holes in the
carpet for the mounting holes and a 1½” slit
for the cable. DO NOT use a drill bit to make
holes in carpet.
STEP 5. Install the cable on shifter as
shown in figure 1. The cable attachment tab
should be bolted to the outside surface of the
shifter base using ¼” X ½” bolt, lock washer
and nut. Install E-Ring to secure the cable.
STEP 6. Install the backup light switch and
the neutral safety switch in place on the
shifter mechanism. Install using two #4-40
screws, nuts and lock washers, as shown in
figure 1. If necessary bend the fingers slightly
so that they engage the slots. Beware, Over
tightening the switch attachment screws will
crack the switch housings. Adjust switches
so that the neutral safety switch (the lower
switch) operates in Neutral and Park only
and so that the backup light switch (the