87 GN Shifter question

[czimpel]

My GN has a floor shifter, as it should, but also has the rod in the engine bay that goes from the column to the trans. There is not boss on the column inside the car for an old column shift that was possibly removed.

What is the reason for this?

 

[novaderrik]

that's called the backdrive linkage, and it locks out the shifter when you have the key out to keep your 5 year old kid from shifting the car out of park when he's playing in the car... it also activates the reverse lights and neutral safety switch.

 

[bishir]

You'll also notice that the part of your steering column where a column shifter bar would attach still rotates when you move the floor shifter.

 

[oldsracer]

So if you have a column shift car and convert to floor shift, do you have to get a different steering column?

 

[czimpel]

Thanks, that's what I was looking for.