Mach 1 Club

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I've got a 72 Mach 1, set up with a factory 351cj & 4 spd. When I bought the car it had a Hurst-T handle shifter grip, and a Hurst shifter. I know (from the Marti report) that it did indeed come from the factory with a Hurst shifter. I assumed that the T handle was factory also. I've since learned that only the Boss 351 & possibly the 72 HO, came with factory T-handles. I love the T-handle and was lucky to find an nos t-handle with the 4 spds. shift tree on it (just like a boss 351) the price was so good that I bought it to replace my existing shifter, which does not show the shift pattern (tree). To my surprise the new shifter is tapped for a smaller shaft than the existing shifter. I have no problem drilling & tapping the new handle to fit. Are all Mach 1s assembled with the Hurst shifter that uses a larger shifter than Boss 351s?
Thanks for any input, advice, or even criticisms,
Keith Smile
Your information is not correct. As I stated in an earlier post on this subject, ALL '70-'73 mustangs built with four speed transmissions were equipped with Hurst shifters. The Hurst shifter was standard equipment, not an option. ALL of the Hurst shifters used in '70-'71 cars came with T-handles, not just the Boss 351. (If you ordered a plain-jane '71 sportsroof with a 351-4V and a four-speed, it would have come with the hurst shifter and T-handle). '72 and '73 cars (including the '72 351-HO) utilized a different hurst shifter and knob than the '70-'71. 1972 and 1973 cars were equipped with a concentric "round shaft" shifter and used a ball instead of the T-handle. As far as the thread on the shifter/handle, my '71 mach has a 3/8" -16 coarse thread, and is the factory original. I am unsure if the '72-'73 came with the same thread. I have seen some '72 and '73 cars with the rectangular '70-'71 type shifters and T-handles, but they didn't come that way from the factory. Some guys change them from the '72-'73 type, to the '70-'71 type because they, (like myself), think the rectangular shifter with the T-handle look way cooler. I'm assuming the thread on your factory '72 4-speed hurst shifter-(the rounded shaft type) is not compatible with the '70-'71 t-handle and is probably a 3/8" fine thread. GXR
(03-24-2013, 03:55 PM)gxr02190 Wrote: [ -> ]Your information is not correct. As I stated in an earlier post on this subject, ALL '70-'73 mustangs built with four speed transmissions were equipped with Hurst shifters. The Hurst shifter was standard equipment, not an option. ALL of the Hurst shifters used in '70-'71 cars came with T-handles, not just the Boss 351. (If you ordered a plain-jane '71 sportsroof with a 351-4V and a four-speed, it would have come with the hurst shifter and T-handle). '72 and '73 cars (including the '72 351-HO) utilized a different hurst shifter and knob than the '70-'71. 1972 and 1973 cars were equipped with a concentric "round shaft" shifter and used a ball instead of the T-handle. As far as the thread on the shifter/handle, my '71 mach has a 3/8" -16 coarse thread, and is the factory original. I am unsure if the '72-'73 came with the same thread. I have seen some '72 and '73 cars with the rectangular '70-'71 type shifters and T-handles, but they didn't come that way from the factory. Some guys change them from the '72-'73 type, to the '70-'71 type because they, (like myself), think the rectangular shifter with the T-handle look way cooler. I'm assuming the thread on your factory '72 4-speed hurst shifter-(the rounded shaft type) is not compatible with the '70-'71 t-handle and is probably a 7/16" fine thread. GXR


Thanks for the clarification, I guess I misunderstood an earlier post on this subject. By the way the Hurst shifter in my 72 is flat on 2 sides (labeled HURST on each side) then rounded corners with thin flat sides. total thickness is approx. 1/4". Would you call this a rectangular shifter? It certainly is not round. Do the factory T-handles typically have the shift pattern on them or just the word "HURST"?
Thanks again for the info.
Keith
I saw a pic of your shifter you had posted on an earlier post. It is what I describe as the factory "rounded" shifter used in '72 and '73 cars. I realize that it has flattened sections on the sides embossed with the hurst name, but when I refer to the rectangular '70-'71 style, I'm speaking of the shifter that begins approximately an inch wide at the base, and gradually tapers towards the top to a round shaft where the T-handle is attached. The factory T-handle has the shift pattern embossed within the hurst logo. (a large black "H") Hurst manufactured many T-handles (for the masses) made of various materials. I've seen them (the plastic ones) in various colors as well. The factory-equipped hurst T-handles are distinctive because of the design of the shift pattern and logo. Correct reproductions are now being produced. GXR