I just installed a high performance 13b into my friend's 79, which he bought new in June of 78, one of the first in the Seattle area. He wanted a high power engine to use for rally purposes, "playing in the gravel". In addition to the engine, I sold him one of my low mileage FB trannies, and he wanted the short throw shifter. Most people who do this just swap the transmission tailshaft housing and use the original shifter.

I fabricated a panel for the console which uses the rubber boot from the 85. It is made from 1/4 inch ABS foam core sheet, which I formed by shaping a piece of wood, then clamping the plastic and bending it with some carefully applied heat using a heat gun. I mounted the boot using 6-32 screws, and two of the screws have tabs on the bottom which rotate to hold the panel in place. It seems to work well, and we can find some other place for our dimes and quarters!

 

Great information. I had another member modify his shifter boot also but not anywhere as nice as job as this one.

Since on early models you cannot transfer the tailshaft housing over because of the way the shifts rods are attached.

Also the later models you have to transfer not only the shifter housing but the rods also this is a great alternative to modifying anything besides the tunnel area.