Just wondering if its possible to put an S4 or S5 shifter on a 12A tranny. Or mate an FC tranny and a 12A. I just like the feel of the FC shifter better.

 

Then change the ****, that's the only difference. S5 shifters have a different thread pitch than all of the earlier ones.

 

yea a s4 or s5 shifter will drop right in.

 

Depends on the year of 12A tranny. The FC/FB shifter won't fit an SA ('79-'80) due to the SA's longer extension below the ball. See pic below. If it's just the **** you are concerned with, then check thread size, and swap it over.

 

Its probably just a matter of wear and general trans condition that made the FC box feel better.Clutch type and hydraulics condition will also affect shift quality.
The TypeM tranny is pretty much unchanged from 81-92,with just minor internal differences.
Its pretty easy to fit an FC tranny(N/A or TII) into any 81-85 1st gen,no matter what the engine.Its not neccesarily cheap sometimes,but its pretty straight foreward.But,even when you install an FC tranny into a 1st gen,you have to retain the 1st gen shift tower and shifter.That is,unless you dont mind cutting sheetmetal and center console to retain the pushed back FC shifter box.

 

My bet is the plastic bushings at the shifter pivot ball are worn out or gone.

 

Gearing is longer in the FC trannys too... my buddy had an FC in hes FB with an S4 motor with mikunis and all the bolt ons. It was a pretty damn quick little FB, but it always felt like the gearing was holding him back. Me in my FB-tranny-ed FB would rev faster than him, getting me to my powerband faster than him. And the shifter seems like its longer. Not really a longer throw, the actual shifter seems like its 1.5-2 inches taller. didnt like that either.