speaking of a ratchet shifter how do u tell if a stock 1978 camaro has one i heard they look the same but function differently?? thanks

 

Umm. you'll know. Every aftermarket shifter I've ever used, in my car or one of my buddies I was joyriding, were way different than stock. I think your talking about the shifters that are made to fit our center consoles. These are offered by hurst and b+m, they fit in the stock location but they don't look or work like the stock ones. The first giveaway would be the stick and the handle. They are way beefier than the pencil coming out of the stock shifter. 70-73 had a horseshoe shifter. Those would not be mistaken for a ratchet shifter either.

 

B&M doesn't make one to fit the console of the early 2nd gens. You can adapt them to fit, or just use the factory box if you don't have a console. Mine looks like this when I finished making my plate to adapt it:

 

no the ones that are stock ratchet shifters...i dont think they ratchet but this is what they look like...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/73-81...Q5fAccessories

 

If they don't rachet, then they aren't rachet shifters. So how can they be "stock rachet shifters"?????
There are two types of stock shifters; early horseshoe shape, and the one you pictured. Neither are rachet shifters. A rachet shifter is a aftermarket shifter that in "rachet mode" works by simply pushing the shifter forward for each shift. The shifter then upshifts and rachets back for the next shift, allowing only one gear per rachet. It returns to the original location after each shift, whereas the factory shifter simply indexes forward with each shift, and since it doesn't rachet, it's easy to accidentally upshift more than one gear range.

 

i know what a ratchet shifter is

thats why i was confused when the one on ebay i posted was a "ratchet" shifter

it says its rare

i was just wondering if this is anything special so i would buy it for my ride

 

Hmmmmm...the ebay seller is basically describing a factory, dual gate type ratchet shifter.
And searching online turns up other people describing the same action.

 

so is there any difference between the shifter on ebay and the stock ones in 73-81 camaros? why do they claim its rare??

 

Because if you say it's rare you might get more money for it!