TCI Automotive Fast Gate Shifter - Feelin' Shifty

Tci Automotive Fast Gate Shifter Installed

The sound of a V-8 at the top end of the R's is like music to our grease monkey ears. If there's a set of fat pipes and performance mufflers in the mix, it's even better. The best way we know to hear that sweet sound of horsepower is to mash the gas and manually shift the transmission. If you have a manual tranny or a floor-shift automatic muscle car, this is pretty convenient to do. For the folks that have the gear select hanging off the column it gets a bit more difficult to do. While that location is convenient for normal driving, when it comes time for race mode it basically sucks.

One thing all of the factory automatic cars have in common is the ability to easily miss or skip a shift. The factory shifters usually do not have positive gates for each gear, so it's pretty easy to go from Low and just slip right past Second into Third. To cure the miss shift issues and make the motor sing by taking control of the trans, we will be installing TCI's affordable Fast-Gate shifter assembly.

Tci Automotive Fast Gate Shifter Out Of The Box Kit

1. Here's the Fast-Gate shifter from TCI Automotive. In the box you will find the shifter assembly, a black cover, a bunch of brackets and levers, two micro switches, and a 5-foot shift cable. TCI offers optional shifter cables in 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, and 14-foot lengths. It’s a universal design so it works with just about every GM three- and four-speed automatic transmission, even the late-model 4Ls.

1. Here's the Fast-Gate shifter from TCI Automotive. In the box you will find the shifter

The car we are installing it in has a different problem altogether. Our subject Camaro was an original four-speed car that was converted to a TH400 at some point in its life. Whoever did the conversion used an aftermarket shifter that bolts to the tailshaft of the transmission and came though the original four-speed hole in the tunnel—with a little sheetmetal hacking, that is. The issue with this is the stick hit the dash when the car was in Park so the arm was heated and bent making it functional, but it looked horrible. While it may have worked OK when it was installed some time in the early '80s, now it was just plain worn out and sloppy.

We didn't want to empty our bank account for the shifter, so we decided to pick up TCI's Fast-Gate shifter assembly that retails for just $140.63. It is universal in design, so it fits the GM TH200, TH250, TH350, TH400, 200-4R, 700-R4, 4L60E, 4L70E, and 4L80E transmissions. It also includes a durable injection-molded cover, a 5-foot shift cable, 1.900-inch-diameter shifter ball (T-handles are also available), neutral safety and reverse light switches, and all required hardware for installation. It's compliant with NHRA and IHRA safety regulations thanks to the reverse lockout mechanism. With the help of a buddy, we had the old shifter out and the TCI unit installed in an afternoon, so it shouldn't be an issue to get it in your car over the weekend.

2. Here is the funky shifter in the Camaro. The manual trans stick has been heated and bent around, which has damaged the chrome finish, and 20 years of service has worn it out. It bolts to the back of the trans and has a rod that goes down to the gear selector. We removed it and tossed it in the trash. The only thing that will make our install easier than yours will be the reverse light and neutral safety wiring. Since our car had an aftermarket shifter, that wiring is already in place.
2. Here is the funky shifter in the Camaro. The manual trans stick has been heated and be
3. Step one to install the new unit is to find the proper position. With the help of our friend Ali Mahmoudi, who will be turning the wrenches for this story, we placed the assembly on the tunnel and moved it until he could cycle all the gears without stretching (or basically till it felt right).
3. Step one to install the new unit is to find the proper position. With the help of our
4. Once we were happy with the placement, we marked it and then drilled the four holes.
4. Once we were happy with the placement, we marked it and then drilled the four holes.

5. We had a nutsert tool on hand, so we used it to hold the shifter in place. TCI does provide washers and nuts, but using nutserts will make servicing the shifter or removing it for the carpet install much, much easier.
5. We had a nutsert tool on hand, so we used it to hold the shifter in place. TCI does pr
6. With the main body of the shifter mounted with the provided spacers, we measured 3-3/4 inches in front of the forward bolt. Per TCI’s instructions, this is where they want the 1-inch hole for the cable to exit. We used a holesaw to make our new hole.
6. With the main body of the shifter mounted with the provided spacers, we measured 3-3/4
7. With the topside stuff done for now, Ali raised the car on the lift so he could remove the old selector lever and replace it with the new one. The shifter comes with a few different levers, so make sure to read the instructions and use the correct one for your application.
7. With the topside stuff done for now, Ali raised the car on the lift so he could remove

8. The cable bracket mounts to the trans via two of the pan bolts. The bracket must be installed with two spacers between the pan and the bracket. (If your transmission is equipped with a cast aluminum pan, these spacers should be omitted; however, the cable bracket will have to be modified.) He used the 5/16-18 x 1-inch bolts supplied in the kit. Don’t get all macho when tightening these bolts, as 12-13 lb-ft is all it takes. Overtightening can damage the pan gasket.
8. The cable bracket mounts to the trans via two of the pan bolts. The bracket must be in
9. Then Ali routed the shifter cable from the shifter down to the bracket on the trans. The cable should route over the top of the case and then under the tailshaft in a sweeping curve. Make sure to avoid sharp bends and route the cable away from exhaust parts. After slipping the cable into the bracket, he centered it in its adjustment and installed the locknuts. Then he threaded on the swivel to the end of the cable.
9. Then Ali routed the shifter cable from the shifter down to the bracket on the trans. T
10. Next he climbed up into the car and put the shifter into Low. This image also shows you a few things. You can see the 1-inch hole we drilled, how the cable hooks up to the shifter, and the two micro switches that will operate our neutral safety and reverse lights.
10. Next he climbed up into the car and put the shifter into Low. This image also shows y

11. Now back under, the selector on the trans was moved all the way back (Low) and the cable adjusted till the swivel slips easily into the center hole.
11. Now back under, the selector on the trans was moved all the way back (Low) and the ca
12. Then the cable adjustment locknuts were tightened. Any other small adjustment will be made at the swivel.
12. Then the cable adjustment locknuts were tightened. Any other small adjustment will be
13. The shifter was put back into Park, and Ali checked to see if the swivel would come out of the hole easily, which it did. This confirms we are adjusted properly. If the swivel pops out and you can’t get it back in, then you will need to adjust the swivel on the cable till it does and then put it back in Low and confirm it will come out easily in that position. You may have to go back and forth multiple times till you find the sweet spot, but ours was right on the first go so Ali installed the cotter pin.
13. The shifter was put back into Park, and Ali checked to see if the swivel would come o

14. We cycled the shifter a few times to confirm it was all good. Then the wiring was hooked up to the switches on the shifter and the reverse lock-out T-handle was removed so we could install the cover.
14. We cycled the shifter a few times to confirm it was all good. Then the wiring was hoo
15. We test-fitted the cover, which didn’t sit all the way down on the shifter because it was just barely hitting the floor at the front. After a little trimming it fit nicely so he reinstalled the reverse lock-out handle that is held on by the little spring clip (arrow). This is kind of a pain to do, but we found a set of needle-nose pliers helped get in there.
15. We test-fitted the cover, which didn’t sit all the way down on the shifter because it
16. With it all buttoned up, Ali and myself took the car out on a test drive. The shifter felt nice and smooth as I dropped the car into Low gear. I stabbed the gas and away we went. Right about 6,500 I bumped the shifter forward, with a resounding chirp from the back tires I was in Second. Since I was on a city street that was as far as I was going to take the run. What’s nice is you can’t go from Low to Third without lifting the T-handle so there is no chance of skipping a shift. The shifter feels brawny, works great, is a great buy for the price, and since it will work with so many three- and four-speed transmissions we won’t have to replace it if we convert to an overdrive.
16. With it all buttoned up, Ali and myself took the car out on a test drive. The shifter