I was perusing the local JY a while ago and found a first gen BRAT that was

still original, rusty but original.

The jumper's were still welded in from the factory

 

But, anyway, back to the point, the shifter knob indicated it was a 5sp, but it

still had the old style 4WD lever under the dash.

So, just to make sure nobody had screwed with the shifter knob, I played

with the shifter to see what gears it actually had.

And HOLY SHNIEKIES it had a 5th GEAR!!!!

AND it had 4WD!!!!

So, my questions are,

1 was this an option from the factory,?

2 is it possible to hook a mechanically operated 5sp s/r to the stock linkage?

3 did a mechanically operated 5sp s/r even exist?!?

 

And if they still have it and I have the funds and time, I WILL be going back

out and pulling that tranny just save it from the crusher.

 

Twitch(ing with excitement!!!)

I call bs. Did it have A lot of shifter slop? If so you prolly actaually put it in 3rd. No brats ever came with a 5 speed anything, not factory. Look under the hood next time, if it has the starter on top it is a 4 speed.

 

-Bill

I have a buddy of mine that had a 1979 Brat for years (before it was side-swiped and ulitimately sold as a parts car -- sad story). He had swapped a 5-speed into it, but it also no longer worked as a 4wd. Don't know the full story, but if you like, I can give him a call and find out.

 

So, in short, there was at least one gen1 with a 5-speed in it Frankensteined together that I know of. Don't know if this helps or not...

Like Bill said.... Nope. They never came with a 5 speed of any kind.

Ya'll were right.

I went back and it was just extreme shifter slop.

Some dork had switched the shifter knobs

Oh well, I just let it be, it was a 4sp s/r with the old style 4wd lever.

 

Twitch