4spd Z-bar bracket on automatic cars

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CR-MOPAR

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Wondering if anybody else has come across this. I currently have a 71 Demon and a 71 Valiant, both are column shifted automatics. However they both have the Z-bar brackets welded on from factory.

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My two 65 Barracudas have the mount brackets for the "Z" bar, of course one is a standard shift and the other is an automatic. I'm sure they came down the assembly line that way so a clutch linkage could be installed if production that day demanded it.
 
A friend's '69 barracuda (6 cyl/auto) had one. We were tripping on it! Had no idea that it was fairly common to see.
 
Must've gone through nearly a dozen 70-72 Duster parts cars over the years (mostly in the early years); all of them automatics and all of them had that mount. I assumed they made them all the same and never gave it a second thought.

What sucked for me is none of them had the ball for the Z-bar (of course). Mine chose snapping over coming off and I finally had to break down and buy a new one.
 
It seems column shift had the torque shafts similar to manual that might end up in the same place, right? I did my 4 spd swap about 18 yrs ago and can`t remember.
Console used a different system.
 
I had to weld one on my 72 when I converted it to a 4-speed. Just had a plastic plug in the hole like on my 70 Dart and 73 Scamp.
 
My 69 340 Barracuda had one. I was glad. As I researched the Auto to Manual conversion, I read that those brackets/braces had to be installed. Imagine my surprise when I found that they were already there.
 
When I put a four speed in my '65 Valiant four-door, I remember how easy it was to add the clutch pedal; there was something there already set up for the clutch linkage. It's been a long time now, holes predrilled in the sheet metal or brackets or something.
 
My 6t4 Valiant has one. But it has a Z bar too. lol
 
Maybe they started to standardize In 1970?

Ive got a 71 Duster slant6/auto built on the same day at the same plant as the 71 Demon slant6/auto and it doesn’t have one.

The other half dozen auto A bodies I have or sold never had it. Who knows why they have them on some
 
Problem is, that hole is not spot on for the clutch linkage. It’l end up about a 1/2” +_ or so higher depending on the car. Swingn’
I was just showing that some auto cars didn't have the reinforcement plate.
On my 72 the hole seemed to be right cuz everything lines up great after I did the 4-spd swap.
 
moparmarks , thanks . it about the only one i've seen without the bracket spot welded in place .
 
My '74 didn't have one, column shift auto car originally. Had to add it when I put the 4-speed in it.
 
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