Anyone used a Hurst shifter in a '65?

I have a bench seat '65 Impala. Converting from a three speed to a muncie 4 speed. Using the correct 1965 muncie. I've heard from several that the Hurst shifter mechanism is vastly superior to the stock muncie linkage. I've also heard about conversions that use the Hurst shifter levers but have the correct muncie shifter so the result is a car that looks stock from the outside and from the interior but underneath shifts much better.
I can't find that Hurst makes a shifter mechanism for anything past 1964. Does anybody have experience with this situation?

The Hurst shifter was invented in 1962. It mounts directly to the transmission instead of bolting to the frame of the car so that the linkage does not get in a bind when the motor is making torque. The Muncie did not make it onto the scene until 1964 which is why it only lists that far back in the catalog. Prior to that GM relied upon the Borg-Warner T-10 to mix the gears on a four-speed car (95% of cars in the early sixties had three speeds, not four). You can bolt up a Muncie transmission and then use a Hurst shifter in cars as far back as 1949 if memory serves me correctly.

What you are asking for is a Hurst shifter mechanism with a Muncie handle bolted to the shifter. The Hurst Competition Plus Shifter had a removable handle that could be bolted in place to match the car (make and model) and the interior (bucket seats with a console or without, or to fit a bench seat).
Big Dave

Yes, I know all of that but the question is whether anyone has experience fitting a hurst shifter mechanism to the muncie shifter on the '65 Impala. If so, what year did you order the hurst shifter for since they only list the models to '64? Did you have any problems with the shifter mounting to the '65 transmission? What bracket did you use to do this - hurst or muncie? I'm not interested in using the hurst shifter itself, only the shifter mechanism (I want the look original, not necessarily the mechanism).
thanks

I've experienced the same frustration with my `68 while looking for new Rods for my `68 vintage Comp Plus Shifter. (I was fortunate enough to have hung on to this since the `70's). Hurst does not currently offer anything for full size Chevys beyond `64 as you've found out, but they once did. I contacted Hurst about this, and they indicated that they stopped making `65-`69 Shifters (and subsequent replacement parts) for full size Chevys about 20 years ago.

That being the case, my advice would be to contact Pete Serio out of Cleavland, OH to help you find what you're looking for, for your `65. He specializes in vintage Hurst shifters for all things Pontiac, but sells obsolete Hurst parts for all GM cars. He can also fabricate custom Muncie/Hurst Mounting Plates and Linkage Rods. He may even have a complete `65 full size 4-speed available. In my experience, Pete is very knowledgeable, and will work with you to get you what you need at very reasonable prices. You can check out his web site at: http://www.precisionpontiac.com/

Good luck,

Bigblox