I've noticed two diff shifters for the N/A. A round hole, with longer shaft below the piviot. and square hole. with shorter. From what i know the longer(higher) the shaft below the piviot point, the shorter the throw. so what year did these round hole shifters come on?

 

I'm not sure I've seen the difference. I did see that the later 280ZX had a plastic insert that slides a little where it pivots. My 1982 Z had it. I would make a guess here and say 1981-83 had the different shifter.

 

I know with my 82' I took the shifter out, heated it up in the vice and gave it a nice dog leg. Then I took that plastic piece you guys are talking about and flipped it upside down and it shortened the throw quite a bit, poor mans short throw shifter. I think its an even bigger difference with the S30's but if I rember the shifter is not interchangable between the early 80's and the late 70's. I bet the square hole is 79' or earlier, and the elongated one is the early 80's.

 

the round hole shifter works great in my 83 trans. it uses two brass busshings one for each side.