Hey all. I'm trying to improve a few things on my Dad's 57 210 that I keep here in Colorado, he still lives back home in California. He's out here a lot in the summer and drives it quite a bit, so I want to correct a few annoying things before his next trip out here. Its a pretty nice 4 door 210, with a stock 283 and 3 speed, with bench seat. It was originally a column shift car, but was converted to a floor shift long before we bought. The floor shift works great, but the shifter stick is annoyingly short, requiring some awkward leaning to shift. I assumed I could just find a new taller stick with the right bend and bolt it on easily like I've done in the past, but I don't recognize this shifter. Does anybody know what this is? Can you point me to what type of stick I can get to bolt in replace it? Or am I better off cutting and welding to modify this existing stick. It does clear the bench seat fine, just way too short. Thanks for any help!
Wow it’s been forty years since I’ve had anything to do with a three speed shifter. Back in the day the three speed shifters were universal Hurst, Mr Gasket and other’s were sold with no name on the handle. I would look for a part number that you can google.
Cut'n'weld some old vintage shifter lever to your existing shifter. Then hide the lower portion under a CV boot from a FWD Jap car.
Or, you could drill two matching holes for a Hurst handle, cut off the excess and bolt on a new handle. Here is a diagram that's been posted before, as well as a CL ad in Denver for 3 speed shifters that has been out there for about a month. 3 speed shifters Fenton 200, vintage, others - auto parts - by owner... (craigslist.org)
Thanks for the input everybody. The current shifter really works great. It is adjusted well and shifts perfectly. I really don't want to spend the time and money changing out the entire shifter, was just hoping to find a bolt on stick to swap. Looks like that might not be the case with this current setup. I'm liking your idea Bob, to just cut the current stick short and drill holes for the Hurst bolt spacing. Then I can swap sticks easily to find the perfect one. It already has a nice box and rubber boot covering everything, so the bolts will be hidden. Thanks for the idea!
Because this shifter is one that needs to be disassembled to remove the shifting stick, cutting and drilling is best. I would use a minimum of 5/16” bolts probably 3/8” which are stock for a Hurst bolt on style. Since you can’t put on stridation grooves use bolts with a shoulder that will go thru both and cut off the extra threads and use a locking nut to keep it narrow. I would make the holes at least 1” apart for strength. All parts are available at an ACE hardware. Good luck.
reminds me of the '55 i had in 1967. the builder got a corvette shifter from the local junkyard, and it was short like that one. i thought--at 18--that it was cool to bend way over to shift!
I probably would too if I was still 18. At 39, not so much anymore. My Dad certainly doesn't like it either haha.
Thanks for the help guys. Going to cut the stick and drill to accept standard Hurst sticks. I found and ordered the Hurst 4084 that has a 4" passenger side offset to center it more. I made a test stick out of wire to those dimensions and it makes for a great driving position. Going to be awesome! Found a cool 3 speed knob for it as well. Will update when done!
That might work if it clears the seat in first and third. This was the go to handle for bench seat tri 5 cars with a 4 speed. Hurst 8620 The zig to clear the seat.
I would drill and TAP the original shifter after cutting off the original stick, so no nuts would be required. Tap for fine threads, and use lock tight.
It does clear fine. I made a test stick out of wire and it has plenty of clearance for the seat. I saw the 8620 and liked it, but it doesnt have any offset to the passenger side. I really needed as much offset as I could to put it in a comfortable position, thats why I went with the 4084. This car has the shifter very far forward and to the far left/driver side of the trans tunnel, so Im mainly trying to get the shifter centered and higher.
I had a 55 - 56 & 2-57's , all with floor shift conversions ,some 3 & some 4 speeds , Hurst , western auto , one came from warshawski ( sp) I remember the sticks being straight with no offset & I don't recall any interference , seems to me they were just where they needed to be ???
Thanks for all the advice. I got the shifter installed today, worked out great. I cut the old one off just below the boot. Drilled and tapped 2 holes in it in the Hurst pattern. Now I can easily swap sticks, though I doubt I will. The stick I bought (posted above) worked out great and in the perfect position, no seat interference either. Still need to find a new rubber boot and build a better box to cover the shifter, will get around to that soon.
Sweet! Perfect solution for your dad. Thanks for the update for all of us. Too many times we never hear/see the end results. Good job!
Hello, That is a solution, but it looks as if you made a mistake and the resulting lever found a clamp plus a hammer to resolve the look/function. If it works and you don’t mind the odd adaptation, then leave it. In another thread, people who have automatic shifter kits have created a mount that centers the shift lever over the top and centers the lever in the middle. With the carpet on, it looks like and old LaSalle transmission lever coming out of the center, over the trans hump. The idea of the automatic shifter is less complicated than a 3 speed. Heck a couple of teenagers back in 1961 made an automatic shifter kit for a 51 Pontiac that had the removable shift lever in the middle. So, all forms of interchangeable shift levers could be used. But, we started on a 3 speed unit and got a quarter of the way started for a 55 Chevy, but it was taking too long. Our friend had to have his car everyday after school for his job, so we could not spend time finishing the project from school class to the backyard. But the idea of a shifting unit for the 3 speed and extended shifting arms and levers could still be measured and built, it that old style centered look is what you are after. Jnaki Here is one last alternative to getting your crooked lever out of the cab and under the carpet. Since your lever is removable as per your words:… “I cut the old one off just below the boot. Drilled and tapped 2 holes in it in the Hurst pattern. Now I can easily swap sticks, though I doubt I will.” Is it possible to make a bent lever that attaches to your base and have the bend in the stick lever below the carpet hole. That way, the boot will cover the hole in the center of your transmission hump. And… the resulting look will not have the weird bent look of your alternative. Or, look as if you were angry at the chrome lever and took it for a workout in the shop. The original shifting mechanism still works as usual, it is just the bent lever below the carpet out of sight, while a smooth chrome shift lever sticks out of the floor. No visible odd ball bends or a look of a band-aid solution. YRMV
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