Check out Summit racing or the like. Find a shifter kit that you like, buy it. Remove the old shift mechanisim, install the new one. You will have to cut a hole in the floor for the installation. Is it an automatic or a stick?
For sure you could do that, and it wouldn't look out of place in a truck. So youre in the clear. i'm in the same boat, Only thing is mine is a 58 chevy 4 door,, and bleh, its not gonna look cool
It should be a piece of cake. Just take your time. It's been done thousands of times on pick up trucks.
So any shift kit would work? Lokar, Gennie, 24 Inch, gooseneck, Whatever?? I am doing the same in a '49 Chevy sedan.
Indy makes a 3 speed shifter. Also check with Hurst, they use to have 3 speed shifter with interchangable shift handles.
I've got a 28" Gennie shifter waiting to go in the Impala wagon with this... He's got bolts in his neck (I have 2 rods & 6 screws) and staples (I had 22)
You can't use a Gennie, Lokar, the WRONG B&M, HURST or the like. Go to the local auto parts store and find the kit that is for an early 50's Chevy with a three speed in it. J.C. Whitney sells them, but you should be able to find them at Pep Boys, or O'Rileys's or whatever you have in your neck of the woods. Good Luck, Seth
It's made by Mr.Gasket and has Pick Up Truck, Three Speed Floor mount Shifter on the box. Bought mine at Pep Boys. Make sure you save your receipt as I had to return mine twice due to missing parts.
The hot trick way back when was to move the shift lever to the left hand side of the wheel and shift with your left hand. Years ago there was an article in one of the magazines on converting a 3 speed column shift linkage to floor shift. This was using one of the shift linkages that bolts or clamps to the top of the column. it was pretty involved and a guy would have to be a pretty good fabricator. Wicked 50 most of those universal 3 speed floor shifts conversions will work on the trans. Some are pretty flimsy though so I'd buy a Mr Gasket or Hurst Indy shifter. Something like this http://performanceparts.com/part .php?partID=178809 Google search http://performanceparts.com /part.php?partID=178809 Mr gasket search= http://www.google.com/search?client...en&q=Mr+Gasket+floor+shift&btnG=Google+Search As S.Sutherland said, you can find them pretty readily at local parts houses. And make sure all the pieces are in the box as they do tend to get robbed of parts often. It looks like the Mr Gasket unit has a better price for the most part.
George Hurst did pretty well for himself making the parts for this conversion. The advice above pretty much covers it. Find parts actually designed for the application, cut carefully, and have some attention to detail. You will be pleased with the results.