Good Morning, I need a little help Oh wise ones... I looked for hours through past posts and the interwebs and find info on my problem but no real fix. My project is to put a 235 1953 car motor with a column 3 speed into a 54 chevy pickup truck. I REALLY would prefer to get the 3 speed column up and running but I have none of the pieces. Ive located quite a few of the necessary components but not all. Ive also wondered if buying all the 53 car 3 speed pieces will convert anywhere close to the 54 truck. Ive purchased both tech manuals and there are differences. Im beginning to wonder if it might be better to just go to the floor with the shifter and retro fit straight up instead of offsets, column differences, missing parts etc. Again, I'd really rather column shift. So heres the problem. Any kits exist to come off the 3 speed to shift from the floor? Ive found kits back to 1963 belair, but before biting the bullet on this one I thought id ask. Im well versed in fabricating and rigging, but before I garage engineer, maybe someone has gone through this. any help, photos, guidance, cursing, advise is appreciated.
Deve's TechNet engineered a floor shifter for the three-speed that puts it in the same place as the toploader four-speed in the truck. It is pretty nice and Deve provides all the very detailed info (including templates) that you need to fabricate one for yourself. http://devestechnet.com/Home/ShifterMech
If you have the truck bellhousing, which supports the rear of the engine, you're part way there. The '53 engine may not have the holes drilled for the front mount, so drill them as required. P***. car trans doesn't bolt to a truck bell, but the innards fit in a truck case. You'll have a bunch of things that almost fit, but not quite - all problems can be fixed with truck parts replacing the p***. car part.
The Jalopy Journal
