Finding out that locating a floor shifter for my stock 50 Ford 3 speed is not a easy task what do you guys do? Find a old Hurst shifter body & fab the rest? Tks for suggestions/info ed
Believe it or not, your column shift parts can be converted to a decent shifter. Rodding & Restyling magazine (mid - '59 ?) has the article if someone would post it for you ...
The problem here is if your car has overdrive or not. You can find shifters (from new Chinese crap to a used Hurst) that will fit IF you do not have overdrive. The overdrive solenoid sits right where the shifter mechanism wants to live which makes it difficult to install a regular floorshift kit. I was lucky enough to score a NOS Fenton floorshift kit for '49-'62 Fords with overdrive. It raises the shifter mechanism above the solenoid for clearance. Now you have a problem with the shifter mechanism clearing the trans tunnel, and you either have to live with a huge hole in your floor or fabricate a sheet metal housing for it. I think I have the illustrated instructions for that shifter around somewhere; let me know if you would like to see them, as they are quite informative. I remember the article about converting the stock column shifter well, because I was interested in doing it to the '51 I had in high school. It required welding and a bit of fabrication that was beyond my pay grade in those days. Finding another column shift mechanism if you need it might be problematic.
Years ago, a friend had a '49. He found an old universal Hurst 3-spd shifter at a swapmeet that we fab'd brackets for. It was fairly easy, looked good and worked smoothly.
in the old days and I mean old we use two shifter handles from a something that was chrome built a plate that mounted to the tail shaft bolts with a strap and a muffler clamp for support very near the out put shaft. then welded the handles to a piece of tubing that slide over a shaft welded to the bolt on plate one handle for 1st/reverse the other for 2nd/3rd. so start out in 1st shift to neutral the other lever to 2nd we used to be pretty good at it after grinding some metal. like I said real old old school it you would like a diagram let me know. best bet find a 3 speed shifter on ebay or at a swap meet and make it work
Found these thought it might get you some part numbers I just might have that article on building a floor shift using column shift parts if I find it I will post it... Sent from my QTAQZ3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Put an 8 ball knob on the stock column shifter and you have 85% of the floor shift sizzle. Just sayin'.
Found the Rodding and Re-styling March 1960 vol. 7 No.1 These pics are of the article hopefully this helps.... Sent from my QTAQZ3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
yep, stay away from cheapo foreign built shifters - in High School had a '50 with a floor shifter that the shift arm would easily snap off going from 1st to 2nd- lucky that it threaded in and could be replaced inside
does anyone have any info on using a STOCK 49 col. Shift with a TH350. I assume just make some linkage up?? thanks for the help HAMBers
One thing to remember is that the floor is very tight at the top of the transmission. Soooo if using aftermarket arms they will not clear the floor. A floor modification is in order. I do have a Hurst Syncro lock if you want it. PM me if you do.
The King shifter is still being made by the guy that invented it. Do a search here on the hamb. Torchie
I posted pics on how I did my '49 Merc w/ OD on a thread before, but searched & didn't find it. Maybe you'll have better luck using the search function. Did have to shorten the original shift arms on the trans.
My brother put a Sparkomatic floor shifter in his 50 Ford back in the day. I would say don't use one but I doubt you could even find one that is not all bent up. It had the smallest shift rods I had ever seen.
Always been curious about these, I have no experience with them... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...0-70’s-standard-3-speed-transmissions.926212/
Well, there's a coincidence, I did it on my '50 in 1960. Actually did work but like you say, felt a little flimsy.
the "speed king" shifter looks like the one i put in my first car, a '53 ford. it worked, but poorly. i bought it for about ten bucks at the local hardware; a foxcraft shifter was available and obviously of better quality, but $25 was a lot of dough when i was 17!
I also did this with a universal Hurst 3 speed shifter that I got for $40 off eBay. Like the one in this picture
Put a 3-speed Indy Hurst in my father's 50 Merc way back when. I assume would be the same as 50 Ford?
Since your setup is from a truck, it is possible that one of the currently available generic "Truck Shifters" may just be an easy installation. Check eBay.
I'm not sure what the floor shifter situation is in Argentina, but around here, used Hurst three speed shifters are both plentiful and relatively cheap. I see them at every swap meet I attend. Anyone with a minimum amount of fabrication skill can cobble up a mounting bracket.
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