Technical THREE SPEED SHIFTERS

As I want to stay true to a '59 build on my Model A, what shifter can I use? The transmission is a T85 with overdrive. As far as stock shifters all I can think of would be early 3 speed vettes and thunderbirds, both of those are outside my budget. Any other ideas? When did the Hurst shifters come out, any other brands that were around in '59?

 

That's right around when the first Hurst floor shift conversions were being made. I know that Pontiac was the first car company to offer them as a dealer installed option in 1961. George Hurst first approached Chevrolet with the idea, and they threw him out. Same with Ford; I guess that they both reconsidered later.

 

The car I remember from my youth was a Henry J that used a factory floor shifter from a 1961 Valiant. I got one from the wreckers and was amazed at how Gerald could make something like that work.

 

I think a 3speed Indy shifter was a cheap universal shifter, not sure they make them or find one at a swap meet.

 

Keep an eye on e bay for a used Spark O matic after market shifter.Not a really fancy shifter,but they were early conversion kits,and a lot got sold. On Hurst units the shifter lever bolts on so you could always make your own lever to the look you want.

 

I've got the same Trans in my hot rod and I used a Mr Gasket 3 speed shifter. It works fine and nobody would know the difference without looking underneath. I built it with nothing newer than 62 parts that you can see.

 

One thing to be aware of : if the transmission you are planning on using has an overdrive, the location of the solenoid can complicate things a bit.

 

IIRC ,
many early Hurst shifters did not have bolt on arms .

 

Indy shifters didn't come along until the '70s. None of the early Hurst shifters had a bolt on handle, and the earliest ones had the"yoyo" style knob. I'm talking about the Syncro-Loc here; the cheaper Mystery shifter had a removable handle that was retained by a compression nut, but they didn't come along until a few years later.

 

Here's one in Denver on CL Hurst Mastercraft 3 speed shifter complete for $120.
I can help coordinate shipping if purchased. No connection to ad..good luck. Bob

Hurst 3 speed shifter, Mastershift - auto parts - by owner - vehicle... (craigslist.org)

 

Another one in Denver...Fenton with all the rods..$120, plus just a shifter...3 speeds..

3 speed shifters Fenton 200, vintage, others - auto parts - by owner... (craigslist.org)

 

They might be calling it a Fenton, but it's not. It looks like a factory shifter from a Ford.

 

Yes Bob, that last one looks like what I have in the car now shifting a T-86 I think that is a Mustang unit correct me if I'm wrong.
This T-85 trans is a little larger and the overdrive unit is really going to be in the way That is why I would like to start over and make a new system (while the car is still drivable) and be able to swap it all in in one day. And while I'm at it to try a little harder to get a unit that fits my '59 guideline.

 

HEATHEN, like you said those "Indy" shifters were more of a '70 s thing if I remember, also they were on the bottom of quality if not close to it, so I would like to stay away from them.

 

Last but not least..3 speed.Ford toploader with Hurst for $150...perhaps this would bolt up
to your T85 with some help...

Ford 3 Speed Transmission - auto parts - by owner - vehicle... (craigslist.org)

 

Yep, my bad...I didn't catch the part about the OD. It does make a big difference. Bob

 

Tubman, you are right about that, the overdrive unit is going to make it very tight. I was not looking for a T-85 w/od when I picked this up, I was just looking for a T-85 but this one was the right price and the inside is like brand new.
I'm weighing the pros and cons of the overdrive and if I can't get a shifter made up that fits I may just have to start looking for a non overdrive unit.... Boy that would suck.

 

You'll probably have to fabricate the mounting bracketry. Hurst sold a kit for your transmission at one point, but good luck finding one today. Yes, the Indy shifter wasn't very nice; it mostly got used for three on the tree trucks with worn out column mechanisms. I sold several out of the parts store I worked at in the '80s to disgruntled pickup truck owners who were tired of having to pop the hood and push the shift arms back into neutral after they hung up in traffic.

 

Bob, I think I could make anything "work" ... may have to cut it up some and weld brackets and stuff. I guess the main thing is, I was just looking for something pre '60 that I could afford. Which takes us back to the original question somewhat, What did a kid in 1959 use to shift a three speed?

 

GUILTY! I stuck one in a '63 Ford back in the 80's

 

If you take some measurements between the mounting points, I've got a pile of miscellaneous Hurst shifter mounting brackets that may at least give you a starting point.

 

The Hurst would be my first choice and second would be the Sparkomatic (I had one in my 63 Fairlane..in about 1965) my father in law put the Hurst in the 57 Ford he bought new, it was an overdrive three speed. I am hoping to buy it from my mother in law...although my brother in law may want it??

 

I have a new in the box Fenton floor shift conversion for the earlier ('49-'56) Ford transmissions with overdrive. The instructions show how it mounts. I have posted this before, but it might be of interest. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...-merc-over-drive-trans.1070451/#post-12157381.

The shifter mounts so high that modification of the floor pan will most likely be required. I have accumulated a bunch of 3-speed floor conversions of different kinds, and a quick "look-over" will clearly show why the Hurst's are the best of the bunch by far.

 

I just don't know, I have to do some measuring I don't have much room above the trans and the seats are so close together I can't raise the floor between them. just not much room in a Model A.
The T-86 that is in the car now (shifted with a Mustang unit) has the shifter unit mounted beside the tailshaft housing with the lever bent over to come through the floor in the center.

 

Thanks but brackets will not be a problem, I think I can make anything needed.

 

I had a 58 Impala with a 3 speed OD and a Hurst shifter so Hurst did make brackets to accommodate the OD solenoid. The Hurst 3 speed shifter was infinitely better than any of the other conversion shifters on the market in the early 60's. Mine did not have the bolt on lever. It did have adjustable stops built into the shifter so you didn't put undue stress on the transmission shift mechanism.

 

Hurst still makes a 3 speed shifter like the original syncro-lock shifter. They refer to it as the Master Shifter. They only offer limited applications any more.

 

My 51 coupe has a T-85 with OD and works well with stock shift linkage.

 

I recently was able to get something that was hard to find from Scott @ The Shifter Doc. He is only about 20 miles from me but was recommended to me by several people from Florida, California and Michigan. I was working on a 4 speed but he still may have what you need. If you would like I will PM you his number.