Technical Tips for actually disguising a Lokar shifter as a vintage shifter

So ever since I went with the th350 in my 53 Bel Air I've been hunting a proper looking floor shifter for it. Had tried to avoid Lokar (or any of they're knock offs) because despite their claim of retro shifters you can always tell at a glance that it's a Lokar. Then at a car show a couple months ago I came across a 53 Bel Air hardtop that had the perfect shifter..... until I noticed the funky adapter nut under the shift knob. Normally in that situation I'd just do away with the gate and thread the handle for a black Hurst shift knob or something but being it'll be a 23" handle and have rod linkage I'd be worried about it jumping out of gear. And the standard Lokar shift knob looks like someone stole a knob of a cheap overseas forklift. So any tips for taking care of the shift knob area? Thank you

 

This is a LoKar shifter in my PU. I've never had anyone tell me what a ****py LoKar shifter you have. Of course, I don't use **** out of the box, I like to make it my own. All this one needs is a bandana tied around it.

 

Don't use Lokar then. Gennie shifter use a gate at the bottom rather than the push ****on detent thing on a Lokar that always rattles. People who know more than1-800 prefer them. A Gennie is just threaded at the top and you can put anything there. Having said that, I've lost track if Gennie are or are not still available.

 

I'm not sure why the nit picking when the cars is a 53 Chevy that never came with a floor shift.
Gennie shifter seems to be still in business https://gennieshifter.com/ At least they send an instant email when you sign up for their mailing list. I saw some other things on their site that might be on my shopping list. I don't need an automatic shifter because I am using the handle off a SM420 that died a harsh death in a sand pile before I bought the parts truck that it went with. A little welding and the nit picking mouthbreathers will wonder why I am running my truck with an SM420.

 

First, get a four speed, then get a Hurst shifter.

 

Yep.

 

Sounds like you really want a Locar shifter but without the standard knob. The funky thing you aren't a fan of is Lokars way of installing any knob of choice but retaining the shifter detent ****on function by making the whole knob the ****on. If you don't like that SoCal Speedshop do a deco style aluminium knob, that's a direct replacement for the stock Lokar, center ****on and all. I'm thinking there's an 8 ball knob somewhere (possibly a Lokar option? Moon?) with the ****on in the 8. Beyond that some basic ingenuity would required to make your own knob. The operational principle of a Locar shifter is straightforward.

Chris

 

Here's my old p/u with a Lokar....the standard knob for these just look out of place with our era of cars.

 

LoKar shifters are pretty simple design /constructed.
With thought welding ,file you can regate ..
Adaptor thread is No big deal , make your own , plus there's epoxy and resin.
The ball No big deal , inside there is like 1/8 or so rope cable thats spring loaded , you can make your own ball/knob delete the quarter size ****on , make ball in away to telescopic . Or with thought you can make stem telescopic below boot ,,, there are many oem shifters that can be modified to get a look of old ,,,
Tool required , a Vision more then a screwdriver, & a wrench
The wish books are Not always the answer

 

I built this column shifter for my 53, I have more pictures floating around somewhere if its something you'd like to do.

 

20+ years of driving with automatic floor shifter and never once have I knocked it out of gear, into park or reverse etc., with a shifter with no gates. Hurst Indy-Matic worked just fine using only the detents in the transmission itself. And I had a car with the Lokar shifter on a TH350 too. It worked fine but was really a solution to a non-existent problem.

 

Modify a 1953 Powerglide column shifter to work with the TH350. Here's one I did on my 57 Suburban, the later 50s chevy trucks used column shifters that were very similar to the early 50s cars.



Or just put a clutch pedal in the car, like it really wants

 

I don't get having a floor shifter in a car with a bench seat and an automatic transmission. It just takes up floor space. Put a period correct looking column shifter in it. It would be different if it had bucket seats and a console in it.

 

Just get the adapter made by Lokar so you can use any Rat Fink, 8-ball, Tiki, you-name-it 3/8 thread shift knob that blows your dress up. Gennie has their own adapter that does the same thing.
The knobs are not an issue. The worst thing about the Lokar shifter is the ugly shifter boot.

*Available in black or chrome, 3/8" 24/fine or 16/course.

 

Gennie Shifter came out years before any of the other "knock offs"

 

Lokar now owns Clayton Machine Works. They have a gated (like a gennie) shifter, with a bolt on handle. You can put on any shifter handle you want with a little work.

 

Reason I don't just adapt the original powerglide shifter is I let it go with the original power steering setup with i converted to manual steering because I was planning a four speed. Handle shape of the Lokar in question is the whole reason I'm even considering the Lokar. And considering this car will see daily use with dogs and kids as regular p***engers a gate is important. A bewildered Weiner dog can easily slap a shifter into first gear at highway speed lol. And I've honestly never installed a Lokar shifter. Worked on cars that had them but never had them apart. And as I'll see it multiple times daily not liking the goofy visible adapter is a thing as I'll have to see it a lot. And finding out if I can do away with the eyesore before dumping $500+ on a shifter is a valid concern. And on the column shifter thing another issue is the former column shift mount holes have become the tach mount holes lol. And makes for the perfect (in my opinion) tach position. And a four speed is still in the eventual plan

 

See I wouldn't be against having the whole knob as a ****on. As unfamiliar with a lokars ***embly as I am I just didn't know if that was a viable option without completely hacking up a $500+ shifter

 

That actually looks like the one I'm wanting to run

 

Lokar offers a replacement knob that looks like someone drilled and tapped an old 8 ball. The 8-ball logo depresses like a standard Lokar knob. I did this on a 34 coupe years ago with a Hurst shift boot. Look like and early 60s spaghetti shifter. most people thought it was a 4speed till they noticed the lack of the 3rd pedal.

 

I'm not against the idea of an eight ball shift knob. Ill check that out

 

Yeah after looking at pics online I believe this will be the route I go with once I get my shifter. I'd be more than happy with that. Ill probably use a generic looking Mr gasket shift boot though

 

Mine had one of those 8 balls on it, it now resides on @flynbrian48 's roadster.

 

I don't know why you're so stuck on Lokar, Gennie was first. And they don't have the press down thing.
https://gennieshifter.com/collections/shifters/shifters_lo-stick-shifter-***embly
https://gennieshifter.com/collections/shifters/products/the-perfect-shifter
https://gennieshifter.com/collections/knobs/Knobs_Knobs

 

So there is a option were the entire knob goes up and down vs just the ****on in the center??

I'd like to get rid of the billet knob and damn center ****on but I do want the lock out .

Hit the brakes hard and something comes off the bench seat hits the lever and things go bad in a hurry.

 

you can use what ever you want as a knob with in reason Not a bb size ,
The rope cable that run in side is spring loaded @ bottom of near gate , it only moves 1/8- 3/16 of a inch down ,
Let say for a knob , solid ball , and lets say ball is 2 inch round , drill ball 1-3/4 depth , take jam nut off steam .
Knock high spots of threads off steam or sleeve over threads or even cut threaded end off steam , if cut steam you will have to cut / shorten rope cable.
Mic steam size lets say steam is .250
Drill your ball / knob to .253 number drill bits , put knob on steam , now no ****on push knob down to move threw gates , knob will turn 360 deg,
Can be pulled off , but would have to pull up @ least 1-1/2 , to come off steam, if that scary you can notch a slot in steam , use like 1/8 inch screw ,
1/4 long , install knob then install set screw so it goes enough threw slot , will not turn nor pull off but able to push down.
I can come up with more complicated designs , mill / lathe required,,,

& cutting up $500 shifter !!!
We cut cars up all the time

 

Easier said than done. but
Late sixties GM's had many floor/console mount shifters that worked just fine.
I just wish, that they weren't so many years ago.

 

Yes! The kit ( in black) is pictured above. The chrome versions are also pictured above, installed. It's the tapered hex piece just below the knob.

On the kit pictured I'm not sure what the lower, p***ivated, piece does, but it can't be seen.

Chris

 

Yes it does, and thank you!