third gear in my car puts the shifter arm where my right knee should be (i'm tall) and it's not safe trying to brake suddenly when i have to. what i want to do is move the whole assembly counter-clockwise up the steering column or just flip it to the left side of the column (?) re-shaping the shifter arm might put second gear in a really strange, high up position. has anyone ever done this? i can't be the first one who has thought about it... any advice or pitfalls?
Got the same problem plus mine is just plain worn out. Shifting in heavy traffic is not much fun so I'm putting in a floorshift when I pull it down this Winter. I have a B-W T-86 w/OD, I'm putting a top mounted shifter out of a Jeep T-90 on it, requires a couple minor mods and one other mod for the OD to function like original but VERY minor stuff. If you have a T-86 or T-90 3 speed you can pick up a new repop shifter assembly for around $120 from one of the Jeep vendors. Definitely a "traditional" mod. Some of the other "top loader" 3 speeds can also be modified this way using Jeep or truck shifters.
Never really moved a column shift around, always just put it on the floor. But maybe a bump back up will help you find your answer.
you dont say what kind of car you have!We used to flip the shift lever over to the left side of the column...go into the selector box down on the column (under the hood)take the pin out of the main shift tube,flip the lever and reinsert pin...Now get used to a reverse shift pattern...
A buddy of mine has the column shift on the left hand side.Been that way forever. His reasoning is that he can keep his right arm around his main squeeze and not be interrupted during shifting. He's driving a '50 Ford.
it's a '50 plymouth coupe. i didn't realize it would be quite so easy. weird. i can dig havin' your right arm around your chick, but then how do you let your left hand drag on the ground while you drive if you've flipped your shifter? thank you all for the tips, the T90 top loader idea has me very interested, can you tell me more?
Another way that would probably work for minor increase in clearance...not specifically familiar with Plymouth parts: Loosen clamp at steering box, loosen clamp at dash. Rotate column counter clockwise, lengthen adjustment on shift rods to fit. Basically, you put column shift and trans into neutral, adjust rods to fit at that point. Limits to this would include longest adjustments available and any places shift lever hits the car. Heating and bendig shift lever would be another complementary mod...
If you have a regular T86 or T90 then all you do is remove the side shift forks and plug the holes and install the Jeep shifter. Some of the O/T's I talked to just cut them off inside the box and left the cut off shaft to plug the holes but that didn't sound like too hot of an idea to me. If you have OD you need to make a modification to the OD reverse lockout or you'll have to remember to disengage the OD when you want to put it in reverse. One of the members over at the Studebaker Drivers Club is building one up right now with the OD mod and promised to post pics. There is a thread over there now titled "T-86 Floorshift Conversion". I also came across a thread at Classic Cars.Com in the Hudson section discussing it. Jeep used the T-86 and T-90 setup from 1946 through 1971 so parts are stiil available. The military and later model shifters are preferred because they have internal reliefs that keep the shift rails from pumping oil out past the seals on the shifter housing, otherwise they can act like a miniature hydraulic pump. A couple of the guys that had used the Jeep setup and aftermarket shifters both claim the Jeep shifter actually has a shorter throw.
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