anybody know of a floor shift conversion kit for the hydramatic tranny?? i wanna convert my caddy from column to floor shift.
These days, the only "NEW" shifter is the cheapy Mr. Gasket-universal automatic shifter. I'm guessing you're talking about the old HYDROmatics. Make your own; get a sixties era Mustang floor shifter, make your own detent, lever, and rod, being careful with the geometry of the two levers so it all works right.
why the big rush to get a floor shifter,is it because you don't want your old lady sitting too close,or because you like to bump your trans into the wrong gear? either way it's about the stupidest fucking thing i've ever heard of,ESPECIALLY in a Cadillac!
About the only logical reason for putting a floor shifter in the Cad is if the column shifter is broken. And from looking at the prices in the following link it would probably be cheaper to replace the column than buy a quality shifter http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductList.aspx?CategoryCode=3351C You have to sort through the list because there ar shifters for stick transmissions listed too. It will give you some idea of what is available and what the cost should be.
Early '60's GM floor shift would do it. No detents, just a lock button to put it in Park, used on transmissions with all the same gears so it should have enough throw to it. Detents are in the trans on the Hydro. You'd probably have to make the linkage. Plan to brace the floor some where it goes.
guess today you ran into all the smartest muther fuckers on the hamb! doesn't seem very practical but its your ride,your time and your money!
Why? Some years ago I dropped a 350 chev with auto trans into a 51 merc that had a mercomatic, kept the original Merc steering column with column shifter, hooked it to the Chev trans with a home-made shift arm, had a nice original column shifter and a modern auto trans... Long story short, nothing wrong with a column shifter.
please, dont hold back! i wanna do it because its something I "as in ME" would like. GET IT? i want a tall shifter in my caddy! do you go around to car shows and look at other poeples work or cars and say "thats the stupidest fucking thing..." get over yourself! but hey, thanks for your input.
Tell em travillac.....that guy is a real prick..why don't you offer to put your old column shifter up his ass after you get your new one installed.
I like your idea, put the floor shift in, all the really cool old rods and customs had floor shifts back in the day. I don't know what some of these guys got up their asses, maybe someone put a car part up there.
i just bought a lokar 23" shifter for a powerglide and i am going to make it work on my 56 mercomatic. anything can be done, time and money. custom cars represent your personal styles and tastes ...fuck what anyone else says about it.
The Mr Gasket setup is what I used in my Plymouth. They come with a bunch of parts and with a bit of cutting, grinding, and welding I was able to get it where I wanted it. Eventually I'm planning on replacing the ugly chrome shift lever with something that fits better with my relatively stock interior.
Just in case you guys thought I was being a smart ass, travillac did post a thread about swapping in a 350. It was a serious suggestion (as distasteful to me as it is). Pete
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