I've pretty much have always run automatics but I'd like to keep the manual in the Dodge. What should I look for to put a 3 speed floor shifter in it? Is there certian company I should be looking at, do they still make them for this application? I'd like to keep it traditional so I don't want a B&M Star or anything like that. Something with just a black boot.
Check how the stock linkage works. Someone tried to homemake a 3 sped shifter in my 40, but it didn't work. I think one of the linkages has to move vertically front to back (normal), but the other moves horizontally front to back or something...
Floor shift conversions for selector 3 speeds were never common - only a few companies made them for a short time. They were never popular & seldom worked right for long without constant attention. If cleaned & lubed with the worn parts repaired, the column linkage will work just fine. If you "just want a floor shift", several HAMB members have built them from scratch or by modifying a "normal" conversion.
Like the others said, this is a goofy trans arrangement and conversions wern't popular back in the old days let alone today. If you positively, absolutely gotta have a floor shift, then start the trans swap project ... but that will be an expensive floor shift. .
Looked into it for my panel...wasn't worth the effort...I'll just wait until the flatty 6 is tired and put in a new engine/tranny combo
Someone made one over at the p15-d24.com forums...says it "works on the bench." This might be for a Gyromatic, but I'm not sure. I think he said it was a modified Hurst Mystery shifter. My column shift works great on my '52 though...
If it ain't broke....I'm with stay on the column. Below is what I had to do to get the shifter away from my leg and in the middle of the truck floor (may not be your problem). http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m177/49Cosmo/homemadeupoverup.jpg I made the bracket and had to do what I called an 'up-over-up' in order to get the shifter away from my leg. http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m177/49Cosmo/3spodfloorshift.jpg That last picture was the effort needed to move the shifter arms round the overdrive solenoid. http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m177/49Cosmo/3speedfloorposition.jpg Middle of the floor.
I've got one of these trannys planned for a hotrod and must have floor shift. The best idea I've come up with is to have a lever on the stick for the 2-3 shift. the lever would use a cable to engauge the "selector" in the trans. the lever would have to use a cable [vs hard linkage] because you will have to keep the lever engauged through the 2-3 shift [the throw of the shift defeats the possibility of hard-mounting any linkage - cable is my answer] *you need to take the side cover off to understand how the shift shafts/selector work together. "selector 3-speed" is the best way to put it. ok so there would be no side to side movement of the shifter, no "H" pattern. reverse would be stick forward no lever and 1st would be stick back no lever. [the selector is spring loaded to default to the 1st & reverse shift shaft] 2nd and 3rd would be lever engauged [pulls the selector to the 2-3 shift shaft] stick forward - 2nd, keep lever engauged stick back 3rd. thats the basic idea of it. theres quite a few little nit-picky details that would just confuse the explaination... as if that one was crystal clear. hope that helps... I havent noticed any stick coversions around for these, but I havent been looking - I personally accepted that this is my problem to tackle. best of luck, Pax
I just did it with an old hurst indy(universal). No biggy, not just a bolt in, but not that hard. Had to do some custom work to mount it to the trans. and some custom linkage. I don't have any pictures, but it's not that big of deal to do.
Pacman, I haven't even seen one of those transmissions in 16 years, so I'm asking this as a complete NOOB: why would you need a cable if the column shifter is all rods and levers?
Foxcraft made shifter for these transmissions. I bought and installed one in 1965 on my 54 Dodge 2dr. One part of the shift moves the lever that does the shifting , the other with was operated by moving the stick sideways rubbed on a bar that moved the selector lever which decides if it is shifting 1 and reverse or 2 and 3. Must still be some of these around. I would contact Glen Laroque in Ottawa (where the past beats the presesnt.) He may have an nos one in stock. The other very good possibilty is to install a transmission from an early 1/2 ton which would be floor shift. Knowing how these old mopars were built I would be shocked if it didnt bolt right in. Emergency brake and all. Don
buddy pulled a floorshifter from a jap car and it used the selector mode of operation. check it out at the junkyd.
Don has an excellent idea there. Look for '37-8 DeSoto or Chrysler with OD - the Chrysler was used behind some pretty healthy engine swaps by a few who understood how to put everything together. If lucky enough to find one, be sure to get everything from the flywheel back if possible.
The "SECRET" to good positive shifts on early Mopar vehicles with column shifts is to replace the rubber bushing in the selector arm just outside the firewall. The originals are rubber and usually either mush or cracked and broken. New reproduction ones are most likely available but a great replacement was made by several of the old line replacement parts companies like Au-Ve-Co that are a hard fiber-based material which lasts virtually forever. You can find them at swap meets and through Mopar parts vendors like Andy Bernbaum, George Taylor and Gary Roberts.
Yes bakinthday we used chrysler OD,s, even the whole engine trans assembly. Gave you more cubes and OD also. One guy had that setup in a 49 plymouth and another in a 39.Worked great. the 49 had a 2 pot an some kind of big cam in it. That engine would rock back and forth with its bad rumpity rump sound. ran pretty good too.
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