i've been toying with the idea of running a push button setup on the dash of the T tudor to operate the T700(4 speed) here in australia we only had one car which came out with a push button auto and they didnt make many so finding a push button unit is pretty hard. are they more plentiful in the US? has anyone used one on a T700? if i can find one what would be the going price? any help appreciated craig
Edsel used one in the steering wheel, Dodge used push button too..... i'm sure you could adapt something! i'll bet someone on here knows the answer.
I have a couple that are set up with push button (I call them type writers) and they are a simple cable shifter. simple and positive I like them. I've only found one at swapmeets but it was a good one. 64-65 A/FX Mopars had a pushbutton shifter on a consul that was on a 45 degree angle that had a square tube that pointed directly at the driver. the only one I've ever seen except in pictures, It didn't come cheap I had to pay ten bucks for it try a mopar wrecking yard we have a good one here in oregon I think its something like. www.wildcatmountainautowreckers or wildcatmountainmopars
They're out there, just gotta know what style you want... push buttons were introduced by Chrysler Corp in '56 and I believe ended in '65. Edsel did have one too, not sure of the years (on the steering wheel I believe). Price really depends on who you know and where you go. Aside from junkyards, I've seen some of the push button setups with the cables on ebay from time to time. Don't know if you could find one for a 4 speed. I've only seen 2 and 3 speed push buttons.... but I'm sure you could fab something up that would work on your T700... the concept is easy enough. I most commonly see push buttons on power-flight and torque-flight trans with polys, if that's any help. Hope that helps! ~Melissa
Here's a pic of mine in a '59 Dodge Coronet... 3 speed on the dash. If you need any info on how they work I can send you or post some. ~Melissa
I have a PowerFlite trans and wondered about push button shifting. Does the pushbutton operate a remote servo on the trans? Or could it use cables ... I would have thought the throw would be to short. Curious. Thx. Later, papa al
Edsel's had push-button's in 1958, and 1958 ALONE. I would expect you to pay a bit MORE for one of the edsel ones, But they are on egay ALL the time, So maybe "avail-ability" plays a role in your decision...?
The Mopar pushbuttons last year was 64. In 65 they used the same transmissions, but adapted a column shift to the cable mechanism on the tranny. The pushbuttons were cable systems, though, and very reliable as a result. The Edsel set-up, on the other hand was electric. And VERY unreliable. That's why they only used it one year. I would think it would be very dificult to adapt an Edsel shifter to a non-Edsel tranny. I would say that the push button tranny in the 58 Edsel did alot to give the make a bad name. And for good reason. That combined with bad timing(sales dropped for ALL makes in 58), an overcrowded market segment (Competing with Ford's own Mercury, Buick, Olds, & DeSoto) and poor styling are the major factors that led to Edsel's short production run. The Mopar set-up would probably be easier, but it would only be a 3 speed.
Yeah, they're cable operated which is super nice. The only reoccuing problem I've heard with pushbuttons is having to adjust that cable from time to time.... if you don't adjust it right you might push reverse, but really be in neutral or low. But that's not hard to fix anyway. ~Melissa
The cables on my tranny go to the rear of the pan, near the tranny mount not on the side above the pan. Mine is just an aluminum 904 versus an iron 727. -Jesse
Hey FC, what about some of the early valiants,and crysler royals, they were pushbutton. AP5's had them I'm sure..... Obviusly it would be a hassle getting them to work well, but, nothing worthwile comes easy..... Cheers, Drewfus
They were on '62 Ramblers too. Can't remember if they were cable or ?? Will have to dig out the manual on it and see. I do remember that if you didn't push the right comb. before you turned the car off, it would go in reverse when you started it!
All mopar automatics were pushbuttons from the mid 50s up till the end of '63. In '64 you had a choice and in '65 they were gone. The '62 to '64 buttons were the absolute best factory shifter ever. I've been racing with my '62 plymouth for years and have never missed a gear. Problem with adapting them to anoth tranny is as follows. The pattern goes R-N-D-2-1. Notice there is no park posistion. That part is on a seperate cable. If you made some mechanism to combine the two, it would be more complex than the buttons themselves. next problem is that the push button trannys have a shift throw of about 1/8", and very little force is needed to move the selector. Any other tranny would require much more force and movement from the cable. I don't want to discourage you, but many people have tried, and I don't know of any who managed it. Dave
thanks for all the info guys, i didnt realise that they didnt have park position. dont know how i would add an extra button for the extra gear. i'll keep watching that 2 speed one on ebay and if it goes cheap i'll get it and have a look craig
Another option is to make up your own push button system. Look at the mopar setup and base yours off that. They are really pretty simple, you could mkae a new one a bit bigger to add a park button and an extra gear. Hook it to an aftermarket shift cable and you'd be set. Dave
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