I've been looking for a good deal on a Lokar or Gennie shifter for my TH350 lately, and I see some good deals on TH400 Lokars. I was just wondering if anyone has ever modified a Lokar to fit transmission, other than what it was designed for. I have no problem seeing ways to fabricate a bracket to mount the shifter, and I can see where I would have to add or remove length for the linkage, but If the shifter is for any 3speed auto I would think I should be able to make it work on my 350? Just trying to save a buck...Time I got, money I don't! Thanks, N8
Aren't the T350 and T400 both 3 speeds? I would think it's just in the bracket where the difference is. I didn't even use the bracket on mine, I mounted it to the floor of the car.
I have ordered a few Lokar shifters for different things. Some are tail shaft mount, some are floor mount. If your buying a tail shaft mounted shifter consider the differences in the TH350 and TH400 case. Those shifters come with a threaded bushing to install in an open boss in the case to use as a mounting point. It would probably be easier and cheaper to just order the correct shifter for your trans...
Yeah I'm ***uming the only difference will be the mounting hardware? I can handle that part no problem, I just wanted to make sure the shift paterns were the same I thought I read some where that some transmissions (maybe Mopar) were almost a reverse pattern (if that makes sense)
I'm with Edelbroke in that by the time you get done making it work for you you will have wished more than once that you had gone ahead and spent the extra bucks and bought one made for the application. Before I did anything I'd be ordering their printed catalog so I could go through it and see what the differences actually are and if it was feasible to buy a new shifter and make the mods. It might be a lot different story if you were working with a less than half of new priced swap meet unit.
Lokar does not advertise this....BUT if you call them they will sell you a package to change the T350 shifter over to another shifter for $50 bucks (3 years ago price) I had a T350 Lokar shifter and got all of the stuff from them to use my shifter on a 4L80.... It came with all new hardware, trans mounting ears, trans arm, shifter rod, and detent plates....took like 20 min to install....and didnt have to buy a complete shifter when I already had one on hand from my trans swap
I just took a Gennie Low Stick ***embly off a 350 ****** I'm pulling. It'll be for sale. PM me if interested.
Thanks guys, I have seen parts on flea-bay before to convert a 400 to a 350, but the guy had no pictures and didn't respond to my e-mail till after it was sold, he did say that he thought it was basically just bracketry. We will see what I can find?
Yup, Lokar sells conversion kits. They are around $100 bones. You have to call them because they don't advertise these kits ANYWHERE! I'm saving money to get one from a fellow hammer. I had the same problem. I bought one for a C4 and turns out I have a FMX. Very similar looking so I didn't know what I had until I tried to instal my shifter.
It's bracketry, shift arm, shift rod, and bolts. You can modify yours because the shift pattern is the same. Cut off some of the ears and weld on your self made ears, repaint and your done.
The people at Lokar are great to deal with ! I am sure if you give them a call they will be more than happy to help you out.
If I mounted up my lokar on my 904 the way it was intended to it would have need under the dash and I would have been shifting through the cowl vent on my 50 dodge. I fabled up some brackets to make it sit in the appropriate location and it shifts perfect. It's not a driver yet though so we'll see...
hey i stuck out 30.00 at a swap for a th400 shifter then made it work on my th350 i just filed the notch on the shifter gate so the detent stoped at the right spot . it dosent go past into neutral untill ya press the knob
Thanks Hambers After reading this thread last week, I called Lokar and ordered the conversion kit from a turbo 400 to a 4L80E. It was $90.
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