Floor mounted rod auto shifter?

I have heard that it is not advisable to mount a rod-operated auto shifter on the trans tunnel because it can shift out of gear from engine twisting when accelerating. But I know of numerous British cars like the Triumph Stag and MGB which used a 3 speed auto and had a trans mounted shifter. Can anyone vouch for whether it's really an issue or not?

Here's an MGB shifter:

 

Mustangs and other compact Fords had them for years!
One of the most common OEM style Hot Rod shifters in use!!!

Cables will allow movement that a solid rod obviously won't allow...but seriously...IF you have that much fore/aft engine movement you have a MAJOR issue with your mounting setup anyway.

 

My shifter is out of Pinto and uses rod linkage. I have used it for 10 years with no problems at all.

 

cool, that's interesting. My plan is to replace my B&M with the MGB shifter, because the detents on the MG shifter match those of the box, whereas the B&M is designed for th350.

I am using a bellcrank, but the levers are all the same length as the box, so it should'nt change anything lever and distance wise. And the shifter needs to be mounted backwards too, so park is rearmost.

 

Sloppy motor mounts might cause a shifter that uses a rod to jump out of gear but they will cause a column shifter to jump out of gear too.

I don't see where you would have an issue if the motor mounts are set up correctly.

In the early 70's half the rods in the US that ran automatics including my T bucket ran a Mustang shifter with the rod on it as they were cheap and plentiful at that time.

 

I had the issue you are talking about in my O/T 68 Mustang with a 302 and shift kit. Only happened when I got on it hard. With new stock type motor and trans mounts, when it would shift under power, the trans would move enough to put it in neutral, unless I was holding the shifter in drive. Granted Stiffer mounts or some kind of torque strap would have completely solved the issue, But the first time scared the snot out of me.

Unless you plan on doing something where you are going to have lots of torque and shifting REALLY hard, shouldn't be an issue.

My $.02