I want to put a column shift in my A; what is the best shifting one you can remember? Memory tells me Nash and Stude. Open to ideas.
As the owner of a Stude with a 3 on the tree I can honestly say your memory is lying to you on at least one count. Can't speak for the Nash.
I liked the Ford units from about 55 to about 64. But the deal is if its sloppy its going to be sloppy whatever make it is.
learned to drive in a 3-speed stude.... if you miss 3rd you need to stop and start over! my buddies chevy was WAYYYY smoother.
Low miles is more important. A friend has a 51 chev pickup with less than 20k miles...it shifts like velvet ..whatever that means
had a 65 Falcon that shifted quite well, as does my 61 Dodge. it's been 30 years since I drove my 49 Chevy with it's original 3 speed but as I recall it shifted as good as well. even my 4 on the column 65 Datsun shifted good. I say get the column and shifter that goes with whatever ****** you are using and rebuild it and adjusted correctly
I will put in a word for Mopar 40's units, but they have a different selection method. However, there is no Chevy or Ford or studebaker clunky Neutral gate to traverse when shifting from first to second. When the lever is pulled toward you and down to select first gear, releasing the lever allows it to go through the neutral gate in the first gear position. To select second the lever is just moved vertically with slight pressure toward the dash to select second, straight down engages 3rd. I can shift mine with a flick of the finger at the base of the leaver, without removing my hands fro the spokes of the steering wheel. And mine has 64 years an 93k on the mechaism. I haven't touched it since 1971.
"40 up Ford ones had the best linkage by far, with little slop in movement. Chevy column shifters felt a lot like stirring oatmeal.
Ford is about as good as it gets. No vacuum ******** to help out. Early Ford was no problem full throttle 1-2 shifts except for blowing it up
'65 Chevy belair, best shifting 3 on the tree ive driven yet. Im sure it all depends on wear and tear
My '52 Willys Aero had the smoothest and quickest three-on-the-tree shift I ever drove. Better than the '59 Chivvy or 51 Ford that I had.
Believe it or not I had the chance to drive a very low mileage 40 Chevy for a couple of hours. It had the infamous Vacuum shift that everybody used to ***** about in the late 50s when they were worn out. It was sweet! I wouldn't recommend it for a hotrod but when new it had a very short throw and very tight. My moms 60 Ranbler American had the shifter coming out of the dashboard. Smooth but hard to adapt to a hotrod. I'd make sure that replacement parts are available before getting too deep. Are you going to add the shifting tube to an existing steering box or are you making a new column? I like the look of having 2 exposed tubes in an old hotrod. Some of them are a tube in a tube and will look more like an automatic when parked. Chevys and Ford will have replacement parts to rebuild a worn one and probably experienced people to help out.
I'll second that---the stock shifter in my '53 BelAir works nicely, and it bolts to the top of the column with two u bolts, so it would easily adapt to nearly any steering column. Bruce, stop it!
53 merc is real smooth but a 49 plymouth is what i could shift fast. Gmc pickups are like stirring oatmeal. Ford falcons are nice and smooth
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