The homemade version from the original column shift is pretty neat. This is what traditional rodding is all about, using what you have and a big imagination. Let’s face it this was during the time when you had to make things because the aftermarket was just getting started.
a nice floor shifter is a fully synchronized 3 speed with overdrive out of a 84-87 F150. I added a chrome Model A shift handle
Way back in the sixties, my local car hero Gerald swapped a 283 into his mom's Henry J and adapted a floor shifter from a 1960 or so Valiant. I found one of these shifters at the wreckers and don't recommend going there.
Here's Ryan's article about Tom King and the King Shifter. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-king-shifter.427191/
Hello, For a creative teenager trying to solve several problems at once, it took time, but the results were so good that we could have started a item offered for sale and made money off of it. The first time we wanted a floor shifter for an automatic transmission, it became a project approved by the metal shop teacher. I had already finished my class requirements and now was on the custom project track. So, I drew up what I thought was a simple lever version. But, the teacher told me to bring in a transmission if possible and start from scratch. 1951 Pontiac two door sedan This was the goal, scallops, lowered rake, mags, and a tall shifter lever. The old transmission worked well as I was able to lay out some patterns and assemble the unit as it fit the mounting brackets. It was good to be able to work on a table as it was much better than inside/under a car. The problem with the extended levers as a custom lever is you just can’t bolt on a longer lever. One has to put the lever in gear two and reverse to see where it was going to clear the dash. A straight longer lever will hit and one has to gauge the curve of the lever to make sure the slamming into second does not make a dent in the dash. (or fingers) So, unless one had access to a metal shop and auto shop in high school, it was hard to make one at home. We had a conversion stick shifter we made for a 51 Pontiac and the owner wanted a very long stick lever above the steering wheel. So, we made one long stick and bolted it in place. That was mistake #1. When it was at the top, the lever hit the dash and would not go into gear. The metal shop teacher laughed at us for the project idea. Then we curved it back a few inches, when it was going to be in the forward position. It still needed to be bent back more. But the problem was if one bent it too far back, then, when it is in the lower position, it may hit the seats. Not good. So, a modified “S” curve solved the problem. Once the mock up was heated and bent into its shape, then heated again to get the other shape, it was worthless as strength is weakened. So, it was a mock up version. The final version was a nice looking new bar bent in a modified “S” curve and did not hinder the dash or the seat. Of course, the lever had to be moved forward to the dash when on dates at the drive-in theater. YRMV. This is what was the final look, with the tall floor shifter, a one of a kind teenage hot rod sedan/cruiser. If we wanted, we could have started a business of curved floor shift levers. Ours were painted black and the original one was painted a low cost "chrome," a fine silver spray paint. The surface had to be very smooth and polished, as it took the silver paint to its glossy end result. One quick look inside would assume the lever was chrome at first glance. Ha! As we made a bracket, then added other pieces to work attached to the transmission, it was coming along. Yes, we made mistakes as the arms we used did not clear the outside body. But, a few changes and the unit was complete. Now, we could take it apart and use the final parts for assembly and paint. Jnaki It was fun when the actual car 51 Pontiac Sedan rolled into the auto shop and we started the minor tear out to make room for the shifter. The adjustments could be made as to shifter rod length to clear the dash and curvature. Several lengths were tried and bent for the project. We made the transmission mount that was sticking out of the floorboard with a threaded end. That allowed us to thread another rod, bend it to our liking or use it for experimental bends or curves. The final length, curve and white ball shifter was a perfect fit to clear the dash and still give room for the passengers sitting in the seats. And yes, it shifted in all gears and looked fantastic. Note: Yes, we considered making a tall floor shifter for the 58 Impala for the original 3 speed stick. But, by the time we thought we were going to make one, we had the diagram in the beginning stages. Then our mom decided that if she were going to help with the gas money costs, she would like an automatic transmission car, similar to the shifting Buick sedans she has been riding for many years. A Dynaflow, smoothy? So, with the automatic transmission in mind, a C&O Stick Hydro was selected and now, we had one fast to faster 58 Impala using the ever quick C&O Stick Hydro off of the starting lines. Our mom was happy, we solved our gas money crisis and now, the Impala was almost twice as fast as it was before, when it was a stick shift car. White ball lever? Not from the floor, but what was it connected to when shifting? A smooth column shifter lever and stick shift blank selector window was the sight from the driver’s seat. The view from 1960 to 1965
Spark-o-Matic shifters were cheap, flimsy, and worked adequate in the sixties. A lot of column shifter linkage wore out and hung between gears on 40-50’s cars. Just because you add a floor shifter doesn’t make it a race car!
Like I've said before, there are still so many used Hurst three speed shifters around that I wouldn't consider using anything else. Mounting brackets can always be fabbed.
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