this is beating the fun out of the A

Found the frank odo (?), article about the top shifted top loader. It's just what I need.
So the munchie is definitely for sale. My add is in the classifieds. Thanks guys.

 

Did this on a friends A, maybe it wasn't back as much as yours with the blower belt though. Made a plate to pull it forward, shortened the shift rods and made the shifter come out almost on top of the trans. From the shifter gate it went to the pass side, then 90 deg up and both 90 deg bends have gussets for hard shifting the saginaw. Found a used hurst shifter, used the gate, the bottom part of the shifter and bar stock for the shifter......with a welded stud for the ball.

 

It looks way too tall if you look at the original shifter gate bolt spot, the setup we used above barely cleared the underside of the board.

 

wait....you're ditching the 4 speed and going with an automatic just so you dont have to spend $450 on that top shifter conversion?? Think about that a minute or two... Auto trans....stall speed converter(yuk!) with a blown 327?? sheesh.... please re think that!

 

I think the jeep shifter from the 70's will bolt onto a top loader Ford tranny. There is thread on here about the conversion. It gives the look of a early floor mount shifter

 

I'm going to remember you said anything "good" about a Ford Gary!
I was going to mention the Jeep conversion for the top loader but you'll have to live with a truck style shifter, it's not going to shift as quick as a good Hurst, speed shifting 2nd to 3rd would be out. I've had the same issue with a Tremec, didn't madder the it had a Hurst shifter, couldn't shift anywhere a fast as a super shifter on a top loader. Maybe that wouldn't be an issue but granny shifting doesn't sound like your style!
I wouldn't have a problem moving the seat box back myself, I finally did it to the A we have after 20 years and really wondered why I hadn't before it maid the car soooo much more comfortable to drive. It's not like originality is an issue anymore.

 

When I was thinking about going automatic I was pissed, frustrated, and waisting time trying to make something work. So now I've got an eye on a goal and have learnt how to get where I need to go. AND the top loader tranny is stronger than a munchie, so double good!!

 

I've got a Toploader w/Jeep top shifter in my 31 A roadster. Ive driven the car only one Sat. afternoon and it is down for unrelated problems with the build.
No, you're not gonna bang thru a power shift like a T-10 or a Muncie, but it ain't "Granny shifting by a long shot.
There's some big, heavy parts in that Toploader, and overcoming inertia is a basic fact of Physics>

 

Just notch the seat for the shifter.

 

hey Terry ain't you about 6" taller than me? No the granny shifting doesn't appeal to me, but, i gotta do something. I want to drive this thing !!!

 

Couple inches tall anyhow.
Thinking about it, I put a 4 speed in a 27T with a stock seat framea year or so ago, it was a fight but doable. I would think your A wouldn't be any worse. I used a bracket that bolted to the tail shaft to tranny bolts, moved it forward quit a ways from the tailshaft bosses but it did move the shifter over under your leg too much. A little heat and bending on an old shift handle took care of that. Don't know what the bracket/kit was off of, swap meet find and it was a Saginaw I used but I think I have the same type of bracket around here for a top loader Ford.
What did you do with the banger?

 

sold the "stock" engine to a guy here in Alb. He's "restoring" an A truck. He's a Harley guy so he knows about low tech and leaks. LOL !!
I thought about the Saginaw shifter bracket, thinking i could put the shifter just about anywhere, even under my leg. ha ha. I'm going to do the top loader top shift thing, have the parts on the way as I type. Figure I'll sell the Muncie to offset some of the cost. Need the scatter shield to mount the toploader, hey, the A is getting more and more FORD !!

 

OK the parts are here. Wide ratio top loader, and the top shift mechanism. Gonna start putting it all together in the next couple days.

 

shifter is in a good place now !

 

Excellent solution.

 

That seat is gonna leave marks.......