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Chevy and Chrysler's stock shifters usual break during a derby, so install your own!

For better detail, click on the pictures for larger versions.

The following descriptions are for Chryslers and Chevys. I'm 95% sure Fords run a cable shifter which doesn't usually break.. But you might still feel it necessary to replace the shifter. I've never installed a shifter into a ford.. SO.. you'll have to climb under the car and see how the linkage works.. IF the trans shifts by turning a big metal "C" that attaches to a stud that goes into the trans .. read the part on how to install a Chevy shifter.. IF the trans shifts by a little lever that pushes back and forth.. read the part on how to install a Chrysler shifter...

	Chevy Shifter 1: This is a diag on how to install the simplest shifter for the Chevy style trans.. Chevy's shift with a rotating "C".. Just cut a hole in the floor and bend a piece of rod.. put the rod into the "C" and pin with a cotter. Shift by pulling the rod up and down.. You'll have to play with the bend in the rod to allow you to get into both Drive and Reverse.. Sometimes you'll have to chop out part of the driver's seat so you can push the rod down enough to hit reverse (I think.. or drive).. the problem with this shifter is that you have to hold the rod UP to keep the car in drive.. it sucks! But it's an easy shifter to install.
	Chevy Shifter 2: You can convert the turning shifting into a push pull.. there are two ways.. On the left is the "C" that's on the trans.. take that C and bend it into an L .. BE CAREFUL.. if you break it.. you've got a problem.. PLEASE NOTE: I'VE ONLY BENT ONE C AND I ALMOST BROKE IT.. I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN V*E*R*Y LUCKY.. IF YOU BREAK THE C YOU"LL HAVE TO TRACK ANOTHER ONE DOWN.. IF YOU CAN'T FIND ONE.. YOU ARE SHIT OUT OF LUCK! A better idea is to go to a junk yard and buy a linkage off a trans that looks something like the one on the right.. These half C's half L's are on trans that have a shifter in the center consol.. Once you've bought a linkage or bent your stock linkage into an L .. Move on to the next step...
	Attach a straight bar to the top of the "L", through a hole in the floor, with a LOCK nut and bolt.. DO NOT tighten the bolt down all the way.. tighten it until the bar is flat to the top of the "L" but you can STILL move the bar up and down without moving the L.. it's a good idea to double nut the bolt.. it can come loose.. TO SHIFT.. push forward, and pull back.. it'll take practice.. The "click" between all the gears is perfect.. you pull or push the bar just enough and CLICK you're in the next gear.. BUT the click from park to reverse is hard.. going from PARK to REVERSE is hard.. so you'll probably end up pushing right past reverse and into neutral.. just pull the shifter back one click, and you're in reverse..
	Chrysler Shifter: Chrysler's shift with a lever type shifter.. All you need to do is attach a flat bar though the floor and onto the end of the lever.. with a LOCK nut and bolt.. DO NOT tighten the bolt down all the way.. tighten it until the bar is flat to the top of the lever but you can STILL move the bar left and right without moving the lever.. it's a good idea to double nut the bolt.. it can come loose.. TO SHIFT.. push forward, and pull back.. it'll take practice.. The "click" between all the gears is perfect.. you pull or push the bar just enough and CLICK you're in the next gear.. BUT the click from park to reverse is hard.. going from PARK to REVERSE is hard.. so you'll probably end up pushing right past reverse and into neutral.. just pull the shifter back one click, and you're in reverse..
	This is the underside view of a lever shifter.. it's also a good pict of how to double nut the connection..
	This is a pic of the installed shifter.
	Close up of how the shifter goes through the floor.
	Once you're done, you'll want to strap the stock shifter into park.. If it slips into "D" the car will think it's in drive and won't allow you to spin the starter..

LOCKING out park

Unless you know how to override the start-kill (with a push button or something).. OR if the park kill is part of the column and not the trans ... you can't lock out park.. ..easy way to find out.. once the shifter is in, put the STOCK shifter in park, and put the homemade shifter in drive.. if the car turns over.. you can lock out park.. if the car doesn't.. you'll need to figure out how to override the kill before anything else..

I don't bother locking out park.. but to do so.. just tie strong rope.. or small chain to the new shifter and attach the other end somewhere on the underside of the car (somewhere that *WILL* move with the trans!) Lengthen/shorten the chain/rope so that you cannot pull the shifter all the way back in park.. be aware.. you lock out park, and something bends funny.. you could find yourself locked out of reverse or drive.. never know...

 

No time or tools to put a shifter in?

If you can't get your own shifter in the car.. you can chain the motor to the frame though the exhaust manifolds (or something) and that will help keep the stock shifter working.. just USE good chain and threaded rod to tighten it down DAMN tight (so the motor can't move an inch!).

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