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Chevy and Chrysler's
stock shifters usual break during a derby, so install your own!
The following descriptions are for Chryslers and Chevy's. 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...
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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. |
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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... |
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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.. |
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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.. |
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This is the underside view of a
lever shifter.. it's also a good pic of how to double nut the
connection.. |
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Close up of how the shifter goes
through the floor. |
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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 tight
(so the motor can't move an inch!).
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