Transmission / Overdrive: 3 speed floor shifter in '50 Commander

[raoul5788]

Anyone install a 3 speed manual floor shifter in a '50 Commander? What make/model did you use? Any advice for doing it?

[StudeRich]

There were plenty of Fords and Chrysler Products that used that Borg Warner T-86 you have, so there have to be plenty of Fenton, Eelco, Hurst, Mr. Gasket etc. 3 Speed floor shifters on eBay.

The Trick is; if yours is with Overdrive, finding one for an Overdrive or modifying it so the shift linkage clears the Solenoid.

It is Highly unlikely that anyone has installed one on a '50 Commander. Lot's of similar '53 to '55 C & K's though.

[Craig]

It would be great if someone could post about installing a new 3 speed Hurst in a 50's Studebaker rather than a used Hurst off eBay or a top loader conversion.

[64studeavanti]

If interested, I have a floor shifter that mounts to the top of trans. May work for you.

[Craig]

Thanks, but I would like to see a floor shifter on a T86 or similar that suits a sedan application using new parts.
New shifter, new brackets mounted in a traditional location.
This floor shift below seems to meet the requirement along with brackets that require little modification, but what is it exactly? I dont know. Hurst? JCWhitney?
I dont know what this transmission is. 4 bolt top coverT96?

[gordr]

That is a T96 transmission. The same shifter ought to work on the T86, since all the mounting brackets attach to the R10 overdrive case, which is common to both transmissions. Linkage rods would need to be slightly longer, I think, by some fractions of an inch. Those linkage rods look a little spindly.

[t walgamuth]

I have a clean used C1 corvette 3 speed with knob floor shift I will sell for a reasonable price. I don't know if it will fit or not but I suspect it can be adapted.

[6hk71400]

Pardon me, but think I had heard that the truck floor shifter or a Jeep floor shifter was a bolt in for the T86 transmission. This was 30 or so years ago. As I remember, the T86 was used in all Commanders from 1947 to 1957. A friend of mine had a bolt in floor shift on his 1953 coupe either truck or Jeep shifter. No external shift linkage needed. Worked with the overdrive on the transmission. Also, if someone is familiar with taxi applications, latter models used the same setup.

Bob Miles
Fuzzy memory at best

[StudeRich]

You are talking about the same thing as offered in Post #4, but apparently the OP wants a Conversion Kit, (Side Shifter) not a Top Shifter.

[6hk71400]

Pardon me, but think I had heard that the truck floor shifter or a Jeep floor shifter was a bolt in for the T86 transmission. This was 30 or so years ago. As I remember, the T86 was used in all Commanders from 1947 to 1957. A friend of mine had a bolt in floor shift on his 1953 coupe either truck or Jeep shifter. No external shift linkage needed. Worked with the overdrive on the transmission. Also, if someone is familiar with taxi applications, latter models used the same setup.

Bob Miles
Fuzzy memory at best

Rich, you are correct. I was just thinking that a smaller hole would have to be cut for the top loader, thus easier to repair if the next owner wanted to go back to stock.

[Rafe Hollister]

I bought my 56 259 3sp OD with 3 on floor. No linkage, shifter come right out of tranny. The previous owner thought it came from and older Stude truck, but wasn't sure. Picture are before and after I fixed the floor.
Rafe Hollister

[oberjim]

I'm still looking for a 3 speed floor shifter for a T-86 trans in my '63 Wagonaire. The column shifter is junk and I've spend over $2000 trying to get it work with a new clutch and reworked trans by a reputable local shop who works on our club's (LA Chapter) cars.
So I'm done with grinding gears and gonna try a floor shifter before I attempt a auto trans of some sort. Any info on the forum seems dated or speaks of accessories that are no longer for sale (Mr. Gasket and JC Whitney), and no one selling a used one on eBay has a clue what the his shifter came out of. Even the Hurst shifter rebuild guy doesn't know squat about 3 speed shifters, by his own saying so!
Any help would be appreciated.
Jim Ober
Simi Valley, CA 93065

[StudeRich]

Jim are you SURE that Mr. Gasket (I think part of the Federal Mogul Parent Co.) is not still making them for Trucks and Jeeps?
I believe they bought Hurst, so some are cheaper Hurst Clones.
The Pic in Post 5 looks like one.

[doofus]

I used an Indy 500 PU shifter. from local FLAPS, cheap and has bolt on shift lever. trans on floor , modified bracketry and shift levers.used in 56 wagon project, t 86/289. works fine. Luck Doofus

[yeroldad]

ANY floor shifter can be adapted, it's just brackets. A 4 speed shifter even.