Three speed floor shift?

[SN-60]

But the top shifter conversion is especially fitting for a rat rod. In order to direct him to the correct threads covering these, we have to know which tranny he has.

jack vines

I see what you mean....I was thinking bolt on side shifter....but I agree, a top shifter would possibly be nicer to have in a Rat Rod!

[John Brayton]

I don't know how many were built, how many brands sold them, but I do know that three speed floor shift cars were available in the early sixties. I had a friend, who's father died at an early age, before I knew him. That left him and his mother alone on their rural farm. The reason I remember this particular car is that my Mom, and most women I knew at the time, wouldn't think of having anything but an automatic, no manual shift cars.

One day, Dean's mom drove up, as happy as could be, grinning from ear to ear. She was driving her brand new Plymouth Valiant, slant six engine, and a three speed manual floor shift. We were in our teens. Dean got his license shortly thereafter. When his mom was not looking, he kicked that little car around pretty bad. That shifter must have been built pretty tough, because I don't recall any problems, even after getting punished by my friend. I don't know what happened to that car, but a few weeks ago, I attended Dean's funeral. We hadn't kept in touch over the years, but it seems that he lived a pretty good life.

Before getting assigned for a year's government sponsored free trip to Vietnam (1967/68), I bought and completed a hot rod 53 Chevy truck. It was being built in the base hobby shop at Bergstrom AFB, Austin Tx. I installed an aftermarket three-speed floor shifter in it. The main thing I recall about that shifter was the nylon bushings in the shifter mechanism. When they wore, they would cause interference and hang ups. Keeping those bushings in place, lubricated, and the linkage adjusted, was critical to good service.


On the current availability of three speed floor conversions...If you find one, look for signs of wear. Make sure the linkages are tight, and not sloppy. If there are "plastic" looking bushings, try to determine if they are cheap plastic (that can become brittle and crack off) or some tougher material, such as, nylon or delrin. If you opt for metal bushings, remember, they will require frequent inspection and lubrication. Due to the location, shifter linkage is exposed to road grit and grime. Also, due to location, they are easy to neglect until problems occur.

It has been so long ago (now), that I don't recall all the details. However, I think I improvised some new bushings from copper or brass. Unfortunately, I had to sell the truck after returning from Vietnam to help pay some of my college expenses. After graduating from college, I was longing for another "old" truck when I accidentally stumbled across an "old" 1955 Studebaker truck....Have had it ever since.

That's a great story...I had a 65 Valiant with Hurst shifter in 1966.....it was well "tested".

Merry Christmas!

[John Brayton]

I have a three speed floor shift from a fifties corvette...56? Not sure. I bought it off ebay when I was planning to use the three speed od truck trannie in my CE. I'll sell it reasonably.

Thanks for that offer but I believe I've got one in the works.

Merry Christmas!

[John Brayton]

The Hurst Indy shifter is available new from Summit/Jegs/local retailers for cheap. It's not as good as the original, but with a bit of fabrication, it can be made to work with a rat rod.

First question to be answered, is your Champion from a car, with T96 tranny or from a truck with a T90 (would have T86 on the case)?

jack vines

Hi Jack,
It's an engine from a 52 Champ.

Merry Christmas,
John Brayton

[Skybolt]

Hi Guys,

I'm building a rat-rod using a 52 Champ engine and three speed tranny. I'm hoping to find a floor shift setup and avoid the column shifter. Did anyone make such a shifter?

Thanks!!

I will trade you information for some Lagunitas.

Or, just find a three speed shifter and adapt it.

Len.

[gordr]

It should be possible to take a top shifter from an earlier Jeep CJ and bolt that right into the transmission, if it's a T-96.

Roy, the CJ's I have seen had a T-90 transmission in them, which is built on the same tooling as the T-86. A Jeep top shifter will go on a T-86 with overdrive; see Dick Steinkamp's kart Hauler, for example. I have never seen a T-96 with a top shift. If such a thing exists, it has to be very obscure. Military Jeeps used a T-84, which is not compatible with the T-96, parts-wise.

I have been (mentally, so far) toying with the idea of making a "universal" top shifter. Imagine a base which would bolt on in place of the top cover, containing a socket for the shifter stick, and some gates, etc., such that moving the stick would cause rotary motion in two cross-shafts located ahead of and behind the stick socket. On the left end of each cross-shaft would be a lever, connected by a linkage rod to the lever on the transmission case. Basically, it would be your standard after-market floor shift, but reconfigured to be mounted on top of the transmission, not behind and to the side. Yes, you would probably have to make clearance for it by raising the floor over the top of the transmission, but the expected use of such a thing would be in a customized car, so no big deal, right?

[PackardV8]

Hi Jack,
It's an engine from a 52 Champ. Merry Christmas,
John Brayton

Then, you want a top cover floor shift from a Jeep. There are many floating around as most Jeeps didn't come with overdrive, so today they're converting them to 5-speeds. Once in Kalispell, MT, I could have had a dozen T96 top shifters for scrap price. Since few are rat rodding with a Champion, I didn't figure there would be much demand.

jack vines

[evilhawk]

I plan to put a 3-speed Indy floor shifter in my 59 with an O/D trans. Is it possible to drop it in with the trans still in the car?

[PackardV8]

I plan to put a 3-speed Indy floor shifter in my 59 with an O/D trans. Is it possible to drop it in with the trans still in the car?

Yes, BTDTNA, because it's much more difficult than with the tranny out on the bench. Many of the universal kits are several slotted pieces which can be more precisely aligned and clamped down when all sides are accessible.

Also, most Stude trannies have an inch of greasy dirt all over them. Removing and cleaning the worst of that also makes for a better install.

As long as you're headed down the slippery slope, while the driveshaft is out is a good opportunity to replace the U-joints.

jack vines

[t walgamuth]

Hi Jack,
It's an engine from a 52 Champ.

Merry Christmas,
John Brayton

Hi John, missed your PM because my inbox was stuffed. Its clear now.

Tom Walgamuth