V-gate woe is....

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I rowed a V-Gate type shifter once; the Mr-Gasket version.
I ran it for one summer, then retired it; on the street it sucks. I mean IMO, it sucks. Currently it is getting dusty on my also-ran shelf. With the Multi-strike, the ExCellerator, the OD-A833s, the B&B clutch, a pile of carbs,and a host of other also-rans.
You can't beat (see note 1) a (street)slick-shifted Commando box with a long-tail and the short-handle shifter moved back between the buckets, with beefy home-built rods, and a BALL-shifter knob.
Trust me on this,
lol.
You will never miss a shift again.
You will effortlessly bang it in at over 7200rpm.
Yet on the street the brass will work for you.
You will go down the track with your back slammed into the seat, and never again have to reach for third.
Loc-tite the levers onto the shift studs and the trans will never lose it's neutral gate adjustment ; set it and forget it.
and finding reverse is a pleasure.
(note 1)
Well you can, with a GVod used as a splitter, but that's another matter.


I’m not sure how a V-gate or an in-line shifter sucks on the street. Drove with them for years. Very simple.

I can shift H and inline either one. Doesn’t matter. Neither does the handle or how long it is.

It’s just the inline stuff is more fun.

@lead69 for a laugh
 
I’m not sure how a V-gate or an in-line shifter sucks on the street. Drove with them for years. Very simple.

I can shift H and inline either one. Doesn’t matter. Neither does the handle or how long it is.

It’s just the inline stuff is more fun.

@lead69 for a laugh
I don't think the v gate really has as smooth as an action... There is obviously a lot more involved with downshifting and upshifting on the street...
like the scenario where you drive up the street and say oh crap I forgot something at the house and want to go back in like get your sunglasses. You pull into an anonymous driveway pop it into neutral then pull the reverse lever and back up then pop the reverse lever back in then pop it up on a neutral and pull the trigger up in the first it just gets a little monotonous 4 simple intown maneuvers... we're just the regular for speed ball shifter just glides from whatever gear to whatever gear. Of course I like the v gate and I'll never get rid of it. Probably put it back in next year or something LOL but for now it's really hitting my leg in that is the real safety issue.. I cannot get my foot off the gas pedal and onto the brake without banging my knee on the shifter flat out..

not even to mention back in 2016 or 2017 when my son and I were racing at the Mopar Nationals and I got a cramp in my right leg and couldn't get my foot off to gas pedal and on to the break. When you easily pass the first turn off and you're coming towards the second turn off and basically staring at the field at the end of the track LOL...
 
.. I cannot get my foot off the gas pedal and onto the brake without banging my knee on the shifter flat out..
just wear one of these when your driving

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I don't think the v gate really has as smooth as an action... There is obviously a lot more involved with downshifting and upshifting on the street...
like the scenario where you drive up the street and say oh crap I forgot something at the house and want to go back in like get your sunglasses. You pull into an anonymous driveway pop it into neutral then pull the reverse lever and back up then pop the reverse lever back in then pop it up on a neutral and pull the trigger up in the first it just gets a little monotonous 4 simple intown maneuvers... we're just the regular for speed ball shifter just glides from whatever gear to whatever gear. Of course I like the v gate and I'll never get rid of it. Probably put it back in next year or something LOL but for now it's really hitting my leg in that is the real safety issue.. I cannot get my foot off the gas pedal and onto the brake without banging my knee on the shifter flat out..

not even to mention back in 2016 or 2017 when my son and I were racing at the Mopar Nationals and I got a cramp in my right leg and couldn't get my foot off to gas pedal and on to the break. When you easily pass the first turn off and you're coming towards the second turn off and basically staring at the field at the end of the track LOL...


Ever drive a Ram Rod????
 
Ever drive a Ram Rod????
I just did a custom installation of one in a customers 65 Chevelle... But no never tried it... He likes it.. it doesn't work any different than the v-gate except its reverse leaver go's forward instead of backwards... Damn that Muncie has a high first gear!!...
IMG_20200508_131147.jpg
I know most of them usually have a ball on the top of the shifter. I have a Ford customer who called it a lightning rod LOL I said no it's a ramrod and it has has a ball on it...
 
I just did a custom installation of one in a customers 65 Chevelle... But no never tried it... He likes it.. it doesn't work any different than the v-gate except its reverse leaver go's forward instead of backwards... Damn that Muncie has a high first gear!!...
View attachment 1715570029 I know most of them usually have a ball on the top of the shifter. I have a Ford customer who called it a lightning rod LOL I said no it's a ramrod and it has has a ball on it...

Yeah, they work the same but they are much smaller in size so they fit better in the car.

If my junk ever runs again, I have one set up to go in. I’m this >< close to just selling it all. The fun has stopped way back. The wife and I talked about it last night.

Since the pistons are out, I can get the compression down to 10.5:1, take a bunch of cam out of it, put it back together and fire sale the thing.

When the fun stops, it’s time for the junk to go, and it’s about that time.
 
Yeah, they work the same but they are much smaller in size so they fit better in the car.

If my junk ever runs again, I have one set up to go in. I’m this >< close to just selling it all. The fun has stopped way back. The wife and I talked about it last night.

Since the pistons are out, I can get the compression down to 10.5:1, take a bunch of cam out of it, put it back together and fire sale the thing.

When the fun stops, it’s time for the junk to go, and it’s about that time.
Yeah the shifter seems a little bit more work than fun these days and it sure ain't fun not being able to get your foot on the brake pedal! I mean it does add an element of excitement but not the kind of looking for! LOL..
that's a lot of the reason I've been doing some of the crazy stuff I've been doing on my car lately - nitrous - AC...so forth..
 
Yeah, they work the same but they are much smaller in size so they fit better in the car.

If my junk ever runs again, I have one set up to go in. I’m this >< close to just selling it all. The fun has stopped way back. The wife and I talked about it last night.

Since the pistons are out, I can get the compression down to 10.5:1, take a bunch of cam out of it, put it back together and fire sale the thing.

When the fun stops, it’s time for the junk to go, and it’s about that time.
Well quit tearing apart an engine to put in better rings when the ones in there are fine lol. We do this to ourselves because there is always something to do. I envy the guys who can just polish/drive repeat with their cars.
 
Well quit tearing apart an engine to put in better rings when the ones in there are fine lol. We do this to ourselves because there is always something to do. I envy the guys who can just polish/drive repeat with their cars.


I wish I was that smart. My track record proves I ain’t.
 
Well quit tearing apart an engine to put in better rings when the ones in there are fine lol. We do this to ourselves because there is always something to do. I envy the guys who can just polish/drive repeat with their cars.
I told my wife if I just had a brand new hellcat all I would need is a hand duster to dust it off with...
I never seen her bust out belly laughing so hard since I've known her! she said there's no way you would be able to leave it alone and not think you were going to outsmart the engineers and do something tricky... more laughing after that shaking your head walking away....
 
Well quit tearing apart an engine to put in better rings when the ones in there are fine lol. We do this to ourselves because there is always something to do. I envy the guys who can just polish/drive repeat with their cars.
I figured that out in my 20's , only tear apart my engine when it needs a fresh up.
When I was a teenager I changed my oil every 2 weeks at pay day. lol
and I still don't polish, there are people that do that. lol
 
Took a little bit I had a friend come over and bs for a while. But nevertheless out with the old...
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probably be the fourth time I've welded and cut out and weld it back again this piece of metal for the v gate...
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If you ever feel the need to not push a shifter left and right again get a Long shifter. The quality is apples to oranges. BTW if that is the original boot and untorn they are extremely rare....

JW
 
Next up...jpar installs a powerglide. Seen it before. You’re on the downhill slope to a slush box. The third pedal will be gone soon. And then the tunnel ram.
BLASPHEMY!...
Really it was just a matter of comfort and more so safety. If you noticed I'm a little bit tall and my knee would get pinned against the shifter trying to get my foot onto the brake pedal.... This was a little bit more than an inconvenience LOL...
 
BLASPHEMY!...
Really it was just a matter of comfort and more so safety. If you noticed I'm a little bit tall and my knee would get pinned against the shifter trying to get my foot onto the brake pedal.... This was a little bit more than an inconvenience LOL...

WTH??? That deserved a big red X??? LOL
 
Okay I got the shifter back in and all the linkage sorted out. I left myself notes on the linkage on pieces of tape. Switch the first second third fourth ears... Flip reverse lever over...
I'm running out of juice fast here and trying not to leave myself too much for tomorrow...
Also I went ahead and put a bolt through the shifter. I don't like just the rubber Mount the damn thing has slipped out before! I gave the old pistol grip a thought, but put that back...
IMG_20200801_155859.jpg
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IMG_20200801_145257.jpg
 
If you ever feel the need to not push a shifter left and right again get a Long shifter. The quality is apples to oranges. BTW if that is the original boot and untorn they are extremely rare....

JW
I'm sure that's just some generic boot that I bought and poked holes through for the reverse shifter...
 
Okay I got the shifter back in and all the linkage sorted out. I left myself notes on the linkage on pieces of tape. Switch the first second third fourth ears... Flip reverse lever over...
I'm running out of juice fast here and trying not to leave myself too much for tomorrow...
Also I went ahead and put a bolt through the shifter. I don't like just the rubber Mount the damn thing has slipped out before! I gave the old pistol grip a thought, but put that back...
View attachment 1715571339 View attachment 1715571344 View attachment 1715571345


Well...you’re closer. As tall as you are, that stick looks like it doesn’t have enough bend towards the seat. With long legs you move the seat back, but while sitting your arm length doesn’t always make up for moving the seat back.

I’ve seen guys literally leaning forward in the seat just to get into third just driving because the stick wasn’t box far enough or was too short or both.
 
Need to vacuum, connect a couple wires, a couple pieces of trim, put seats in, and put face back on AC..
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