i want a console shifter
- Thread starter ohnogerm
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FJ5
Well-Known Member
Not hard at all. Just find a set of manual collars from a member on here. Then cut off the bracket on the end of the column tube. Find all the console pieces and install.
It aint easy or cheap. There are a couple of pieces of the automatic shifter linkage that are sometimes missing and nearly impossible to buy separately.
The OEM console is about worthless too. No cup holders, no arm rest, possibly a push button door release that often fails, definitely more trouble than its worth.
If you really want a shifter than looks like a shower fixture sticking through the floor, you're not the first.
This post comes from a guy who has been there done that and even produced the console brackets and a locating template for others to buy/use.
The OEM console is about worthless too. No cup holders, no arm rest, possibly a push button door release that often fails, definitely more trouble than its worth.
If you really want a shifter than looks like a shower fixture sticking through the floor, you're not the first.
This post comes from a guy who has been there done that and even produced the console brackets and a locating template for others to buy/use.
limelite70
Well-Known Member
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Its going to cost you $500.00
and a couple days labor
and a couple days labor
yea i would like to do something like maybe a slap shift type thing if thats such a thing I'm a super newb but really love old cars with a passion its a automatic car btw
and this can be done on a automatic ?
ESP47
Well-Known Member
This is the best advice you'll find on the subject.
You can do anything to these cars but you have to decide if you're willing to put in the time, work and money. Take how much time, work and money you're guessing it'll take and times that by about 3. Then take into account that there's going to be some cutting, fabricating and welding involved plus the headache of trying to find parts that aren't reproduced.
Me personally, if my car doesn't come with an automatic console, it's never getting one. I might take the time to convert an auto to a 4 speed but I wouldn't go through all the work to convert a column auto to a floor auto + console.
To fully convert from Bench Seat, Column Auto.......to OEM Bucket Seat/Console Auto.....
With NO PARTS Car
is roughly:
$350-400 steering column
$400 bucket seat cores, with tracks
$400 for Bucket Seat Covers
$200-250 for a NICE Console
$150 for a NICE shifter Assembly
$150 for console brackets
$150 for linkages
and someone to cut the floor for the linkages, weld the brackets to the floor,....
.. a week of WORK ....start - finish.
And to resay what has been said.....I wouldnt change a car over if it came with Bench/Column Auto,......unless I HAD to.
With NO PARTS Car
is roughly:
$350-400 steering column
$400 bucket seat cores, with tracks
$400 for Bucket Seat Covers
$200-250 for a NICE Console
$150 for a NICE shifter Assembly
$150 for console brackets
$150 for linkages
and someone to cut the floor for the linkages, weld the brackets to the floor,....
.. a week of WORK ....start - finish.
And to resay what has been said.....I wouldnt change a car over if it came with Bench/Column Auto,......unless I HAD to.
BigBlockMopar
BigBlockMember
I went from a column to console in my '73.
Not sure where all the 'big money' drama and 'crying' comes from above but about the only things that needed some McGyvering for me was to fab the console/shifter-brackets, and make sure the shifter linkage cleared the overdrive-unit of the A518.
Oh, for what it matters, I will be converting my '65 Chrysler 300 aswell to console shifter, just because it simply looks better
Not sure where all the 'big money' drama and 'crying' comes from above but about the only things that needed some McGyvering for me was to fab the console/shifter-brackets, and make sure the shifter linkage cleared the overdrive-unit of the A518.
Oh, for what it matters, I will be converting my '65 Chrysler 300 aswell to console shifter, just because it simply looks better
d55dave
Well-Known Member
Like so many other things in this hobby - it can be done on a budget, or you can break the bank - up to you. For a non correct, not "as the factory built it" car do the following;
Retain your original steering column - simply drive out the pin to remove the gear shift lever and remove the various bits of linkage from the bottom of the column to the transmission.
Remove your carpet and seat(s). Obviously, you will need buckets to make the console work. If you do not already have, or cannot afford factory style buckets, go to your local wrecking yard and find some that suit your style, take your time and be smart about it, be sure they are properly installed into your car. Some fabrication skills may be required here.
Locate and buy a console, shifter, brackets and associated linkage. Somebody parting out a car is your best bet - you can get it all in one spot.
The point in the floor where the down rod goes through is already there in your car, it appears as a raised circular area on your floor pan, to the right of the drivers foot on the trans hump. Cut a round hole through it. If I recall correctly there are also 3 dimples where you will drill 1/8" or so holes for the 3 screws that hold down the boot.
locate the position of the brackets (take measurements from the parts car before removing them, or ask someone on the board here to measure theirs) and either weld, or rivet / screw (yes, this is a little "hacky" but works) the brackets to the floor.
Cut your carpet to fit around the brackets and down rod, install the linkage , shifter and console. Adjust the shift linkage as per the FSM and you are done.
I personally have done this 3 times, 2 on two doors, once on a four door with a couple of evenings work. Like everything else with old cars - have all the required pieces on hand, be prepared, take your time and think about what you are doing.
The one in the pics was converted from a column shift / bench seat, using parts from a parts car, to buckets / auto console, and then later the auto console was converted to a 4 speed by cutting and modifying the top plate.
Retain your original steering column - simply drive out the pin to remove the gear shift lever and remove the various bits of linkage from the bottom of the column to the transmission.
Remove your carpet and seat(s). Obviously, you will need buckets to make the console work. If you do not already have, or cannot afford factory style buckets, go to your local wrecking yard and find some that suit your style, take your time and be smart about it, be sure they are properly installed into your car. Some fabrication skills may be required here.
Locate and buy a console, shifter, brackets and associated linkage. Somebody parting out a car is your best bet - you can get it all in one spot.
The point in the floor where the down rod goes through is already there in your car, it appears as a raised circular area on your floor pan, to the right of the drivers foot on the trans hump. Cut a round hole through it. If I recall correctly there are also 3 dimples where you will drill 1/8" or so holes for the 3 screws that hold down the boot.
locate the position of the brackets (take measurements from the parts car before removing them, or ask someone on the board here to measure theirs) and either weld, or rivet / screw (yes, this is a little "hacky" but works) the brackets to the floor.
Cut your carpet to fit around the brackets and down rod, install the linkage , shifter and console. Adjust the shift linkage as per the FSM and you are done.
I personally have done this 3 times, 2 on two doors, once on a four door with a couple of evenings work. Like everything else with old cars - have all the required pieces on hand, be prepared, take your time and think about what you are doing.
The one in the pics was converted from a column shift / bench seat, using parts from a parts car, to buckets / auto console, and then later the auto console was converted to a 4 speed by cutting and modifying the top plate.
DJC
Well-Known Member
motobro
Well-Known Member
Dont forget about the elusive lower rod !!!
famous bob
mopar misfit
I did this w/ parts I bought from members on this forum, although I put a turbo action cheeta
shifter in the stock location. also removed the ashtray and put in a cup holder. recovered the 'bad" old wood grain w/ some black material that I used on the fastbacks back sear delete area. be patient and wait to buy from people that are real, and don`t have greed on their mind, many on here do!----bob
d55dave
Well-Known Member
good advise famous bob. Also think outside the box a little - if you are missing a rod or bracket - make your own, some of the bits can be fabricated with a little ingenuity and hard work!
I changed mine over - not a big deal except for gathering the parts takes time unless you get a package deal. If you go factory, be careful about positioning your console brackets. I also cut off the column shift lever mounting nub and gear indicator. If you are building on a budget or not concerned about originality, I would recommend going to non-original parts. I used the original style console and shifter, but if I was to do it again, I would go with a late model console and aftermarket shifter. I got my seats (98 Explorer Eddie Bauer) for $50 on Craigslist. Already said - the new console could at least have armrests and cupholders. Famous Bob advertised a 69 B'cuda shifter knob for shipping cost only - I got it, painted it, and installed it. Thanks, Bob! BTW Bob - got any pictures of the ashtray conversion as cupholder. I was thinking of doing that to mine. I would be interested in what you did.
longarm
Car sold back to original owners
Don't know if it will help.
This guy use a Pontiac interior from a
Grand Prix if I remember right.
Probably could use a cable shifter in the console.
This guy use a Pontiac interior from a
Grand Prix if I remember right.
Probably could use a cable shifter in the console.
dragondan64
Banned
I just listed all my center console parts with column for manual steering and floor shifter!
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=293075
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=293075
ssba
Well-Known Member
Lots of good advice on here from the yays and nays. If your like me you already have your mind
made up to do it whatever it takes. That helps a lot.
Fortunate that you are going automatic and not trying to go factory correct four speed console
as I am.
Im glad I did but I will likely never do it again. Stupid amount of money was the worst part. A ton of research went into it in my case. It was my first time doing it which didn't help. I had no parts
car to donate its parts. I switched from console automatic.
I enjoyed doing the work part of the conversion (still working on it) but obtaining all the parts was way more difficult than I had anticipated. I spread it out over a year researching, finding and purchasing what was needed before starting on the install.
made up to do it whatever it takes. That helps a lot.
Fortunate that you are going automatic and not trying to go factory correct four speed console
as I am.
Im glad I did but I will likely never do it again. Stupid amount of money was the worst part. A ton of research went into it in my case. It was my first time doing it which didn't help. I had no parts
car to donate its parts. I switched from console automatic.
I enjoyed doing the work part of the conversion (still working on it) but obtaining all the parts was way more difficult than I had anticipated. I spread it out over a year researching, finding and purchasing what was needed before starting on the install.
famous bob
mopar misfit
:blob:
don`t have pics at this time. installing the t/a cheeta shifter in the stock location was the hardest for me. the cupholder can be bought at a boat store, I deleted the ash try for it, as no one will smoke in my cars. have never had any trouble w/ a factory console lid and push button. the console brackets need to be welded to the floor in the right location ( or pretty close, and leveled correctly), I guess a person could pop rivet them too.
if you watch long enough, you can find the parts on here or ebay w/o paying someones rape charges, there are many on here that are way overpricing this stuff-be patient.:coffee2:
famous bob
mopar misfit
forgot: mine was a 4 speed to start, just had to remove the 4 speed hump, and rework the tunnel some, also reinforced it a little-welded the front seam all the way across.--bob
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
I mounted a Hurst promatic-2 shifter, inside a factory console, tossed the factory top plates for the console and made my own new top plate, complete with cup holders. Made my own console mounts cause this car was column shift originally. Also modified the collers on my steering column so that it looks like a factory floor shift car.
WildCat
Well-Known Member
Think it was Mopar muscle that had article on converting column shift to floor shift for the column
Little body work type skills and they can look like factory
I changed mine but had everything from parts cars but then went 4 speed so more work and a real expensive 4 speed console shifter that was a NOS Hurst comp plus
If pure stock look isn't what you have to have, you can always do some measuring and make one or find one you like that will fit.
View attachment image.jpg
Little body work type skills and they can look like factory
I changed mine but had everything from parts cars but then went 4 speed so more work and a real expensive 4 speed console shifter that was a NOS Hurst comp plus
If pure stock look isn't what you have to have, you can always do some measuring and make one or find one you like that will fit.
View attachment image.jpg
1972DusterPaul
Well-Known Member
Ya pretty easy conversion if you can find all the parts. Done several over the years.
Nice work there MileHigh.
Nice work there MileHigh.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Thanks DusterPaul,
Thanks MoparMarks
Thanks MoparMarks
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