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Well, not quite yet. Hopefully not jumping the gun here. Its mounted, but need to make a lever that allows me to shift since this works opposite our push down to shift. Also its too far to the right and needs to slide about 1.25" towards the driver side. Plus the handle is almost as wide as the shifter plate. So its gonna be a tight fit.......if it even works!
That horseshoe starts life as a three speed shifter. It will be interesting to see how you make this work with the OD trans. If there's a way to do it, that would open up a lot of options.
Thats is a factory (91 camaro) shifter. Only the handle is from an old school horseshoe shifter. There are mods to both, but mostly to the stock piece. Link is a 1st gen shifter w/ a 4 speed auto. Too many things to mod on that shifter.
In the top pic only the handle mounted. Since then i was able to figure how to make it shift. Since you have to pull up to do so with this handle vs push down on our 3rd gen. In the pic below the lever swings down on the left side and up on the "horseshoe side" when the handle is pulled up. Lever works like a seesaw, thus allowing me shift the horseshoe in the normal way.
Base modified and bolted on.Thankfully only needed to move it over about half inch.A couple more fixes and should be ready to re-connect everything.Then onto a shifter plate.
Man,you did a good job on this! I’d like to see it when you get the shift window installed. Are you going to rig up a way to have a sliding indicator to show what gear it’s in?
Actually yes, got this filthy piece on the way. Not gonna use the whole thing, just the window w/slider part.Id like to also add a small LED to the indicator.
Basically, its done.Except the paint on the handle is chipping off. So i may have it powder coated.
I decided not to use the 4th gen window.I couldnt stand the orange backlight, so i got one for a mid 80s regal.
In the top pic only the handle mounting was done. Since then i was able to figure how to make it shift. Since you have to pull up to do so with this handle. The lever in the pic below swings down on the "3rd gen side" and up on the "horseshoe side" when the handle is pulled up. Sort like a seesaw/fulcrum effect.
could you get better pics on how you made this part work? And getting the handle to fit. Doing the same thing but have been stumped on how to get this to work
Thats the only pic i took showing this detail area, sorry.I pretty much explained how it works with the pic. Some other things done, was shorten that lever, i didn't measure by how much though, cut the square hole the lever passes thru and drill a hole on the 3rd gen part for the pin. The horseshoe handle bolts on the same points where the stock shifter handle attached (w/ rivets). I used a spacer on the (pass) side of the shifter due to the horseshoe handles wider design vs 3rd gen base. The base is also modified to correctly center the handle in the console.
You did a top notch job on that! It looks fantastic. I’m sure it must be fun to use and probably gets double takes the first time someone peers into your car. They used to have really wild shifter designs in the past. After the early 70’s cars got a lot more boring.
Thanks, appreciate the compliments.It really is a great looking shifter, but definitely don't see that kind of thing anymore for sure.This post is about the only people who've seen it though.With the pandemic thing i have'nt driven it but once to get food, but i'm guessing people will wonder how its shifted.Since only the ol school fans will know about it.
Yeah,I can’t wait for things to get back to normal too. It’s so strange seeing everyone walking around with masks and blue gloves on,standing 6 feet apart,and there’s even folks going out in full clean room suits. Yesterday I went to the post office and they had installed plexiglass shields in front of the windows. I joked in my best Maxwell Smart impression “what’s this?Chief,I insist we use the cone of silence”,and the guy started laughing. Gas prices have fallen but there’s no place to go because everything’s closed.
Same here and near empty streets/no traffic.Just seems weird.3 weeks and still cant get TP. Just wish i could hoard some gasoline.May need it for more than filling the tank!
Same here and near empty streets/no traffic.Just seems weird.3 weeks and still cant get TP. Just wish i could hoard some gasoline.May need it for more than filling the tank!
Same here. Empty shelves,hard to find towels or toilet paper. No milk,all the fish and lunch meats mostly gone. It’s like a episode of the twilight zone. I witnessed two women fighting over a case of Mr Clean. There was also a guy trying to sell Sanitizer for $20 a bottle in the parking lot outside the supermarket a couple days back.
Got mine done today...not the same process though...i have a manual i went to auto on so i had to bring bolts from the transmission tunnel to mount the shifter. All my original center console was used and a made a middle piece for it. Just have to get my shift lens and a 3 speed detent for my th400. Nothing is really screwed down completely but its there and functional. More pics when i go back out to it. Great looking mod.
Nice work, looks like the manuals shifter/boot spacing is just the right length for the horseshoe shifter. Have you decided on which shifter lens you're going with. I still want to incorporate a shift indicator on mine. Sometimes i cant tell what gear im in.
Yeah...it worked perfect. I think im just gonna do the old school lens with the green lines. May change the color though...just because I haven't seen it done yet. Thx for the love. I'll post more of the process soon
Last edited by FusesTranny; 07-10-2022 at 05:48 PM.
I have one from a late eighties Olds Toronado / Buick Riviera in my S10 Blazer. It is for overdrive and cable operated. Maybe that would be a swap candidate as well?
That's a cool looking setup...especially in-between the shoe. It should work I think... I just need a 3 speed detent and I can mount it fully. Ok...this is the shifter i have. I chose the shorter version so i would jave room to adjust things. I went into this blind. I seen it done so i wanted to try it. I have an 84 trans am manual i switched to auto.
With switching to auto i dont think i have defined mounting points to make this work which was fine. Just sitting it in there though...it was way too low. I took some bolts and used them to adjust the height to where i could shift without binding. Itll take a little time to get each bolt level and high enough to work. I was gonna do some brackets but i didnt wanna weld. After i got it right i marked where my bolts landed and drilled holes to come up through the tunnel.
With the holes drilled i came up through the bottom with long bolts. 2 6 inch bolts in the back and 2 2 inch bolts on the front. I washered the bolts under the tunnel with a washer and lockwasher put a nut on all the way down with a washer put a nut on fot the height i needed, slid on the shifter and put a nut on top to lock it in. All bolts should generally line up.
This is how it ended up sitting. Perfect height and pretty solid. I was bent on not cutting and welding on this base. I think the shorter base worked out great. I dont have it all the way tight because i need a detent for 3 speed. Another bonus is i didnt have to do anything to my console!
All i have left to do is figure out how i want my indicator to look. Im overall happy with the install wspecially just winging it. I hope this helps others who want to try this mod. Good luck!
02-23-2020, 09:48 PM
