Gear Shift too tall?
 

Ok,

finally got the motor/trans in. I bought the "period correct" 427 shifter, and installed.

It's a knuckle buster. With a full grip, myknuckles almot hit the dash. :CRY: I'm thinking about taking it to a machine shop and having them shorten it about an inch.

anyone else have this problem?

blake

(don't laugh at the temp. wheel. I ordered a moto-lita from Finish Line yesterday) :D

Yes, it's kinda a pain, but the results are worth it. Trim it down to the length you want, turn the shaft down for the threads, then cut new threads for the shifter knob. I leave the T part off the lever myself.

Blake,
I use a s/b gear shift lever for the reason you discussed. I got mine from Finishline.

shifter
 

I decided mine was way to long for good shifting with a TKO. I would start by cutting 6 in off.

I ended up making a new 1/2 in shifter out of some stock.
Bend a foward bend in it, about 7 in total length. It lands right in my hand with the arm on the tunnel and shifts with a flick of the wrist.

gn

Original or practal? Running T-5Z with Hurst shifter. Short shifter handle bends back, and in toward drivers leg. Natural feeling, and driver friendly.

You must be trying for some originality or you wouldn't have ordered a Moto Lita wheel and gone to the trouble of using the Galaxie shifter handle.

On that basis, first, look at my gallery the picture titled: "Details". It shows how it would fit with an FE and toploader. You're engine and trans combo have conspired to move the shifter assembly forward, because they are shorter.

If you want to keep the look, I'd suggest just shortening the handle an inch or two and rethread it. A good way to deternine how much to shorten would be to unscrew the ball, hold it in your hand and put the shifter lever between your middle and ring fingers while holding the ball and slide your hand backward to see where your knuckles come to when in first and third. (or whatever gears are forward on your shift pattern).

I would absolutely not remove the "trigger" from the shifter and lose the look. Just have a machine shop turn the main lever shaft down so it will still slide on. They'll be able to do that at the same time they cut new threads for you. I know it doesn't function anymore, mine didn't either, so just lock it in place with loctite or solder.

Just my humble opinion, but it would be a shame to lose the character by putting something foreign or modified in it's place. EVERYBODY notices the basackwards shifter in these cars.

Al

Al
Nice pics....do you have a digital camera? If so, could you snap a pic of that door sill with the kitchen trim.....would like to see it.

Thanks
Tim

Come to find out I was using the wrong transmission mount(it was too tall). So I called B&B and they UPS'ed me the right one. Transmission still sits high(in my opinion), but it's about 2 1/2" lower than the one I had before....Gear shifter is lower and have lot more clearance now...no more knuckle busting....I hope :D

blake