Thread: Column to floor shift conversion

Tweet

I am seriously considering this mod as I believe hot rods oughta have floor shifts. Why the builder put a column shift in my roadster I do not know. What I am struggling with is modifying the column for a smooth look. Ididit does not sell a replacement part eliminating the shift lever boss, so I am left with the idea that I have to cut off the boss, weld it up and rechrome. Not my preferred option. Anybody got any other great ideas???

Hidebinder....Don't know if this would help you out or not?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp...qx/Product.htm

Pat

Hidebinder---Guys are building new cars and they want a column shifter because they don't want to use up the floor space. Try advertising a trade. I think it would be a really tough job to rework the shroud and rechrome it. I have seen posts where people did it succesfully to older G.M. columns, but they basically ground the pot metal off with a grinding disc, plugged the hole with bondo, then primed and repainted.
I tried to do it by disassembling a G.M. column, and ended up with such a mess I had to throw the column away and then buy one without a shifter from Ididit.

Thanks guys. I was looking at that piece from Speedway, I wonder if its metal and can be chromed as my column is all chrome???? Just a phone call away. Just seems to me that Ididit might have a market here to sell some parts as I'm sure there are others who have done this same thing. How different can this piece be from a column shift to a non-column shift????

My two pecos,..
I have a B & M ' Megashifter ',...
nothing Wrong with it EXCEPT:
1. I can't use the Lokar chrome 16" tall floor emergency / hand brake lever ( that would look SO retro )..
Only fits with a Lokar shifter....
2. I didn't have a choice ,.. sounds like you do !
check out :
www.lokar.com
or
www.ajgeneral.com
FYI,& oh yea,.. let us know,
we who can't may ' live ' through those who can...
no reason to leave with out coming back
www.clubhotrod.com

fourty1

Hidebinder, I'm making the same conversion. Juliano's has a column shift cover, part JURM202, for $19.95, which is available at
http://www.julianos.com/ . The cover is made of plastic but that won't be a problem for me since my column is painted. I haven't ordered one yet so I can't tell you how easy it is to install. Good luck.
Bill

Ever seen those kits that let you mount a tach in the shift receptical? Saw one somewhere maybe JC whitney but it did not impress me to much.

Well, I called Speedway and asked about the column shift cover that Pat had brought to my attention and it is plastic, bummer! I need a metal one so's I could chrome it to match. When I contacted Ididit about the possibility of them reworking my existing column the answer was.... no, can't do it.......or I'm guessing, won't do it. Their in business to sell complete columns. A person is looking at over twice the price of doing this conversion with having to purchase a whole new column.

Hidebinder,

Just a thought.....Have you checked the local junk yard for a steering column that was designed for use with a floor shifter? You might be able to cut and modify it to fit the Ididt column and have them both rechromed.

Have a great weekend,

Pat

Thanks Pat, that'll be an option. Well I ordered the Lokar shifter and shift indicator so the steering column fix is going to be more of a challenge than I had thought.

Originally posted by Hidebinder
Well, I called Speedway and asked about the column shift cover that Pat had brought to my attention and it is plastic, bummer! I need a metal one so's I could chrome it to match. When I contacted Ididit about the possibility of them reworking my existing column the answer was.... no, can't do it.......or I'm guessing, won't do it. Their in business to sell complete columns. A person is looking at over twice the price of doing this conversion with having to purchase a whole new column.

I have a streering tilt column out of a 76 camero with a floor shifter but the ones out of the chevy vans are are relly nice and slim but alos hard to get and a lot mor money. Ed ke6bnl