I just had to jump in on this thread...
The Hydramatic equipped trucks had a column shift...which is as rare as
hen's teeth, an also won't work too well with a modern automatic,
because the gate (the "tab" that keeps it from shifting unless you pull
the lever towards you) is set up for a different shift pattern...with
neutral at one end and reverse at the other! You could make a new gate,
and make it work, I suppose, but you'd also have to make a new gear
indicator. You might also be able to make a gate to work with the 3
speed shifter, possibly by modifying the original 3 speed gear selector
box at the bottom of the column. You will want to make a gear indicator
and add a neutral safety switch also, to do the job right. This does
not sound like an easy task to me, so..
The Lokar and Gennie floor shifters that mount on the transmission are
pretty good units, and I've installed both types with success. They
come with a gate and neutral switch. These shifters have a long chrome
lever, which is shaped to look like the original 4 speed shifter. The
gate in the Gennie is operated by moving the lever sideways, while the
Lokar has a button to press. The Gennie is a bit easier to accidently
move to the wrong gear (popping into reverse at highways speed is
exciting!) Both of these shifters cost somewhere around $150-200, I
recall.
Jim
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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