Floor mounted, cable operated auto trans shifters...

[Zeus33rd]

Does anyone have one in their truck?

When I put my truck back together, I'm considering one of these to replace the wonky and worn out stock column shift setup. Specifically the B&M Truck Megashifter.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-80680/

I'd love to see some pictures of one installed, not necessarily the B&M one, but any floor mounted, cable operated unit. Any experience with these, good or bad, would be appreciated.

 

[sweetk30]

didnt like it .

look up lokar stuff. much better quality

 

[Zeus33rd]

Any pictures?

 

[shadowwalker_02]

I have the megashifter in mine and I love it. Once you adjust it properly and make sure the cable won't get frayed on the hole in the floor it works pretty good. The downside to mine is the gear shift indicator cable does get kinked so it never works. Its harder than hell to shift once you first install it but keep it lubed and keep workin it and it get's easier. Thought I had pic's but I don't have em on this pc, I can take some on tuesday when I get to the shop though if you want.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=924838

Art Carr for 209

much better

 

[cybrfire]

I had a B&M model in the crew when it was an auto. Worked good. No complaints. I think it was a Quick silver.

I think the key is routing the cable for smooth operation.

 

[Zeus33rd]

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=924838

Art Carr for 209

much better

I had a B&M model in the crew when it was an auto. Worked good. No complaints. I think it was a Quick silver.

I think the key is routing the cable for smooth operation.

The reason I was lookin at the truck megashifter was for the extra height it offers. I'd rather have something easy to reach, than something down close to the floor. Bench seats, it would have to go next to the 205 shifter. How do those two, the art carr and the quick silver, work mounted on the floor? How tall are they? Easy to reach?

I'd really like to see some pictures! hint hint..lol

 

[boz42]

The art carr is not tall enough IMO. I mounted mine one a bracket I built off of the cage to get it in easy reach. I know my picture will not really help you but it will show how tall it is. It does come with a plastic base to floor mount it but it is prolly only about 6" tall.

 

[79rustyk10]

I second the Lokar shifters, I had a B&M star shifter in my Nova. Worked great for a musclecar/hotrod, but I wouldnt want one in a truck. A friend put a Lokar in his buggy and loves it.

Sorry no pics either.

 

[Fordum]

Joe, haven't kept up with floor shifter tech, But I think the Lokar has different length shifters.

Yep, just found this.

Floor mount shifters are available in 6'', 8'', 10'', 12'', 16'', & 23'' with mushroom or black knob where noted.

But I have to wonder about the cable. Most of the floor mounts I worked on used rods. Of course, I don't do a lot of chevys.

Here is an instruction manual for a..........Mr. Gasket. I know, I know, but over the years I have put in several and they all worked great and outlasted the truck.
None of them were for an auto though.

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/mrg-7668(2)1.pdf

At least it will give you an idea.

Aha! Found the manual for a Lokar. It does use a cable.

http://www.lokar.com/downloads/pdf-instructions/gmcableop-shifter.pdf

 

[Zeus33rd]

I've already been checkin out all the install instructions available on Summit...great learning tool. Been lookin at the lokar stuff too, and I just don't like the way ANY of them look. I'm generally a function over form kinda guy, but those things are just butt ugly as far as I'm concerned. Found a few decent videos on youtube showing the B&M stuff, so far I like these the most.

I found these pics on 67-72chevytrucks.com-

The first two are the shorter standard base, the second two are the taller truck base-

Found this on fullsizechevy.com-

Ok, I'm done. I've been lookin at google image results for so long my eye balls hurt.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I'm not of much help here for you Joe but in the past i've ran the Hurst Quarterstick in my muscle cars and was VERY happy with them. You can build a pedestal to mount any of the floor shifters on so they sit as high as you'd like them to.

 

[Fordum]

Well, its 3:00 in the morning, I have a damn toothache. I never get toothaches, but I got one now and its keeping me from sleeping.
I think I have a leaking filling and its getting inflamed, because I think I may be running a fever.

I mention this, because even in the state I'm in I realize this is not a good idea, but maybe you can cut me some slack.

Since the shifting is just a straight line push-pull, it would not be hard to rig up a linear drive using a ball screw and a stepper motor.

Then, you could have push button electric shifting.

Heck, don't know how much torque it would take, but I could probably hook a stepper motor straight to the shaft coming out of the tranny.

That would be even faster shifting.

 

[phreddei166]

I have the B&M truck Megashifter with turbo 400. Shifts good. Rachet works good. Its at the right height. Its close in height to the ORD twin stick. Have lubed cable. Even spaced the spring loaded shifter arm on valve body. But if I could do it all over I would not buy this again. B&M quality is on the sucky side. I drove a buddy's truck with the Lokar shifter. I would buy the Lokar. It comes in different lever lengths. Lokar quality is top notch. I use Lokar speedo and throttle cables. Hope this helps.

 

[ryoken]

B&M's are crap.. Art Carr/Winters for the win...

 

[Fordum]

B&M's are crap..

Seriously, SERIOUSLY???!!!

Did you just say this????


God I have heard some bad ones but................Words fail me.

And that takes something........

 

[ryoken]

I'm a little slow this morn, that went right over my head.. wait, it's afternoon, see told ya, braindead... I got boat on the brain...

for a ratchet shifter thats similar, the B&M doesn't hold a candle to a Hurst as Scott mentioned... the V-Matic 2 is a far superior shifter to the B&M counterpart...

the real question is which style of shifter is wanted, a ratchet or gated.... they both definitely have advantages.. the gated AC's are pretty bulletproof..... unless ya lay the cable on the exhaust...

 

[wasted wages]

Kid... I have one of these I'll sell ya' cheap........PM me if interested...


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-80706/

 

[tRustyK5]

Joe I hope you don't mind a slight hi-jack here. I'm pretty much an auto n00b having run a SM 465 and NV4500 in my previous rig. My current 90 has the 700R-4 which is growing on me, but my column shifter is so sloppy it's not even funny anymore.

My question is from a drivability standpoint never having used a ratchet shifter. Can they be pulled straight back into "Drive" easily? The gate style I understand, the detent style like the Lokar obviously i understand, the ratchet style is the fuzzy part for me from an ergonomic standpoint.

while i'm hi-jacking a little, the Lokar (paging Brett...) is detent...does it lock into each position unless the button is pushed? My only concern is the shifter getting knocked up out of drive and into neutral.

rene

 

[sweetk30]

b&m mega shifter for taller truck use was o.k.

but the rubber boot dry rotted vary fast. and the unit was just kind of chinsy i think for the prices.

lokar has lots of options even a cable adaptor for stock colume shift linkage replacement.

and i have there 23" long blacknight 2 bend on my th400 with pistion shifter knob on it.

i like it real good. good quality and shifts good felling wise. and the 23" long handle is perfect placement just like a 4 speed shifter.

i got the one that clamps to the tranny and is 1 shift rob no cable . it was set to fit in my stock 4 speed hole from my old 465/205 combo. even with the boot on it it fools lots of people.

pic 1 = shifter in park
pic 2 = center shot in park
pic 3 = simple hiem joint linkage rod 1 little s bend needed
pic 4 = all the way in 1st gear still lots of seat clearence