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Winters / Art Carr Gated Shifter effect.....for a column shifter?
- Thread starter Greg72
- Start date
so you plan on using the column to shift w/ a cable?
I can see it being done by using a metal gate attached at the bottom of the column INSIDE of the cab instead of outside, but not sure about the mechanism and cable hookup....
all you ever wanted to know about Winters shifters is here:
http://www.wintersperformance.com/Automatic Transmission Catalog.pdf
I can see it being done by using a metal gate attached at the bottom of the column INSIDE of the cab instead of outside, but not sure about the mechanism and cable hookup....
all you ever wanted to know about Winters shifters is here:
http://www.wintersperformance.com/Automatic Transmission Catalog.pdf
The lokar shifter is simple. One reason it's so reliable.
In all reality I think to get the same action you would need to seriously modify the stock column.
It would need extra movement and extra spring force to return to its center.
I have never paid attention to what trans you have Greg, I assumed 400.but mabey it's a 4L80?
Anyhoo. The whole goal here is to be able to slam reverse if anything gets crazy. A situation I have only had happen twice. I think I can rate as the hey let's ask Eric he will try anything guy.
maybe easier to mod would just be a. "gate" for reverse. In that case a reverse valve body would not be needed. Going straight from first to reverse is gonna happen fast.
While it would be cool I don't think it's that important.
In a buggy? Absolutely. But in a buggy I would pretty much actually try anything.
I have climbed some pretty brutal climbs. My hand on my stock column shifter that controls my stock turbo 350. Very rarely have I had to shift to reverse.
Your rig will be plenty capable of making those climbs, but will you be?
In all reality I think to get the same action you would need to seriously modify the stock column.
It would need extra movement and extra spring force to return to its center.
I have never paid attention to what trans you have Greg, I assumed 400.but mabey it's a 4L80?
Anyhoo. The whole goal here is to be able to slam reverse if anything gets crazy. A situation I have only had happen twice. I think I can rate as the hey let's ask Eric he will try anything guy.
maybe easier to mod would just be a. "gate" for reverse. In that case a reverse valve body would not be needed. Going straight from first to reverse is gonna happen fast.
While it would be cool I don't think it's that important.
In a buggy? Absolutely. But in a buggy I would pretty much actually try anything.
I have climbed some pretty brutal climbs. My hand on my stock column shifter that controls my stock turbo 350. Very rarely have I had to shift to reverse.
Your rig will be plenty capable of making those climbs, but will you be?
Eric, you're probably right..... The effort won't justify the results.
I should probably just install a high quality cable linkage like Lokar (it's a 4L80E btw) and see how I feel about the result. If I'm lucky, it will have a more precise and crisp feel moving between the detents and that will be satisfactory.
-G
I like your idea about keeping the look as is ,Greg.
I don't have a good idea to help though, I know that my old straight column for my '72 had a heavy plate that had the detents on it. I can't remember what the tilt column has.
I don't have a good idea to help though, I know that my old straight column for my '72 had a heavy plate that had the detents on it. I can't remember what the tilt column has.
I've had to get into reverse quickly before and it's always been a pucker moment where you really, REALLY didn't want to get it wrong. Of course this was always with a manual, so it may be a different feel with an auto. It just seems to me that grabbing at a column shifter in that situation would be way more difficult to do than to grab at a shifter that is right by your hip.
If there was a simple way to lockout "Park" (with an extra button or whatever) that would probably be good enough. I can slam a column shifter from "1" up to "R" plenty fast.... but it won't do me any good if I overshoot into "P" while trying not to flip over backwards!!!
-G
I know we're talking wheeling, and possible RMVB, but my issue was always the "racing, trying to go thru 1, 2, 3 all dainty and whatnot, without going 1/3, etc.. let alone the wheeling lockout aspect...
I'm sure this can be done... I'm thinking some sort of gated, ramped, circular piece and a spring loaded arm or sumfin.. haven't looked at the setup in a while tho...
I'm sure this can be done... I'm thinking some sort of gated, ramped, circular piece and a spring loaded arm or sumfin.. haven't looked at the setup in a while tho...
If there was a simple way to lockout "Park" (with an extra button or whatever) that would probably be good enough. I can slam a column shifter from "1" up to "R" plenty fast.... but it won't do me any good if I overshoot into "P" while trying not to flip over backwards!!!
-G
You mean like the Prius shifter?
As Ryoken says, it could actually be done fairly easily. You'd build a detent driven by a solenoid, either at the base of the column, or at the transmission, that blocks the shifter from Park. Then you add a pushbutton wherever, to enable the solenoid and unlock Park. Were it me I'd put the pushbutton on the end of the shifter stalk, but you might consider it a risk that it could be still be depressed during emergency maneuvers.
-- A
Cool idea!
Maybe the solenoid should actually be tied to the brake light switch somehow?
.... Maybe also connected to the Terminator ECU so that I can get a MPH speed signal and only allow the solenoid to open up "Park" if the truck was at 0 MPH.... Don't want the solenoid clicking incessantly EVERY time I hit the brakes...I'll have to think about it a bit more, but it's an interesting thought.
-G
You can adjust the position of that lower bracket on the Winters shifter. Then mount it to the dash board going straight up/down. Now it's up and out of the way
You're kind of missing the point.
I don't want the "look" of that shifter ANYWHERE in my interior. I'm trying to keep a really original "old school vibe" with my build. Sure, there's a LOT of high-end stuff going on underneath but cosmetically I'm spending an insane amount of time and effort trying to preserve as much of the original look and feel of the 1st Gen Blazer as I possibly can....
That's not a "dig" on anyone else either. Everyone has their own opinions about what looks cool to them, but there is a very specific look that I'm going for and I'm going to have to do the best that I can with the factory column shifter.
-G
First off, if you really want to this, you should take apart your column to see what you are working with. If I recall from many moons ago, on a 1977 column, there is a shift gate in the column that the shifter rides on. However, that was a 1977 column, and I now know there are differences between the first Gen and second Gen blazers when you asking about steering shafts. (1st Gen have a 3/4" shaft coming out of the column while 2nd Gen have a 1" shaft.
Might seem too easy but what about just hiding the gated shifted inside your console so it's not visible. I understand it's not the "same" but might be a fall back plan f the gated column doesn't work out.
"OMG, quick, I need to get into reverse NOW! Hurry, unlock the console, open the lid, reach down and shift!!!"
Doesn't seem convenient...
I had the same feelings as some when it came to gated shifters vs. stock column shifters. I didn't understand why people wanted to pay money just to redo their shifter when it was still functional. Thought it was more of a "fad" than anything. I thought my column shifter was all I ever wanted. But once I decided to purchased a gated shifter (my column shifter was starting to bind on me when the rig was really flexed out which forced me to do something), I am so glad I did it. I cut out some of my gates too so I can go from 1st to reverse in one sweep (700r4 FYI). And not only that, it truly just make the rig so much more fun to drive....don't really know why....but I love it now. For a rig that see's trails, I will always have a gated shifter now.
If you are really hung up on the fact that you don't like the "look" of them...well, can't help you much there. I think they look bitchin, but that's just me.
If you are really hung up on the fact that you don't like the "look" of them...well, can't help you much there. I think they look bitchin, but that's just me.
I think most of the "bind" issues when wheeling are a function of frame twisting combined with the OEM linkages.... pretty sure that a quality cable shifting retrofit (like Lokar) even on a stock column would have resolved that....
Way back in the old days (when my truck ran) I think mine used to bind up occasionally when I was really crossed-up on an obstacle. That was like....15 years ago.
-G
I agree. Assuming you keep the console closed"OMG, quick, I need to get into reverse NOW! Hurry, unlock the console, open the lid, reach down and shift!!!"
Doesn't seem convenient...
And filled with shit.
I agree it's not a perfect situation just a thought.
I think most of the "bind" issues when wheeling are a function of frame twisting combined with the OEM linkages.... pretty sure that a quality cable shifting retrofit (like Lokar) even on a stock column would have resolved that....
Way back in the old days (when my truck ran) I think mine used to bind up occasionally when I was really crossed-up on an obstacle. That was like....15 years ago.
-G
That is exactly why it was binding up, and yes a cable attached to the stock shifter would have fixed that...but still can't deny the fun factory of the gated shifter
