coulmn shift auto anyone using them in ad or tf trucks.

[54 jimmy]

i am making my truck a column shift auto an was wondering how everyone was connecting their column to the trans as far as shift linkage. i have looked at kits but wondered how other have done it if they have made their own linkage or not. i have a bunch of small heim joints that a lot of the kits use and am thinking of making my own. if it turns out good i will post pics and like i said i have a bunch of these joints and maybe see if anyone would be intrested in a cheaper do it you self kit. now i would post kits for sale in the parts for sale forum this is just to see if there is any intrest and what others have done. i have priced kits an $50 to $80 bucks seems steep for something so simple that you never see but it has to be polished alu or ss. i just want simple shift my trans not shiny show piece as probably other do too.

[pgf545]

I am doing one but we got a column from Ididit. It uses a cable and a simple bracket that attaches to the column. I don't see why you couldn't build something like that. But if you already have the linkage then go for it.

Bernie

[54 jimmy]

i am on a tight budget an not using an ididit. trying to do a low buck kit. my column is a 68 van column. i know lots of guys use this type of column that why i was asking. cable shift is a little to high tech for my build trying to keep it simple. thanks for the info pgf545

[OrrieG]

Here is the cheapest way I found to do it using aftermarket cables. $40 vs $125 for Ididit. If you are not running under frame brake assembly and relatively stock exhaust (no headers) you should be able to use a stock TH350 rod assembly. Trick is to get one out of a pickup, the rod from the steering to trans is about 6" longer than a car. I used aftermarket brackets at the trans but a piece of angle and flat stock could be fabed, I was at a point I did not want to mess with it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=134

[54 jimmy]

well i got mine done today with a rod type setup like i wanted was really easy. i would post pics but the site won't let me anyone else having that problem. i thought there would be more response to this topic but i guess no one is using a column shift for their auto. i will be posting kits for sale in the 47-54 selling section by the first of the year or sooner depending on my out of town work. as soon as i can i'll post pics on mine. the kit will be better mine was the proto-type. works really nice.

[OrrieG]

Glad the rod worked, I just had to much stuff in the way. I wanted to keep the column shift to keep the floor clear. Before I took the truck apart I had a floor shift and sometimes my young copilots would kick it out of gear in the excitment of 4-wheeling.

[54 jimmy]

hear you i had a floor shift but put a column shift in because of my daughter and her car seat. need to make it versital for the family. mine was pretty clear with the firewall mounted brake booster. still have room left over too.

[kq4pc]

Hey Guys, Wanted to put my 2 cents in.i bought a 56 truck,still got the standard shift lever on colum.got a 350 auto tranny.someone fabed a rod for linkage to the auto tranny.works great.only draw back is no seclector.but works great. thanks Bobby

[54 jimmy]

thats great thinking of using the standard shifter to operate the auto.

[54 jimmy]

here are the pics of my linkage.

[IL boy]

that looks good, i plan on using the column shifter on my 55 and relabeling the display on the column

[54 jimmy]

thanks il boy it works really nice. it is adjustable so you can fine tune it. mine has no slop in the shift lever like on my 1991 jimmy with a rod type setup. i have enough heim joints to make about 14 kits and will do so when i have the time. they will be avalable in the 47-59 parts for sale forum. i'm not sure of a price but it will be under $50.00 but it will require some welding as it is a universal fit kit. it will have detailed step by step instructions too.