Hi.

My truck is currently at a shop here in town getting the floorpans, rocker panels, and cab corners replaced (had to move quickly as the guy has recurring lung cancer, probably terminal but no one will tell him).

While it's there being worked on, I was wondering what is involved with replacing my 3-speed-on-the-tree shifter with one of the 3-speed-on-the-floor shifters. There has to be a hole cut in the floor, obviously, but how difficult is this to get sized and aligned properly? Do the kits provide a template? How difficult is the linkage to connect?

From the hurst catalog, there is an installation kit separate from the shifter. Is this something an aging overeducated guy with a craftsman socket set and a hacksaw can accomplish readily?

-- 63 f100 w/292, photo in gallery

Bob

 

No way man, floor shifters are easy.
First things first. Disconnect the linkage, speedo cable and drive shaft from the trans.
Now go up front and remove the front bolt in the motor mount.
Place a jack under the front of the oil pan with a 2x4 to prevent denting the pan.

Raise the front of the engine a few inches to drop the trans toward the floor.

Now install the shifter less the shift rods and shift handle. Center the shifter lever stup and lower the front of the engine until it just misses the floor pan. Now mark the travel are of the shift lever with just enough clearance to get the shifter through the floor. Raise the front of the engine again.

Drill a 1/4" hole in each corner of the rectangle from below the truck.
Now go inside, connect the dots and cut out with a jig saw or cutoff tool.
Lower the engine again. Center the boot flange over the opening, without the boot and trace the inside perimeter onto the floor. This will give you a range to cut.
Now I suggest you install the shift rods and adjust your linkages for proper travel before cutting too much floor out or you will cut too much out.
Once the shifter operates properly, you can trim the opening just enough to clear the shifter on all sides.

Install the boot and your all set.

One thing to remember, when under acceleration, the engine torque will cause the shifter to move toward the passengers side, so allow a little extra clearance for this or you can hang up your shifter during acceleration.

 

Cool! Thanks.

BTW, make that "old guy with craftsman wrench set, hacksaw, floor jack, and drill".

Bob

 

I'm sure Krosati's approach is technica..y moreaccurate, but I dod all mine with the mounts intact, and the truck not even up on jack stands. Rough placed it, drilled a couple holes up from the bottom, and started trimming away metal from the top, crawling under, fitting up, etc. about four times. In all it only took about an hour. My beef is the "Indy" shifter doesn't seem to hold its settings for long, and I have to get under and give it about a 1/4 turm every now and then, or it wants to get stubborn. I attribute this to the one bolt mounting of the main bracket. I thnk there sould be two to more solidly place it. Some day I may lay under there and ponder adding a second bolt or welding another arm to it. Works beautiful most of the time, but I'm 6'3", and its a long reach for 2nd gear, and in 1st it is a challenge to slam on the brakes with this 17" wheel.