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Hey there, looking for recommendations on an automatic shifter for my 48F1. The truck currently has a GM TH350 trans with an older B&M Megashifter in it. There is no console in the truck, so the B&M comes up a little short. I'd love to hear/see what others have done. Since the truck will see some light strip use, some type of performance/ratchet action is a MUST. I see that B&M makes a truck version of that shifter, as well as Hurst. I'd love to hear from folks in here on what you recommend.
I have a 52 f3 with c6, I had to put in a trans. tunnel and am planning on putting in the b&m light truck shifter because I want it higher also . I won't be racing, I just think it looks good. Larry
I went through the search of shifters that other members used on their trucks before I bought one for my 49f1 with a c4 transmission. The shifter that I got for mine is a Lokar with a 23 inch lever. Well made and looks like stock.
That Lokar shifter looks excellent.
I used the B&M truck megashifter in my '54, and it was good, but I know what you mean about being low. I had a Cadillac seat in mine and it was low to the ground, but on a truck, with tall seats it might still be too low.
I went through the search of shifters that other members used on their trucks before I bought one for my 49f1 with a c4 transmission. The shifter that I got for mine is a Lokar with a 23 inch lever. Well made and looks like stock.
I love the look of the Lokars. A nice high shifter like this would be cool, but Lokars don't support performance shifting, do they? All the ones I've seen are the "just drop it in drive" variety. Anyone know if Lokar makes anything with ratcheting action? This looks to be pretty significant product gap in the marketplace, right? Performance automatic shifters for old trucks? Seems like an untapped market to me!!
I use them only thing I do not like is you cannot fell the detent in the shift-- here is the one I have installed now--
Can you elaborate on the point about not feeling the detents? Are you saying it's easy to skip gears if you were manually moving it up from first gear?
I think because the shift handle is so tall you do not get that CLICK--DETENT noise in each gear like a B&M shiftier-- will never miss a gear because you have to push the safety button in to shift--they do look good and are quality build--
I think because the shift handle is so tall you do not get that CLICK--DETENT noise in each gear like a B&M shiftier-- will never miss a gear because you have to push the safety button in to shift--they do look good and are quality build--
Now you have me intrigued on the Lokar setups. So the Lokar's let you access 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears, right? Are you saying you could throw it down into 1st, and you wouldn't likely miss second because you push in the safety button to shift? Or, is it very easy to push in the button and skip right over 2nd into drive?
I have a Lokar shifter with a C6. I called Lokar and asked about the "soft" or not positive detents. They said the shifter does not have positive detents, it relies on the transmission. If the detents are not positive, the transmission is the problem not the shifter... of course they are Lokar... If they were the transmission company would they blame the shjfter?
I would good if a trans expert could give us the low down on detents...
I just use the 3-on-the-tree shifter and linkage...did it that way on my '51 with a C6 and it's that way on my '54 with an AOD. There is no indicator or reverse lockout - just count the 'clicks'/detents by feel...and it's not in the way like a floor or console shifter....
