Hi guys , i'm looking at buying a shifter for my 53 but am after some advice as to which one is best. At the moment i like the lokar trans mount type, but has anyone used one of these , if so were you happy with it.
Also would like to hear feedback on any other brands that you guys have used. This is to suit a c4 - c10 trans in my 53.
Scott.

 

I have a 302 and C4, it has a B&M Star Shifter (was there when I bought it) Works great! Only complaint might be that its a bit short, but only because my truck dies all the time at red lights and I have to reach down and throw it into "N" all the time... LOL
Actually it fits well...

 

That was the main concern i had with the b&m type shifters, they are a bit short and i don't want to reach down every time i need to change gears.
Scott

 

I have the Lokar unit. Works great and makes most people think that is a manual shift. John

 

I also have the Lokar unit. 56/C6 & 390. The only thing I don't like is no safety lockout so it will only start in "neutral" or" park".

 

My model of Lokar has the safety lookout. It will only start in park or neutral. I thought that all Lokars were able to accomodate a safety switch. ($10) Mine just threaded in on the pass. side of the bracket. It is basically a large spring-loaded ball bearing that pops out for park and neutral. John

 

John, is your lokar shifter one of the trans mount ones or is it bolted to the floor ? Also how easy was it to fit, were any alterations needed to make it fit?
Scott.

 

Scott, Mine is mounted right on top of the c-4. It was already mounted when I bought the project truck from a guy in Rio Linda, so I cannot attest to ease of install. I did the installation of the safety switch and the adjustment(s) to get it right. Fairly straightforward once I realized that the two sideplates move independently. John

 

All the above shifters are great. I'm using the B&M quick shifter and am happy with it. A friend of mine did something creative, he installed the floor shifter from a 66 Mustang. The shifter looks nice and all the original linkage bolt right up. Only thing I don't like is it's pretty low to the floorboard making you reach over to shift.

 

My Effie came with a B&M trigger shifter. It would be too low, like others have noticed, but the previous owner fabbed up a sheet metal riser that lifts it up about 10 inches. It is in a perfect shift position. I really like it. I have had to replace the cable once and re-routed it to take out the kinks that were in the route.

 

I've got a Lokar installed on a C4 trans in my truck. The installation was easy without the trans floor cover in place. As I recall it was only about an hour or so to install.You do have to cut the old shift lever off of the trans though. That was about the hardest part of the job to do with the trans in the truck. Overall it works great and I would recommend the Lokar.

 

Thanks guys, as usual you are all a great help. I think i'll go with the lokar, but down here in Aus we MUST have a shift indicator to let you know what gear you are in, has anyone with the lokar shifters got one of these ? does it work ok ?
Scott.

 

i used the lokar swan neck shifter the directions left alot to be desired tho the install wasnt that bad it is on a c6 tranny here it is in park

 

I just got my Lokar shifter yesterday and am pleased with it so far. I haven't installed it yet since it's -15'C and getting colder. I think it will take a bit to get used to with out knowing exactly what gear it's in. You can get shift indicators but only for chevy trannys.

 

My 37 Hudson had a 302/C4. I installed the Lokar (correct name: Nostalgia Shifter) took about an hour, and worked great. It comes with neutral lockout, but unfortunatly - no indicator except for the shift pattern on the ****. The best thing about this shifter is that it looks like an old 3 speed shifter. I had lots of fun when the motorheads would ask where the clutch pedal was. Cheap thrills - ya that's me!!