I was wondering, how hard is it to convert a 1980-83 with a 3-speed to a floor shift? The three-on-the-three assembly in my '83 F100 is pretty worn out and I'm kinda sick of shifting that way anyway, especially because it cuts down on my acceleration time. I know a few people on the forum have done the conversion, so I was wondering if anyone could give out some tips or pictures. I would especially like to know where I have to cut through the floor in the cab.

Thanks,
Echo

 

J C Whitney has a conversion kit for a 3 on the tree. Think it's for the
'70 and '80's chevys. Don't know if it fits Fords.

 

Hey Now Echo,

I own a 1982 F-100 and just installed a Hurst Master Shift Floor Shifter.

Very easy install.....check out the Mr. Gasket/Hurst web site....

The shifter and the install kit have to be purchased seperatly the whole deal cost about 200.00....

I did the changeover to a floor shifter cause I wanted to/did install a Tilt Column from an '84 Bronco

I love the Floor shifter it's much better then the old 3 on the tree!!!!!

I'm over on that other Ford Truck site....I have pics in my gallery....

A11BUDMAN

 

E-bay has both the Indy shift kits and Hurst kits for about $50.00 + shipping. They are easy to install. I have the Hurst kit and love it!

 

just for the record, I had the daytona shifter (not hurst), and it was sloppy and sucked in general.

go for the hurst.

 

I have an 82 with that was a three on the tree and is now a floor shifter. It has a 4 speed transmission in it now and I have the back up light switch in it but I cant figure where to wire it to? Anyone know?

I looked in my haynes and it says pink and black. I found pink and black on the column that splits into two white and pink wires at the harness. I cut the two wires and spliced them down to the floor shifters switch but it still wont work!? I used 14g wire. Is that just too thick?

 

Put everything back together in the column..

The plug you want should plug into the transmission. IIRC, there is one wire that goes into the tranny that gets grounded when you shift into reverse..

BTW, 14 gauge should be fine.. I believe Ford used 18/19 gauge, but it has been a while since I've looked at them.

 

IIRC?


Where does the wire come from? Where can I trace it to? This is one of the last things wrong with the darn thing!

And thanks for the reply

 

It runs along the frame on the driver's side.. It runs it the tail light harness. If you can't find it, I will take a pic tomorrow after work.

 

I HAVE AN 83 F-100 300CI I6 3 SPEED MANUAL THAT I AM WORKING ON AND I JUST PUT IN A FLOOR SHIFTER KIT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE SPEEDO CABLE POINTS STRAIGHT UP AND IS IN THE WAY ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

 

Those kits are engine specific a lot of the time. Are you sure you got one for a straight 6? The rod will be bent a different angle.

 

I've done a really really cheap conversion kit my self years ago in a Dent Side, think it was a 76. Anyways I used 2 steel rods through the floor for both linkages on the side of the tranny.


So you had 2 sticks to shift, and they both moved forward and backwards.

First stick was Reverse forward, and 1st gear down. Second stick was 2nd up, and 3rd down.

When taking off, first stick was down in 1st, other stick in the middle. Shifting from 1st to 2nd, shift stick #1 in the middle, and grab stick 2 and push it up.


Was fun as hell to drive!

 

Starting at about 3:30

YouTube - First drive of the 57 international and how to shift

 

^^^^ That's exactly what I did!

Except I had to bend them on an angle to clear the bench seat.

 

thanks for the info