Column shift to floor conversion

Clutch, transmission, rear axle

Moderators: FORDification, 70_F100

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max03
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Location: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Column shift to floor conversion

Post by max03 »

:? Looking for opinions on going from a 3speed column shift to a floor shifter, any pros/cons and how's Everyones experiences been with installation and function

I have a 68 with a inline 300 btw if it matters, not sure on the trans model though.

Thanks everyone!
72 lwb sport custom, 300/3spd
pdb,ps, ac 3.70:1
68-swb 300/3spd sold
69-lwb 390/c6 sold
69-swb 240/c4 sold
72-swb ranger xlt 360/c6 sold
72-swb sport custom 302/3spdsold
68bumps
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by 68bumps »

My 68 was converted to a floor shifter before i got it. It has a weird shift pattern on it. It shifts pretty crappilly too. I'm not sure if it's just mine of if that's with everybody's.
The shift pattern

1 3
I--I
R 2

If someone else can confirm that, then that might be the same pattern as everybody else's who converted from a tree to a floor.
max03
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by max03 »

I wondered how the pattern would go lol. I learned how to drive on a standard many years ago, I've never driven a 3 on a tree tho.. Currently mines in need of a engine rebuild and I thought it would be a good time to install a floor conversion plus my column is worn badly around the original mechanism.
72 lwb sport custom, 300/3spd
pdb,ps, ac 3.70:1
68-swb 300/3spd sold
69-lwb 390/c6 sold
69-swb 240/c4 sold
72-swb ranger xlt 360/c6 sold
72-swb sport custom 302/3spdsold
ScottT80
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by ScottT80 »

My 3 on the tree converted to floor shift is:

R 2
1 3

I didn't do the conversion but thats what I got when I bought it. It shifts crappy to me too. I'd rather have it on the column.
1968 F100 Ranger 390/C6 Lunar Green/Wimbleton White (Driver)
1968 F100 Ranger 360 Borg Warner OD Lunar Green/Wimbleton White
68shortbed
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by 68shortbed »

My truck had a Hurst 3 sp shifter in it, once it was adjusted right, it shifted real smooth. A floor shifter out of adjustment or with wore out bushings wont be any better than a wore out column shifter. With everything in neutral position, there's a hole for a pin on the tower to align the levers up, if you don't have a pin, an allen wrench will work. At that point adjust the rods so they slip in & out of the tower levers. The cheap plastic bushings can be replaced with steel to give a better feel. It should have a normal H pattern as the column shifter had.
68bumps, it sounds as though the levers on your tranny are upside down, flip them over and readjust the shifter.
max03
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by max03 »

I'll check into that, thanks!
72 lwb sport custom, 300/3spd
pdb,ps, ac 3.70:1
68-swb 300/3spd sold
69-lwb 390/c6 sold
69-swb 240/c4 sold
72-swb ranger xlt 360/c6 sold
72-swb sport custom 302/3spdsold
68bumps
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Posts: 51
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:46 pm
Location: Midlothian IL

Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by 68bumps »

68shortbed wrote:My truck had a Hurst 3 sp shifter in it, once it was adjusted right, it shifted real smooth. A floor shifter out of adjustment or with wore out bushings wont be any better than a wore out column shifter. With everything in neutral position, there's a hole for a pin on the tower to align the levers up, if you don't have a pin, an allen wrench will work. At that point adjust the rods so they slip in & out of the tower levers. The cheap plastic bushings can be replaced with steel to give a better feel. It should have a normal H pattern as the column shifter had.
68bumps, it sounds as though the levers on your tranny are upside down, flip them over and readjust the shifter.
Well, if i were keeping the trans, i'd do that, but i'm not. I'm switching out the engine and trans to a 302 with (hopefully) a 5 speed.
max03
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by max03 »

What type of trans is this? I understand the automatics and pan sizes but how does ford name or classify the manuals in bumpsides? Light duty??
72 lwb sport custom, 300/3spd
pdb,ps, ac 3.70:1
68-swb 300/3spd sold
69-lwb 390/c6 sold
69-swb 240/c4 sold
72-swb ranger xlt 360/c6 sold
72-swb sport custom 302/3spdsold
ATalber
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by ATalber »

I'm currently looking to swap to a floor shift version myself... However, I want a 4 speed (perhaps a top loader 'box) conversion before I do it so I can get a little more economical mileage out of my 1970 f100 Ranger (I do intend to put a taller final drive gearset in with the new 'box to actually pull that off.)

I'm not here to just hijack a thread (I apologize in advance to the mods if that happens) but can someone point me to a thread where someone is doing a 3 speed to 4 speed conversion?
ThomasBurk67
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Re: Column shift to floor conversion

Post by ThomasBurk67 »

I have been researching the 3 speed conversion and I found out that Hurst discontinued their assembly kit for 67-72 F100 Part #HUR3670027. The universal kit is available through Hurst but it takes some effort to install from what Ive read.
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