Dumping 3 on tree, going with a Hurst

[takehikes]

I am not in the mood to mess with rebuilding the column.
I changed out the rubber bushings and lubed everything and adjusted until I'm blue in the face and the reality is its just too worn.
Trans was just rebuilt and I want to be able to enjoy it more.
So I ordered the Hurst 3 speed Mastershift and the installation kit.
Seems pretty straight forward but thought I'd ask for tips if there are any about the install.

[jimmy828]

I thinking of doing the same so hopefully there will be some good advice coming your way.

[cajuncannon03]

Not the same as keeping it original.

[Canonman67]

I used one of those on a '64 I had. It wasn't the best thing I ever did, it required a bit of finessing to use. As I recall you kind of had to hunt for the lever by feel to engage first. The upside was I was the only one who could drive it so no one borrowed it, the downside was I ended up doing lots of favors and honeydos.
Like you said it was quite straight forward to install, went in quickly and I don't remember having any problems doing the install. Overall I wasn't impressed with it and had several of my more car savy friends look at it and they agreed that there wasn't anything that could be done to make it work better. Having said all that I did this in the '90s and they may have improved on it since then. I also don't discount that I may have gotten something wrong when I installed it so you may have an entirely different experience. I sincerely hope you do. Let us know how it works out when you get it in.

[sargentrs]

Never used the Hurst but I installed the Mr. Gasket varieties when my column shift started flaking out on me. After wearing out two of them, I rebuilt my column and went back to the original column shift and was never happier. I've heard the Hurst is a much better made, higher quality shifter though. Just my experiences

[takehikes]

Thanks for the input all.
Everything I have found says the Mr. Gasket shifter is pretty poor and the Hurst Indy shifter not much better which is why I spent the extra for the Mastershifter and the installation kit (which is model specific, I think that is what makes the difference). I put one in a 62 a long time ago and it was really nice so I am hoping this will go the same.
While I would have like to have kept the 3 on tree I've never been a fan. I'm not doing any mods that wouldn't have been typical in 68 so the Hurst fits that theme.

[jimmy828]

Please keep us updated on modifications.

[takehikes]

I'll let you know how it goes.

While on the subject....I would have thought that the floor pan would have had a removable plate for when they put 4 speeds in at the factory. Or did they cut a hole every time?

[sargentrs]

If you're referring to the removable hump cover, those were only factory installed in trucks with C6 transmissions or original floor shift trucks, usually F-250, Camper Specials, F-350 and Highboys. I've actually cut my floor out and am installing one I got from a member, because my truck didn't originally come with one and I like having it.

[Canonman67]

Since you mentioned it I may have used the Indy shifter and not the Mastershifter. It's been so long the only thing I'm sure of is I used a Hurst product. Sorry for my confusion.

[takehikes]

The Indy shifter is fine but its a "universal" fit. The Mastershift you have to buy the specific installation kit so it tends to work much better. Done right an Indy can be decent.

[HIO Silver]

Here's one with a Hurst shifter. Make sure you can reach all points of the shift throws....:

[takehikes]

UPDATE:
Install was as easy as I remembered. Hurst can't be beat if you buy the right parts. Works perfect and huge improvement from the 3 on the tree of course. I had more trouble taking apart the old rods and linkage than anything else. I did not hook up the reverse switch (it uses the old 1st/reverse rod attached to the new shift linkage to activate it) as I am changing the rear lights to non-reverse light style. If I change my mind they provide a bracket for the later models that I can put on the new shifter and adapt it if I want to.
One caution, when you measure to cut the hole in the floor make sure and use a plumb bob or level so you get it lined up right. When looking at it from below it looks all wrong, you will miss where it should go if you don't do this.

[jimmy828]

Good to hear you got your floor shifter in. Do you mind posting the part numbers it took to install the parts?

[takehikes]

The shifter is Hurst Mastershift part number 3666809. The Hurst isntallation kit is 3670027. Summit Racing has them. Yes, its pricey but yes it all fits perfect, instructions are clear and install took me about 2 hours. That included beer drinking time.