Convert floor shift to column shift

[Charles Furman]

Anyone know what is involved with converting a floor shift in a 49 B1B to a column shift like came out on 50, Can the manual transmission be converted, or do you have to go to a fluid drive?

[HanksB3B]

3-Speed Transmission

Different Bellhousing ? (or can the 4-speed be modified)

3-Speed Column and Linkages

Probably too big an effort and costly enough to ignore going the T-5 route I'd imagine. You'll get better answers than mine.

Hank

[Young Ed]

Fluid drive has nothing to do with it. They had both column and floor shifted fluid drives. As Hank said you would need a 3spd if you didn't have one already and the column and linkage. I'm not sure if you can turn a 3spd floor shift into a column shift. If you could find a parts truck it wouldn't be too hard a swap.

[John-T-53]

Some bellhousings are drilled and tapped for 3-spd trannys, some are drilled for 4-spds.

Some are drilled for both. Take a pic and post it here...you can tell even with the 4 speed in place.

[MBF]

I have a 52 parts truck that had a column shifted 3 speed in it. I sold the transmission out of it, but it appeared to have the same bolt pattern on the mounting ears as the 3 speed floor shifted in my 49 1 ton. The folks here are right about the possibility of having to change the bellhousing if you currently have a 4 speed drilled only for that type of transmission. I've wondered if someone here could tell if the top cover from a column shifted 3 speed would work on the top of a floor shifted 3 speed. If that is possible, it would allow you to use your existing transmission and you'd just have to come up with the linkage. Maybe someone here can shed some light. Mike

[HanksB3B]

That is a good question, unless the answer is no.

Hank

Edited September 30, 2012 by HanksB3B

[Charles Furman]

The transmission I currently have is a floor shift 3 speed transmission. From what I am hearing everyone say is that I cannot convert the floor shift 3 speed to work with the column linkage. I will have to replace it with a 3 speed that was designed to work with the column shift linkages.

Anyone know what year 3 speed transmissions would bolt in my 1949 B1B. I assume some later years used the same or similar transmissions. Maybe even one that has an overdrive unit.

As always, any help is appreciated.

[JBNeal]

according to the parts manual, late '48-'53 1/2 ton 3spd transmissions are the same less cover and controls, except for those with fluid drive. I assume the only change with the fluid drive is the longer input shaft needed to mount through the coupling.

As for the controls, the steering column is a crucial change to make the linkages work as there are mounting brackets located specifically for precise gear shifting. I've seen a steering column where the column-shifter was worn so much that the shifter was 'applied' with such force that one of the lower linkage mounts tore the sheet metal tube of the column, further worsening the precision of the gear shifting. I haven't operated one of these Pilot-House column-shifters yet, but I've worked with other linkage control setups from that era and they had their share of problems. When all was new, linkage attachment points were tight; but as these points wore, there were no bushings to replace so shifters had to be forced to get some momentum behind the linkages to 'jump' the travel gap that was being caused by wear. With the floor mounted shifters, there is direct control of the shifting fork inside the transmission, so this eliminates the shifting problems inherent with the column-mounted shifters. But I do remember teaching my neighbor how to row the gears & find reverse in her dad's well worn column-shifted C10, so they are fun to operate when ya can get the hang of it

[Scruffy49]

Well, if you were closer I could make it somewhat easier for you...

Anybody who wants a 3 on the tree trans and crossmember can come get it. FREE. Came with the 230 that is going in my 49 B1B. Trans is out of a 56 or 57 Savoy.

Neither need or want the transmission. Not really worth shipping, freight rates are way too high. As is where is, come and get it.

[Young Ed]

Scruffy that's not an OD trans is it?

[ggdad1951]

Scruffy that's not an OD trans is it?

Road trip Ed?

[Young Ed]

Road trip Ed?

Little too far away for that but I could maybe bribe him to ship it.

[ggdad1951]

Little too far away for that but I could maybe bribe him to ship it.

money will work wonders!

[Scruffy49]

No idea if it is an OD or not. Haven't paid that close of attention to it. What do I look for?

I've got a perfect size crate to ship it AND the bellhousing/crossmember. But it wouldn't be cheap to do so. If it was me looking for a transmission and that was the only way to get it...I'd pick up a 318/727 and stab them in, probably cheaper in the long run.

Tranny came out of a running/driving car. Buyer swapped in a 350. I got the engine/trans for $125 and a dual point 273-340 distributor (that I'd gotten for free). The transmission is just in my way, haven't scrapped it because I knew someone else would need/want it.

[Young Ed]

PM sent

[Scruffy49]

Plain Jane 3 on the tree. I'm keeping the clutch if the spline count is the same. And the starter that matches the 230's flywheel.

Trans and bellhousing are just taking up space.

AS IS WHERE IS. If somebody wants it shipped, I'll crate it but 100% of the shipping is on the end user, pick up too. Free to get home if you come and get it yourself.