Magnus Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 I have a Dodge from 1936 with standard transmission. I am lucky because I have found a newer transmission with overdrive from 1953 R10. My problem is how to rebuild from a column shift to floor shift. This is usually not a big problem, but this one is a selector gearbox. Anyone have experience doing this? I would appreciate all help Quote
jhm1mc13 Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 Years ago I converted my 50 Ply to floor shift and it worked quite well. The shift pattern was reversed much like a 4spd. I may have gotten it from JC Whitney. Jim M Quote
atlbluz Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 My '38 with a floor shift, is just a hole cut in the two toe boards so the shifter comes thru the floor. PM me and I will try to shoot a picture tonight and send it to you. Greg Quote
Frank Elder Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 Does your 53 R10 have a mounting boss for a floor shifter on the tail shaft? Quote
Magnus Posted March 4, 2015 Author Report Posted March 4, 2015 This is how the transmission looks like. http://p15-d24.com/gallery/image/2696-gear-box/ Quote
bones44 Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 Back in the 60's when I blew the stock transmission in my 37 Dodge biz coupe I replaced it with a later trans and a Drag fast floor shifter. I think the Co went under but you might Google it and see. Quote
plyroadking Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 Back in the 60's when I blew the stock transmission in my 37 Dodge biz coupe I replaced it with a later trans and a Drag fast floor shifter. I think the Co went under but you might Google it and see. I'd think there'd be a slight interference issue with trying to mount that shifter to a transmission with and overdrive Quote
suntennis Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) One approach would be to design a shift linkage like a Hurst type that would work on old Mopar transmissions. Another approach would be to see if the OD section would mate up to your floor shift transmission. Do not know if the OD input shaft would match length and diameter wise with your existing tail shaft. On the 53 OD transmission as I recall the only difference between the non OD transmission case and the OD transmission case is one or two holes. Maybe the 53 gears would work in your old gear box. If that is so, then swap gears and drill holes as needed. Contact George Osche at 814-354-2621 who does OD transmissions and he can tell you what will and will not do the job. George may have a R7 OD he would deal with you on. Edited March 7, 2015 by suntennis Quote
William Davey Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 I don't think you'll find an aftermarket floor shifter for a selector type transmission. As you probably know, one lever operates the toggle (selector) inside the trans that determines whether the other lever operates 1st and reverse or 2nd and 3rd. The toggle lever only moves (a very small motion) when you pull up on the column shift lever. Much different from the more typical trans where one lever operates 1st and reverse and the other lever operates 2nd and 3rd. It might be easier to find a steering column out of a later car and adapt the three-on -the-tree pieces to your column. 1 Quote
oldasdirt Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 I have a Dodge from 1936 with standard transmission. I am lucky because I have found a newer transmission with overdrive from 1953 R10. My problem is how to rebuild from a column shift to floor shift. This is usually not a big problem, but this one is a selector gearbox. Anyone have experience doing this? I would appreciate all help You may want to go check out "Keeping Up with the AoK boys" in the blog area for a section on the differences on the overdrives. I believe your in for quite a challenge. Your 1936 was a top load transmission for the floor shift and your 1953 transmission is a side loader for shifting. 1 Quote
TodFitch Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 I've heard of people putting '37 DeSoto overdrive transmissions into '33 Plymouths. Apparently it fits okay even though '33 and '33 (and maybe '35) have a funky setup where the shift tower bolts to the frame instead of the transmission. You might want to look for a '30s Mopar overdrive for your '36 Dodge. 1 Quote
48ply1stcar Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 I had a floor shift on a stock three-speed transmission in 1969. One of many things I had to undo during the past 15 years. I bought the shifter at the local "Crown Auto Store" right off the shelf. It must have been inexpensive or I would not have had it. I don't remember how the shifter mounted to the transmission, but I do remember that one or maybe both of the shift levers were replaced with straight levers in the kit. Also the shift pattern was opposite from the column, reverse was in (toward the driver) and back, and first and third were toward the firewall. I never adjusted it properly and I remember very long shifts under the dashboard. Since they were commonly available in the stores you may be able to find one on Ebay or a mehcanical drawing of the original. 1 Quote
48ply1stcar Posted March 7, 2015 Report Posted March 7, 2015 Try this link from HAMB http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1953-plymouth-column-to-floor-shift-conversion.617487/ Quote
Magnus Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Posted March 8, 2015 Thanks for all support and ideas! I really appreciate that! Is there anyway you can find out how different bellhouses are different? What's the difference between one from 36 v.s 48? Quote
timkingsbury Posted March 8, 2015 Report Posted March 8, 2015 I have a Dodge from 1936 with standard transmission. I am lucky because I have found a newer transmission with overdrive from 1953 R10. My problem is how to rebuild from a column shift to floor shift. This is usually not a big problem, but this one is a selector gearbox. Anyone have experience doing this? I would appreciate all help Howdy Magnus - Your in for a few challenges here. I think your 36 has an x-frame so you will have to do some modifications. Chrysler came out with the overdrive in 1934 and they changed in numerous times until up until 1938 when the last floor shift only or top loader was offered. In 1939 there was a floor shift and a column shift option which was operated by a cable. If you check out my blog you can see pictures. In 1940 it became column shift and as someone pointed out on the thread, the selector changed significantly. I know in the late 60's foxcraft made a line of shifters for converting from column to floor shift, and you had to modify them further to work on the r10 tranny you have that is 3 speed standard with overdrive. My Dad put one of the 1952 overdrives in a pickup that my Mom drove and she liked it left as a floor shift. I still have the shifter and we have looked at trying to replicate it, but it just isn't cost effective. Now maybe there were other makers I don't know, but what I do know is it is an active topic on many boards and forums and we get asked quite often. The Hamb forum thread shown earlier is actually 1 of about 10 threads on the topic and one of which was a guy who does make them. they have a lot of pieces and they are not cheap. I will attach a couple of pictures and I can mail you his contact info if you like. I don't know him, never dealt with him, only have seen the thread and he contacted me at one point for information. Years ago I converted my 50 Ply to floor shift and it worked quite well. The shift pattern was reversed much like a 4spd. I may have gotten it from JC Whitney. Jim M Cool Jim - was it a foxcraft or what was the manufacturer? I have heard JC Whitney before and I have contacted JC Whitney on a few occasions and they don't carry anything now, but sadly they have not been able to find who the maker was either. I had a floor shift on a stock three-speed transmission in 1969. One of many things I had to undo during the past 15 years. I bought the shifter at the local "Crown Auto Store" right off the shelf. It must have been inexpensive or I would not have had it. I don't remember how the shifter mounted to the transmission, but I do remember that one or maybe both of the shift levers were replaced with straight levers in the kit. Also the shift pattern was opposite from the column, reverse was in (toward the driver) and back, and first and third were toward the firewall. I never adjusted it properly and I remember very long shifts under the dashboard. Since they were commonly available in the stores you may be able to find one on Ebay or a mehcanical drawing of the original. Any idea if it was foxcraft ? I know the floor shifter for the straight 3speed needs modifications to work on the overdrive but it is possible. I know guys who have watched for years on ebay for 1. Last one sold for $1075 and yes, I am talking just the foxcraft shifter (NOS) with the modification rods for the overdrive. I have 1, but its not a shift that is easy to replicate. there are too many pieces. 1 Quote
timkingsbury Posted March 8, 2015 Report Posted March 8, 2015 Try this link from HAMB http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1953-plymouth-column-to-floor-shift-conversion.617487/ That thread they are more talking, speculating and wondering.. On Hamb.. there are 100+ threads which touch on the floor shift, lots discussing foxcraft and a couple of other makers. Other than foxcraft as I have tried to track down others, I have not found another one that works on the mopar Borg Warner transmission. They often turn out to be for fords, gms or others.. Doesn't mean that there are not others, and I love to collect info on others.. just haven't found any. Here is a link to the various threads on the topic. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/search/11373804/?q=plymouth+floor+shift&o=relevance&c[node]=5 and here is one of several in the list above, where guys have made their own shifter. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/anyone-build-there-own-floor-shifter.660223/#post-7329203 Quote
timkingsbury Posted March 8, 2015 Report Posted March 8, 2015 You may want to go check out "Keeping Up with the AoK boys" in the blog area for a section on the differences on the overdrives. I believe your in for quite a challenge. Your 1936 was a top load transmission for the floor shift and your 1953 transmission is a side loader for shifting. thanks for the mention.. here is the link to the blog http://p15-d24.com/blog/17-keeping-up-with-the-aok-boys/ and here is the thread specifically to the overdrives and I love having any information guys may have. I have on the drawing board to do a column to floor shift conversion as well as putting older overdrives into newer cars and newer overdrives in older cars ! Lets say that is a work in progress ! http://p15-d24.com/blog/17/entry-88-the-rough-field-spotters-guide-for-mopar-overdrives/ Quote
plyroadking Posted March 8, 2015 Report Posted March 8, 2015 Like Todfitch was suggesting you might look for an older overdrive transmission, i picked up a R6 overdrive transmission out of a 1939 Chrysler, it had the top cover that converted it to a column shift. A 1936 Plymouth floor shift tower bolts on if you swap the forks. 4 Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted March 8, 2015 Report Posted March 8, 2015 I would do as plyroadking says. I would not spend lots of time trying to find or make linkage for the R10. Quote
timkingsbury Posted March 9, 2015 Report Posted March 9, 2015 Like Todfitch was suggesting you might look for an older overdrive transmission, i picked up a R6 overdrive transmission out of a 1939 Chrysler, it had the top cover that converted it to a column shift. A 1936 Plymouth floor shift tower bolts on if you swap the forks. I would do as plyroadking says. I would not spend lots of time trying to find or make linkage for the R10. Well in the 1939 r7 you get the best floor shift overdrive built for Mopar, until you get to the a833... I don't disagree with you guys. If he can find a 1939 overdrive its a super option. I don't know about you guys, but I haven't found them to be exactly easy to find. He may want to keep looking for both a 1939 r7 and a decent floor shift option for his r10. Now if someone has a 1939 overdrive that would obviously tip the scales. Oh and as an aside, I have a ton of great period 1939 Chrysler literature that I have scanned. If any one wants copies, drop me a note and I will happily email it to you. Tim Quote
Frank Elder Posted March 9, 2015 Report Posted March 9, 2015 http://p15-d24.com/topic/27656-home-built-shifter-3spd/ Quote
Magnus Posted March 12, 2015 Author Report Posted March 12, 2015 Once again thank you for all support. I had a hard time to find the R10 so I will try to go with that until I find an R7. I live in Sweden so they are very rare. It's also quite expensive to ship one from US. Thanks to some of the pictures posted I think I have an idea how to build the shifter. It also quite tight the car has an x-frame. Would it be possible to use the original gearbox and combined it with the just the overdrive part? I don't really want to take everything apart just to realize that it wasn't possible. Quote
timkingsbury Posted March 13, 2015 Report Posted March 13, 2015 Once again thank you for all support. I had a hard time to find the R10 so I will try to go with that until I find an R7. I live in Sweden so they are very rare. It's also quite expensive to ship one from US. Thanks to some of the pictures posted I think I have an idea how to build the shifter. It also quite tight the car has an x-frame. Would it be possible to use the original gearbox and combined it with the just the overdrive part? I don't really want to take everything apart just to realize that it wasn't possible. unfortunately no it isn't. Your r10g has to go in, tranny/overdrive together. your existing tranny comes out and no part will be used in the change over. You will need the relay, kickdown switch, and overdrive cable. It will require some modification of the x-frame for you to put it in. If you need the wiring diagram, I can send you that no problem. If you would like to talk to someone who has done this, let me know. Happy to help out. tim Quote
Magnus Posted March 17, 2015 Author Report Posted March 17, 2015 What willl be the problem with the x-frame? Will it be to tight? Quote
timkingsbury Posted March 18, 2015 Report Posted March 18, 2015 What willl be the problem with the x-frame? Will it be to tight? It just wont go in without modification to the X-frame. So you can put the r10 in the car, but it will take some cutting. Quote
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