Could put in the whole column, out of something from the period with auto trans or something more modern.

I would take a good hard look at the existing column shifter and try to figure out how to make it work with the automatic you are considering. Then all you have to do is figure out how to put an indicator in there somewhere to tell you what gear you're selecting.

Perhaps you could kluge something together with parts of a more modern linkage to get the function and your original to retain the look.


Don't lose your head to save a minute,
You need your head, your brains are in it.
Burma-Shave (1947)