The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Shift linkage on a modified 54

I’m looking for suggestions and thoughts on how to do my shift linkage on my 1954 3100. The truck came as a manual with the shifter on the column. I’d like to keep the shift lever on the column. I am installing power steering on the truck so the column will be shortened and an additional bracket installed at the toe board. I’m also installing a 700r4 transmission. As I said I’m trying to keep the shifter and the look correct, at least in the cab. I’m keeping the original steering wheel.I know there are kits to adapt linkage to different transmissions. However most of those use the later style columns that are setup for the linkage. I was either thinking of trying to reuse part of the shifting box assembly that was original or I’ll have to somehow fab up a bracket similar to that later style column. I’d love to hear from anyone that’s gone down this path. Thanks for any information you can provide.

Adam

Take top off the factory shifter box. Wipe off grease. Have a helper hold the shift lever up in the Low-Reverse position and weld tab into low/reverse slot. Put cover back on and cut off old 2nd-high lever. Make a shift rod that runs from old low-reverse arm at the shifter box to the auto trans selector arm. Since you are keeping the factory steering box your done. Some want a start in park only safety switch which can be made with a water proof (boat) starter button mounted on firewall and a tab to activate on the shifter arm. We NEVER use a selector indicator since the shift pattern for automatics has been Park(doesn't move)--Reverse(goes backward)--Neutral(coasts on an incline)--Drive(goes forward) for 50 years and if they're too dumb to not know this we don't want them for a customer.
Picture of an S10 conversion using the AD factory shifter and has the safety switch.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/JthHy9sy/S10-055.jpg[/img]

Thanks for the thoughts and the picture. That was along of what I was thinking if I kept the original setup. I am changing out to power steering so I’ve got the new steering box on the outside of the frame rail and won’t be utilizing any of the old steering box. Except possibly the shifter assembly on the column. I still need to cut my column down so that’s why I was looking at setups to know how close I can cut the column to the firewall. I was wondering about an indicator but as you said it’s pretty self explanatory. The neutral switch I may instal also. Thanks again for your input!

Adam

Got a bigger picture now so will offer a couple more gems. This is an S10 conversion so shifter box is close to fire wall and moved up in toe board---not necessary in your case but lets stock S10 steering shaft be used. You will need to anchor bottom of column (pictured) and a bearing where column is cut (pictured). DO NOT buy the twenty some dollar bearing offered by the venders but get the exact same bearing from a lawnmower shop for two bucks.

Column bearing:
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/ZCj4FNwM/S10-044.jpg[/img]

Box close to toe board on shortened column:
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/mhpGP4kv/S10-045.jpg[/img]

Bottom of column anchor:
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/phpMZc1G/mod-A-028.jpg[/img]

Factory S10 steering shaft:
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/XpNmczGw/mod-A-026.jpg[/img]