The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1950 Chevy 3100 Shift Indicator

Working on my 1950 Chevy 3100, it has standard on the column automatic shifter connected to a modern automatic transmission, my question is what ideas you all might have for a shifter indicator mounted to the column. I know there are generic ones out there, but they won’t fit my column because it has the shifter rod running parallel to the steering column. I have seen some images out there that there is an indicator that attaches to that rod? Do anyone on here know where you get a replacement of one of those?

Look at Fords (and Lincolns and Mercurys) from the 60s through the 70s, cars and trucks. They all have the same column mounted shift indicator that sits right on top of the steering column.

First picture is 1964 Galaxie 500. Second picture is 1976 F-150. Those made for the trucks can still be purchased new.

Can you post a picture of your column and the rod that you are concerned about?

I have seen the Ford versions online but they won’t work on my column automatic shifter. See the below pictures of my column and shifter rod.

What did Chevrolet use on trucks equipped with Hydramatic transmissions? Was there no indicator at all?

Not sure, I got this truck as is.

HydraMatics would have N 1-4 1-3 1-2 R for a pattern.

dogdaddy, Sorry about coming late to the conversation. Your topic I think may get better answers in the HiPo Shop, so the thread has been moved there.

Also, you might take a look at early-mid 1950s Chevy cars for a suitable starting point to a column shift indicator. I think the Powerglide equipped cars had a column mounted indicator set up that over-wrapped the shifter assembly that is similar to yours, maybe?

Thanks for the move, maybe someone will have had the same issue and have ideas on how to resolve it.

You're deep into "make it yourself" territory on this one. Nothing whatsoever "factory original" is going to work, particularly since you haven't told us what transmission you're running, or how many speeds, or selector positions you've got. It would take me maybe a couple of hours to fabricate a suitable indicator from bits and pieces out of the scrap heap around my shop- - - -maybe a little more if I wanted it to be illuminated for night use.

Where are you in Tennessee? I'm about 65 miles south of Nashville, close to I-65 and the Alabama state line. If you need some help making something, give me a shout.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry, sounds like I will have to do the same and create something. It’s a 1950 Chevy 3100, original steering column, automatic shifter connected rod on the column, gm th350 transmission

There was no such thing as an automatic shifter column in 1950 trucks- - - -I believe the first Chevy truck with an automatic was 1954, which would have been a Hydra-Matic. There was no "park" position, and N-D-L-R positions on the quadrant. "Park" was accomplished by selecting Reverse after shutting the engine down. A mechanical lock on the output shaft engaged once the transmission pump pressure was no longer present. Someone has probably used one of the two 3 speed manual transmission bellcranks to operate the TH 350 shift linkage.
Jerry

The 1954-55 1st trucks have a different steering column mounted shifter housing than the previous years. These parts are very rare and $$. It is typical of Chevrolet to not re-invent the wheel so some of the shifter parts for Hydramatic trucks were originated on cars equipped with PowerGlide. Try looking for shifter reproduction parts for 1953-54 cars (also earlier years) equipped with PowerGlide Transmissons. Modification still required. The last attachment is a truck housing with dial and bezel. The trucks with Hydramatic also had an assembly mounted on the steering column before the firewall that provides shift position detents and also has the neutral safety switch that prevents starting the engine when the transmission is in gear.

Having said all the above and the complication involved, you probably will be better satisfied making your own shift indicator.

Thanks for all the feedback. Since I bought this truck as is, I figure they probably did some hodge podge in order to get the column shifter linkage to work with the gm350 transmission, it works fine, just now I know a little more about what I have, thanks again for all the feedback!