The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Gear Shift handle length?

Any body know how long the gear shift lever on a AD 4speed is? I want to try to keep as stock an appearance in the cab as possible, but I have an auto tranny, I have been looking at Lokar nostalgia shifters, but cant decide if a 23 inch or a 32 inch is the way to go, the short one looks too short , the long one looks too long....all help appreciated. Scott.

50jimmy,

On my '50 Chevy 1/2T Panel, with the stock SM420, the shifter length is approximately 26 to the top of the shift knob. The top cover of the transmission sticks up about 4 inches above the floor, so from the floor to the top of the shifter knob it is right around 30 inches.

64K10

I have my shifter about 14 inches above the dash for the hot rod look HA HA . I find that many times what ever feels and looks right it the way to go. I dont think any one is going to measure the shifter.

On my 1953 panel, the shifter is 24" long from where it comes out of the transmission. There is a bend in it at 18". I can't say how high above the floor it is because my body is still off the frame.

On my '52 1/2 ton; from the floor at the bottom of a rubber boot mine measures 8.5 inches to the bend. The total length of the shifter, not including the knob is about 26.5 inches. My four speed shifter is a little low for my taste however it gives me a feel of the era the truck was built.

I think I am going to go with a Lokar, with a 23 inch shaft, one bend that is pretty close to where the stocker bends, in black, with a black knob. I am hoping the average joe walking by will think....wow, an old granny gear four speed.....but the wise amongst us will look at it and think......wow, nice lokar,

Here is a link to the website. similar to this one......

http://www.lokar.com/product-descriptions/auto-trans-shifters.htm

I made my T5 Hybrid black shifter w/ a 8'' tapered end on my lathe and it has a short throw, about 5'' from 1st to 2nd. and is about 17'' w/ a coupling at the tranny, If you go any higher your knuckles hit the dash if the throw (1st&3rd) are that far forward. so total length at the floor, the black plain knob fits under the dash (in 1st & 3rd) and has a slight bend back to it . I have a custom made brown leather boot to hide everything at the carpet level. http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/shifter/index.html
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?action=view&current=584226-R1-048-22A.jpg
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?action=view&current=584226-R1-050-23A.jpg
action=view&current=584226-R1-028-12A.jpg s

50jimmy ,
i sent ya a pic of my Lokar.
Tim

50jimmy,
Im afraid if ya go with the single bend & not the Nostalgia bend low gear you will be into the seat...

I have a 16" single bend shifter, and I like the height. This height is a few inches taller than the seat, and a few inches below the dash. A 23" shifter would be about up to the bottom of the speaker grill when in park, and a 32" shifter would be a little taller than the dash.
Right now, the shifter hits the seat if I shift down to 1st, but this could be adjusted out if I really cared about it.