The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Column shift vs. floor shift

Hello!

I mentioned in a previous thread that I was looking for a '51 - '53 5 window 1/2 ton, and several people have approached me with what seem to be nice trucks.

I used to have a '51 Fleetline w/column shift, and really didn't like it because it was awkward to shift. However, a few of the trucks offered have column shifts.

What's everyone's opinion on columv vs. floor shift, in terms of drivability and value?

Also, I know that you can easily swap a column to a floor shift, but would that negatively affect the value of the truck?

I like keeping trucks as original as possible, but I also know that most people do some upgrades in the name of safety and driveability. I'm not against upgrades, but don't know how most people would view a change from column to floor shift.

I'm torn on this one...don't know if it should be a "deal breaker" or not when it comes to a nice truck.

Thoughs? Opinions?

Thanks...

Chris

I personally like a floor shift. But it makes 3 people in the cab a little less comfortable.

That being said I spent a lot of years as the center guy in my dads 72 C20 with a 4 speed on the floor.

Dad always drove, Grandpa got shotgun... just the way it was.

A column shifter works well as long as everything is adjusted and the bushings are in good shape. If your going to do any towing with your truck or do lots of parades a 4 speed will make things a bit easier with the low 1st gear ratio. As to the value I think that they are comparable and close in price usually. A worn out 4 speed can have its own set of shifting issues also so just because a truck has a floor shifter don't think that your home free. Find a truck that you like, then access what its going to get it to your liking. Good luck, Don

Mine is a column shift,I've driven both and can honestly say that I could care less,my fathers truck was column and his work trucks were all floor shift 4 speed panel trucks.I would guess that it's what ever you get used to,I wouldn't change my truck to floor shift I see no advantage.I did notice that when I finished my truck it took a while to teach the kids the shift pattern on the column.It's hard to see the H from the side verses the H on the floor. I grew up on both and started driving when I was 12 or 13 so both feel natural and both ways are good arm rests when driving.

If you do convert a three speed on the column to floor shift get a repo floor trans panel so you can cut that up and keep all the column shift parts that way it's all there and be converted back.



Pete

My 1 Ton has four on the floor. One thing not mentioned here is that most of the time the very low first gear is not used. Second gear is actually lower then the first on the three speeds. What this means is the gear that is used to start from a stop is synchronized. That is really nice.

The very low first gear can comes in handy, especially on a really steep grade.

I have a floor shift, but being in a panel, I have bucket seats. I like the granny gear for loading on the trailer, which I did only once. I will never tow with it due to the braking capabilities so I don't intend on using 1st very often. So it comes down to personal preference, which, for me is a 4 speed.

Should not be a deal breaker. Easy enough to change if u must have the 4 speed. Both are geared very low. My 3 spd on the coluum has 411 gears (pretty sure-stock) in the rear. Top comfortable speed, for the engine rpm, is around 50-60 mph. That's why many people change to a modern tranny and rear. One to get rid of the enclosed drive shaft, and two to get the gear ratio higher * to increase top end speed. This is one area that u could compromise on without losing much. These trucks are getting harder to find especially in the cond./price range u are looking for.

My 50 1/2 ton has a floor shift 4 speed. Real pain with 3 people in the cab.

First is pretty much worthless for driving, the only time I use it is for driving into my garage. I always take off in 2nd from a stop with no issues.

My truck will do 64mph at 3200 rpm. Engine is really wizzing at that speed, especially with all the holes and no insulation on my firewall.

The 50's still had the enclosed drive shaft so not anything easy to do to swap rear ends or rear end gears at this point.

Column Shift is COOLER!!!!!!! Floor shifts are a dime a dozen. Be a Cool Kid and go with a 3 on the Tree!

^ x2

I like the column shift in my 51. It, along with the array of pedals, buttons and knobs, throws people off the first time they see it.

I agree that you don't see many column shifters any more, but I still like driving a floor shift. Something about a truck says it should be shifted from the floor!

I do too. Which is why my daily drivers will always be short throw 5 or 6 spd manuals.

I like having a 4speed because you can use 1st gear to pull out tree roots.

Either is good for me. My '49 Poncho which I drove as a daily driver, had a three speed column. Like Truckernix said, the only drag was having no synchro for 1st gear. But I found that when driving in traffic, as long as the wheels were turning, it was fine to start in second.

My Panel's got the 4 speed, and I like it too. My One Ton had the 4 speed too of course. I do find I use first gear all the time, for parking, and starting on steep hills, or to enrage pushy BMW drivers (no offence, I don't mean you). I do like how ridiculously low 1st is, you can just creep along. The huge throw of the 4 speed is great too, these modern shifters! My signal stat has more throw than that!


With either the 3, or 4 speeds, one of my favourite things is two lane road trips. I really like how you can slow down going through a town, right down to 10 or 15 mph without shifting, and then as you leave the town, just pull it back up to 50 without having to shift. You don't get to do that with a 4 cylinder car!

Someday I hope to have something with a straight-8, for even more torque at low rpm.