What do i need to buy? Shifters.

[lyrikz]

71 gmc stepside. Low hump. has a TH400 in it. I need a floor shifter. Using it for regular driving, want something that looks nice. I might race it occasionally.. (doubt it though)

There are SO many options, i really dont know what i need.. Any help?

edit: also, i have NO linkages what so ever for this truck.. Just a transmission and thats it. ahaha.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

71 gmc stepside. Low hump. has a TH400 in it. I need a floor shifter. Using it for regular driving, want something that looks nice. I might race it occasionally.. (doubt it though)

There are SO many options, i really dont know what i need.. Any help?

edit: also, i have NO linkages what so ever for this truck.. Just a transmission and thats it. ahaha.

im sure this is a simple question. IM just dead lost.... So many options.

[Chevyman680063]

I have a Lokar shifter that was in my '63 when I got it. I personally like it.
http://www.lokar.com/interior_pages/shifters_knobs.htm

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Chevyman680063

I have a Lokar shifter that was in my '63 when I got it. I personally like it.
http://www.lokar.com/interior_pages/shifters_knobs.htm

I should have mentioned its an automatic. What i need is everything.. I just have the transmission and thats it...

[project 67 sub]

heres one. same one that i have in my burb.
http://www.jegs.com/p/B%26M/745755/10002/-1/10517

[michael bustamante]

I used a B&M sport shifter and it came with the cable and the hardware to hook up to the trans where the linkage would normally go. been working good for 7 years now

[Chevyman680063]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

I should have mentioned its an automatic. What i need is everything.. I just have the transmission and thats it...

I don't know if you can tell from the picture because of the glare on the shifter but that's an autmatic shifter. Lokar makes them for automatics and manuals.

[t&tkennels]

I just installed a b&m z gate in my '71 ,looks & works great , but it could stand to be an inch or 2 taller. i think if youre going for a hot rod look id go with some kind of ratchet shifter, if youre going for a classic look id go with a lokar. I know with a ratchet shifter it comes with a cable & brackets ,so you will not need your stock linkage.

[Pont406]

chevyman,
Does that shifter feel firm when going from second to drive?

[Chevyman680063]

Originally Posted by Pont406

chevyman,
Does that shifter feel firm when going from second to drive?

I've never really gone from 2nd to Drive with it. I always put it in Drive from the start so can't really help you on that, sorry.

[Shane]

Lokar ...

[straitnate14]

Originally Posted by Shane

Lokar ...

somthing we should know? thats what I have been looking at getting

[pmpski_1]

Don't want to threadjack...Chevyman, I love your "air conditioning".

[Chevyman680063]

Originally Posted by pmpski_1

Don't want to threadjack...Chevyman, I love your "air conditioning".

It does ok, unless it's humid. Just need another one to mount on the left side of the steering column and 2 more for the passenger side.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by t&tkennels

I just installed a b&m z gate in my '71 ,looks & works great , but it could stand to be an inch or 2 taller. i think if youre going for a hot rod look id go with some kind of ratchet shifter, if youre going for a classic look id go with a lokar. I know with a ratchet shifter it comes with a cable & brackets ,so you will not need your stock linkage.

How tall is yours now. That was another question, whats a good height. I currently have zero linkage hardware, so i need the shifter to have everything.

Originally Posted by Shane

Lokar ...

??? For the name? They just that much better then b&m???

Originally Posted by pmpski_1

Don't want to threadjack...Chevyman, I love your "air conditioning".

HIjacker!!!!...

[t&tkennels]

My b&m is about a foot tall, comes with everything to mount it , so you dont have to have your original linkage anyhow. With the b&m you can pull into low gear & upshift as fast & hard as you want , without worrying about hitting nuetral or reverse. I think they sell for about a $129.00 from summit , i got mine used for $60.00. if youre gonna be drag racing any i would go with a b&m or hurst shifter, but if youre gonna just cruz it , i think the lokar would be better & their more stylish, but i think more exspesive. theirs also a cool looking shifter made by a company called kilduff i think , they have a video on you tube.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by t&tkennels

My b&m is about a foot tall, comes with everything to mount it , so you dont have to have your original linkage anyhow. With the b&m you can pull into low gear & upshift as fast & hard as you want , without worrying about hitting nuetral or reverse. I think they sell for about a $129.00 from summit , i got mine used for $60.00. if youre gonna be drag racing any i would go with a b&m or hurst shifter, but if youre gonna just cruz it , i think the lokar would be better & their more stylish, but i think more exspesive. theirs also a cool looking shifter made by a company called kilduff i think , they have a video on you tube.

Yes, what you said there seems EXACTLY like i want. Is this what your talking about??
Amazon.com: B&M 80675 StarShifter Automatic...

[t&tkennels]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Yes, what you said there seems EXACTLY like i want. Is this what your talking about??
Amazon.com: B&M 80675 StarShifter Automatic Shifter: Automotive

the star shifter would be fine , & i think it may be a little taller than the z - gate shifter i have but im not for sure . You can also try a truck b&m mega shifter , it has a taller base & i think hurst also makes a auto shifter for trucks with a taller base. you should really check out the kilduff shifter on you tube , i think its like 16" tall , @ that height it would work nice in your truck providing you have enough room between the seat & dash , you have bucket seats you will have plenty of room.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by t&tkennels

the star shifter would be fine , & i think it may be a little taller than the z - gate shifter i have but im not for sure . You can also try a truck b&m mega shifter , it has a taller base & i think hurst also makes a auto shifter for trucks with a taller base. you should really check out the kilduff shifter on you tube , i think its like 16" tall , @ that height it would work nice in your truck providing you have enough room between the seat & dash , you have bucket seats you will have plenty of room.

Whats the difference between the gate and the star shifter??? The price is different but what else???

[t&tkennels]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Whats the difference between the gate and the star shifter??? The price is different but what else???

i think their pretty much the same just different styling. a plus is that the b&m , & hurst shifters are self contained , no linkage go thru the floor , just 4 bolts to mount , & a hole about the size of your thumb has to be drilled into the floor to run the cable thru. & what ever shifter you get if you have the trans. out of the truck i would mount the shifter before reinstalling the trans cuz it makes bolting down the shifter much easier. and a plus with useing a cable operated shifter is that you can mount anyway you want to, i know alot of guys mount them in a slight angle, or if one wishes to you could mount it on the roof of the truck providing you have a long enough cable, & could reach it.lol. im just saying by going with a cable operated shifter your mounting locations a nearly endless. if you want i can snap a pic . of how the z - gate looks in my truck, .

[lyrikz]

ahhh, so they are cable mounted.. I already have a hole in the floor from the previous owner...

I like the way the star shifter looks, im going to go that route... I would love to see a pic of your setup...

thanks again for the help....

[michael bustamante]

A quick note. if you got young `uns, you might look into the B&M sport shifter. to get out of park you actually give a little lift to the t handle to go into gear. My girls cant seem to grasp that concept so I know they wont be able to accidentally get the truck into gear, I dont think the star shifter has that option. plus when people get in my truck and wanna "give it a spin" they cant get it into gear unless I tell them how most of the time, which tells me this is a pretty good delay in case someone wants to joyride without my authorization

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

A quick note. if you got young `uns, you might look into the B&M sport shifter. to get out of park you actually give a little lift to the t handle to go into gear. My girls cant seem to grasp that concept so I know they wont be able to accidentally get the truck into gear, I dont think the star shifter has that option. plus when people get in my truck and wanna "give it a spin" they cant get it into gear unless I tell them how most of the time, which tells me this is a pretty good delay in case someone wants to joyride without my authorization

Ya, on the starshifter, you ahve to lift up this little handle to get it out of park...

Kids love the truck. We went on a ride or two before i tore it down... On sunday we would just cruise around the block... Man, i need to get this thing going again. ahaha...

[t&tkennels]

Heres a couple of pics of my b&m z-gate , not the best pics. and please excuse the seat , had to stick it back in the truck to position the shifter like i wanted it, hope to have it covered soon.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by t&tkennels

Heres a couple of pics of my b&m z-gate , not the best pics. and please excuse the seat , had to stick it back in the truck to position the shifter like i wanted it, hope to have it covered soon.

HMMM, it looks good. But im wondering now if the lokar is what im looking for... WIth the lokar it would just be a shift boot and a levar coming out of the floor right???