converting to 4L80 auto and column shift

[67mater]

I am going from a 4 speed manual to a 4L80E and NP231. Anybody know what it takes to go to column shift? I'm seeing used auto columns go for $50 and then how do I do the linkage? Should I just get a Lokar floor shifter? I see the 32" one; anybody got this?

[Longhorn Man]

have you looked into the computer that it'll take to run that tranny? Moe acuratly... the cost involved?

[67mater]

computer and harness coming from donor. is there more I should be worried about?

[airdale94]

You might be able to get the colum and linkages to work from the donor vehicle. If it is the 88-94 variety. You would have the ignition on the colum though. I guess you wouldn't have to use it.

[67mater]

column not availble. I was lookign into a 68-72 auto column, or perhaps a Loakr floor shifter (buy they are pricy)

[runpasthefence]

I'm curious as well. I'm planning a LQ9 - 4L80 conversion, but I'd like to to keep my column shift. What has the solution been for the 4l60? Is everyone going floor shift?

[trx450duner]

I did this conversion in my 70' and I got a mid to late 70's van coloumn and put a mid 80's van detent and indicator assembly in it. This allowed me to maintain a non keyed, tilt, coloumn shift set up that even had the detent and indicator for an overdrive. It bolts into the truck just like your original and GM sells the adapter pig tail to hook your trucks wiring to the later model coloumn (direct plug in no splicing). As far as the linkage I used a lokar set up, they sell a universal shift linkage that bolts to the coloumn and trans and you just cut the rod to leangth. If interested in this conversion and you need the pigtail harness I can dig up the GM part # so you can take that to the dealer.

[special-K]

Great info!This should be in FAQs.

[runpasthefence]

Agreed, here's the page on the Lokar website.
http://lokar.com/interior_pages/colshiftlink.htm

[trx450duner]

One more thing to anyone that may do this conversion, you cant just put the detent and indicator from the van into your 67-72 coloumn it doesnt fit. 73 is the year they changed the coloumns in the trucks so I would think that anything from 73 up for the van would fit the later detent ass. and the sweet part is if you score this in the wrecking yard you can swap it all over there and just buy a coloumn and not the extra parts too.

[Gray Ghost]

Originally Posted by 67mater

I am going from a 4 speed manual to a 4L80E and NP231. Anybody know what it takes to go to column shift? I'm seeing used auto columns go for $50 and then how do I do the linkage? Should I just get a Lokar floor shifter? I see the 32" one; anybody got this?

I don't have pics but my buddy Bill has the 32" shifter in his panel truck. The Lokar kit has a very strong bracket setup and bolts in with ease.