Does anyone think a auto floor shifter kills a truck

[r1lorenzini]

Ok so here is my question. Im currently looking for another c10 and so many guys have installed b&m quickshifter style shifters into their trucks. Am I the only one who thinks this is horrible? It really kills the truck. Has anyone had luck with patching up the floor and going back to the tree? Thanks

To b&m or not to b&m that is the question

[paintpyro]

I currently have that style shifter, run by cable. Its really a pain in the butt. Reverse lockout requires 2 hands. I have a Gennie 23" shifter to mount, and will patch up the floor. May even create a small panel for future work on the shifter area.
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[Bishops Trucks]

Most of the automatic shifters I've seen just require a big enough hole to pass a 1/4" cable thru. I've had a couple trucks with automatoc floor shifters and a couple with four speeds. I don't think it takes away at all. Just need to get a shifter that matches the style of your truck.

[DaSchlange]

Not at all dude. I wouldn't do it myself just because I don't really care for them, but if it's what you want it your truck, its worth every bit of "pain in the butt" to put it in and money that you spend on it. Just like me, I don't need a chrome steering column, but I want one. I will end up spending more money for it, but hey like I said, it's about what you want. Good luck with your automatic floor shifter.

[cdowns]

i dont like the look of B&M shifters they seem to get real cheezy in a very short time with use

i love the looks of the lokar shifters and would put one in in a heartbeat

[LilD]

Personaly I like the the Lokar style shifters. I think B&M or Hurst makes one too that looks more like a standard trans shifter.

[Burb]

Its all in one's perspective ... A bone stock would look odd with a B&M Quick Silver, but would add a personal touch if it was a Lokar chrome long stick in a small boot, with trim that matched the switch rings on the gauge bezel.

I myself have made the choice more for function and ease of location, I run a B&M Rachet Shifter with a Monster 700R4 w/ a manual valve body. This shifter enables you to shift smoothly thru the gears, wheather you are hauling or HAULIN' And I have had a '69 with 3 on the tree with an 8 ball. Its all in the eye of the beholder

[raycow]

I would do it if I had buckets and a console, but I don't see much point in doing it with a bench.

Ray

[71 super]

In one of my other trucks, I had a hurst quarter stick and loved the actual shifter, but it is a purpose built shifter and I needed it for the transbrake. It required the use of two hands for reverse as does the b&M. If you just want an automatic and dont need the added features of the quarter stick or b&m's version of the same, stay away from the cheapos quick silver, mega shifter etc. They are crap and wear out quickly, Instead I would look for the correct column and install it for the same $ as a lokar unit, and no extra holes in the floor.

[Nova70]

I don't think it ruins a truck at all. Like said above, it's all about your personal preference. I have a floor shifter right now and want to move it to the column, but that's a $300 change. lol

[red69ss]

Originally Posted by r1lorenzini

Ok so here is my question. Im currently looking for another c10 and so many guys have installed b&m quickshifter style shifters into their trucks. Am I the only one who thinks this is horrible? It really kills the truck. Has anyone had luck with patching up the floor and going back to the tree? Thanks

To b&m or not to b&m that is the question

I have to agree with you, I see a lot of trucks with them but I don't care for the look. Those style shifters only look good in a stock console (imo). this is a matter of choice though some guys love them and some guys need them. It should be an easy fix though if you buy one with one, so don't let that stop you from buying one, there are still stock auto column shifters around that are relatively cheap as long as you don't want a tilt....jmho...good luck

[pat 70/71]

In high school I had a three on the tree. I, thought that if I installed a hurst floor shifter my truck would be a race truck! So I bought one and was mounting it and my dad asks " what are you doing?" he picks up the box and it reads "universal fit" ( means it fits nothing) should have stopped there. drove it with shifting problems for years! changed it back to three on the tree and all problems solved. I think if you have tree on the tree keep it if you can. cheers, Pat

[N2TRUX]

Hate em....

[r1lorenzini]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Hate em....

Yeah me too but thats why I polled it and it seems 50% wich is why I see so many in the dang trucks lol

[BB72CHEVKT]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Hate em....

I am not a fan either. To me it can kill the whole truck. I would deffinately do something like a lokar if you do run one.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i dont like the look of B&M shifters they seem to get real cheezy in a very short time with use

i love the looks of the lokar shifters and would put one in in a heartbeat

^
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|__ This.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Nope, I don't have a problem with them. I have a lokar and 700R and it's wonderful to be easily able to toggle from 3rd to OD and back, especially with all the cityish driving I do. Some do look "cheasy" compared to others though...

[greenbd71]

A floor shifter does not look clean no matter what you do to make it look better. Less cab room is a bad thing since you don't have a ton of room already. I also prefer the bench seat over the bucket seats as well.

[68jewel]

With all due respect, I think it kills a truck or any vehicle for that matter. I just think it is so outdated. I can remember some of my buddies have that shifter in Monte Carlo's, Camaro's, Gran Prix's and Cutlass's back in the mid 80's. But, then again these are classic trucks we are dealing with. So, do what floats your boat and makes you happy. I just think there is more out there and better looking shifters here in 2010.

[tantrumpipeline]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i dont like the look of B&M shifters they seem to get real cheezy in a very short time with use

i love the looks of the lokar shifters and would put one in in a heartbeat

Lokar floor shifter, the only way to go if you go this route, long ways from that order, but will be doing one myself

[Bad70sbchevy]

I think it just comes down to personal preference. Some people like the stock look of 3 on the tree, othes like me love the floor shifter. Im running a B&M megashifter in mine (TH400) and love it and I have a bench seat. Never had the first problem out of it and I love the fact its a hammer shifter. It actually doesnt take up much room at all. Gives it that street strip look.

[69 longhorn]

I guess that IF , I thought that a floor shifter"ruined the truck" dammit, then I wouldnt be rowin 6 gears! Stock is "ok", but custom is BETTER My thoughts go.....if you run a 60's/70's muscle car.......DAMMIT, RUNIT LIKE THE FACTORY SET IT UP! These old trucks, although they are classics, will NEVER pull the same dollars on resale as the same area muscle car. Build em right..... (chop em .drop em,shave em, hell, put em on air ride & RAIL EM if you like)! If you are a resto nut, you wont find the big money in these old trucks.....build them how they suit YOU, & have fun Just my 2 cents.....have fun, crazy AL

[special-K]

It depends on the truck.If it's a totally modified performance vehicle,as in used for racing or just a lot of sheetin & geetin I guess it fits right in.I've gone through hell and back searching out proper factory shift set-ups on everything from '55 Chevys to these trucks.I like 4spd manuals for my knee-side gear grabbin' anyway.

[Andy4639]

I have a floor mount shifter and think it's great! I put the 700-R4 in it and couldn't afford the auto tilt at the time so I used what I had.



Some day it will get a console and a factory GM shifter installed if I ever run across the right deal.

[Stocker]

Not for me, thanks, but I don't have a hot rod truck.

The only thing sticking out of my floor goes to the transfer case.