Lokar floor shifter in these trucks

[63burban4x4]

anybody got a pic of a Lokar floor shifter for 700r4 in their truck? I am wondering if they have a shifter that looks something like the original 4-speed shifter?

[tincan1966]

best way to see that would be on their website. with the adjustable mounting locations, you should be able to have it some up thru the 4 spd hole.

[gimmy 64]

lokar 23 in. in a 64 gmc low hump

[63burban4x4]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

best way to see that would be on their website. with the adjustable mounting locations, you should be able to have it some up thru the 4 spd hole.

yeah, I woulda thought, I went there first, except I didn't see any pics there of them actually installed in this series truck, which is what I'm looking for.

Thanks gimmy64, that is what I wanted to see. Looks close....maybe a little taller than original? Maybe it would look more like the original without the second bend near the top? Looks good in there, though.

[markeb01]

Here's are a few shots of what mine looked like many years ago when I was running a TH350. I did come up through the original floor hole, although I think I trimmed the hole about 1/4":

[farmtrucks]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Here's are a few shots of what mine looked like many years ago when I was running a TH350. I did come up through the original floor hole, although I think I trimmed the hole about 1/4":

what vehicle is ur steering wheel from? I like it !!!!

[coulter]

23" lokar tranny mounted

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by farmtrucks

what vehicle is ur steering wheel from? I like it !!!!

That was a Lecarra Mark 4 steering wheel.



It had a great feel but didn't fit the image I was after. They are very light and sturdy, but do require regular polishing to stay nice looking. I picked up the GMC horn button sticker at a rod run, it didn’t come with the wheel. I think it might have originally been sold as a hub cap emblem.

The wheel remains in current production:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LAC-43201/?rtype=10

[chad64chevy]

if you type in lokar shifter, then go to the 60-66 section it will give you like 4 pages with different threads with pictures! i was thinking of going with a 16" floor mount shifter for the 700r4 with a low hump trans cover! but now i'm going to go a different route

[McCoyAZ]

64 chevy short step trans mounted 16" Lokar Be sure to wire up the reverse lock out switch.

[markeb01]

I originally went with the 23" stick because it looked so much like the original 4 speed handle. After a couple of years though I got tired of it and went with the 16" length. Personally I liked the short version much better, but it really comes down to personal preference.

[63burban4x4]

Originally Posted by markeb01

That was a Lecarra Mark 4 steering wheel.



It had a great feel but didn't fit the image I was after. They are very light and sturdy, but do require regular polishing to stay nice looking. I picked up the GMC horn button sticker at a rod run, it didn’t come with the wheel. I think it might have originally been sold as a hub cap emblem.

The wheel remains in current production:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LAC-43201/?rtype=10

markeb01...I'm curious about the shifter in that picture.....is that an auto, I can't see the pedals. That's not the same shifter as the early picture, right? Is that the 16" Lokar? If that's the same truck as your earlier picture, you've definitely come a long way on the interior, that looks awesome. I'm also wondering, whatkind of A/C is that, I really like the way it looks.
I must be a real dumba$$, I've been to that Lokar website twice, and I still can't find those pics! -Ed

[markeb01]

Seeing the pedals really wouldn’t help since I left the clutch pedal in most of the years I ran an auto transmission because I always wanted to go back to a stick. And yes all the pictures are of the same truck. The shorter shifter is a 16” Gennie Shifter on the same TH350 transmission. I always preferred the Gennie because I previously had one in my 46 Ford sedan and it worked just like a column shift. Any shift knob could also be run.

The Lokar knob and mechanism inside the handle rattled so bad it drove me nuts. Also living in North Idaho in sub zero winter temperatures the grease in the shaft froze up rendering the truck inoperable because the button couldn’t be depressed. And this was my daily driver. I finally rinsed all the grease out of the shaft with WD40, and then it REALLY rattled. I originally bought the Lokar only because they had the adjustable mount to position the shift head in the original 4 speed hole in the floor. Several years later Gennie released the same type adjustable mount so I switched back.

Sadly Gennie management bungled the company right out of business so that’s not much of an option any longer.

The A/C was the Old Air Hurricane unit. The stuff under the hood was well designed and fit nice, but the main evaporator had an engineering defect in the flap diverter that latched so tight it broke the dash knob levers and even pulled the T-Handle off a choke cable I swapped in. Years after I threw it all in the garbage I discovered the compressor might have had a bent shaft, because it shrieked at certain engine rpms so loud I was embarrassed to drive the truck. I spent so much money taking it to various A/C shops to make it work right I finally just gave up.

If I had it to do again I would go with a stand alone under dash evaporator style system and keep a factory heater. The heater in the combination heater/air conditioners are really designed for mild climates. Where I live the heater wouldn’t even defrost the windshield during the cold months.

Here's another picture of what it looked like when it still had the long Lokar shifter but with a black knob to make it appear a little more stock. Not sure why that mattered to me since it sure didn't look remotely stock with Recaro bucket seats:

[63burban4x4]

Thanks, that's all helpful info. I'd like to NOT change the column in my truck to run the 700, so I was thinking the Lokar shifter would be a good solution, but I know nothing about them. The cold shifting problem concern me, I live now in western Mass, and it gets cold here, zero and below some mornings for sure. And, we will be moving in a while to Estes Park, in the Colorado Front Range, and at 7000', that ain't the warmest place either! I wonder if Lokar has addressed the issue since you had one? I liked the idea of looking stock, even though I will be using '99- up Silverado seats in my suburban. (The wife and I want to do some traveling in this truck, and the stock seats just ain't gonna make the grade!)

I also like the looks of the A/C in your truck, but it's gonna have to be a really good working system, plans include traveling to FLA to see the kids & grandkids, and maybe some time in the deep southwest. I've been thinking about Vintage Air, but haven't done enough research to know if that's the best I can do.

You have done a really nice job on the interior of your truck, and thanks for sharing your experience both with the shifters, and the A/C. -Ed

[markeb01]

To be fair to Lokar, I can attest they did in fact address the rattle/grease issue, years ago when I called them about it. The knobs were modified to include a nylon ring which reduced the knob rattle considerably. At the same time they eliminated the type of grease that came in my shifter, and replaced it in production with some space age grease that didn't freeze until something like 100 degrees below zero. They even offered to rebuild my shifter with the new grease for free, if I'd pay shipping both ways and send them the shifter. Problem being the truck was my daily driver and I couldn't do without it. They were very supportive, but by then I really wanted to go back to a Gennie Shifter.

The other thing I didn't like about the Lokar design was the button in the knob. If it was carelessly depressed with the thumb too far forward, the thumbnail would catch on the edge of the hole and fold the thumbnail over backwards. I said “ouch golly” (or words to that effect) more than once. The knob adapter that is now offered would eliminate the problem, but when I got rid of my shifter that item hadn’t been developed yet.

[63burban4x4]

Well, that's good to know. Since the Gennie is not really an option, I'll look further into the Lokar. I also wondered if their cable op shifter might be a workable option, but have done no research on it.
I've also been thinking, wondered whether anyone makes an electronic shifter that could be mounted somehow in or under the dash (sorta like the old Mopar push buttons, but with today's electronics, it just seems to me it could be feasable......)

I said "ouch, golly!" or words to that effect just HEARING about the thumbnail thing! -Ed

[Sneaux]

I have the 16" lokar floor mount cable shifter. I wish I had gotten the trans mounted one.

[westcoast5]

Originally Posted by Sneaux

I have the 16" lokar floor mount cable shifter. I wish I had gotten the trans mounted one.

how much did you pay Im looking for one.

[63burban4x4]

what don't you like about the cable shifter?

[Sneaux]

Originally Posted by westcoast5

how much did you pay Im looking for one.

I got it from Summit.

[Sneaux]

Originally Posted by 63burban4x4

what don't you like about the cable shifter?

I dont know if its just the cable shifter or all Lokar but its tough to tell what gear your in. The only way I can tell if im in drive or reverse is if the truck moves that direction. The old B&M I had before, you could feel it ratcheting through the gears. I dunno maybe i installed it wrong. I would just like more feed back from the shifter.

[Chevyman680063]

Here's mine with the low hump and original bench. Whenever people see it they automatically think I have a manual transmission.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

TH350

[hotrodimpy]

63burban4X4
why don't you give us a call here a Lokar. We will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding Lokar products. Gear selection in our shifters are very positive when the shifter is adjusted properly no matter if you have a solid rod or a cable operated shifter. The cable shifter is designed to be used when the shifter is mounted so far foward that it is above the selector shaft. This gives you the ability to shift the trans with the shifter in that position. Call one of our Tech people toll free at 1-877-469-7440

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Lokar Shifter Installation - YouTube