Column shifters

[cheatham]

Just something I thought of today- I wonder why people don't like column shifters. Obviously the drawback is that there are only 3 gears, but besides that, why should I want the shifter on the floor. Seems like it is in just the right place where it is on these trucks. I know some people have some problems with them locking up, but with a little tweaking I don't unless I am really dogging it between 1st and 2nd.

Just curious what you all think about this.

JP

[Palf70Step]

For me it has nothing to do with the gears..I drove 4 & 5 speed on column overseas, but to me all them 3, 4 , 5 have linkage problems...The more length you have to the linkages, the more tendacy to have slop and shifting problems.

Besides it is much cooler to power shift a floor shifter than trying to get the coloum to do it.

My $.02

[Longhorn Man]

I think it is pretty cool, and the added advantage that no one knows how to drive them anymore so no one wants to borrow it.
however, I drive my junk kinda hard and that collumn deal would probably end up tickin me off.

[Project1970]

My '70 shipped with a column-shifter 3-speed...and apparently even while it was still nearly new, it already had problems with the linkage. It was unborrowable, because if you weren't very careful to get the clutch ALL the way out, you'd bind the linkage up in neutral and get stuk there...

I've got no problem with that, though; between the shifter and the brakes, the truck was ignored enough that it was still in damn good shape when I got to it!!

[No3Fan4Ever]

Years ago I had a 74 Ford F100( 302; 3 speed) and I was about 3 blocks from home when I shifted to 2nd gear and that friggin shifting collar on the column snapped and the shifter came off in my hand; starting out in 2nd gear sucks
But I did put a Hurst/Indy shifter in it as a replacement

[cheatham]

I think I forgot how much quicker you can shift with shifter on the floor after driving a 3 on the tree for so darn long, but that is a real good reason to have it down there.

But also like Longhornmail said, it is confusing to the majority of younger people. My passenger door doesn't lock, I leave the windows down, and half the time forget my key in the ignition (that probably isn't smart) but I don't get worried about some kid stealing the truck.

Also, it is a lot easier to ride three people on the bench this way.

[cheatham]

I should have put a poll in this thread, too. Oh, well- any more input?

[passthebuck]

I think the 3-on-the-tree setup is very cool - its different & almost nobody anymore has any idea how it works. My big beef is that its a flipping mystery to me as to how to get it shifting A-1. I've put new bushings where I can but it needs more..... nobody asks to borrow it either!

[krue]

They're great to learn on, cuz if you can shift the 3 on the tree you can shift anything!

[jimfulco]

I've had column shift problems on a couple of Ford trucks, but not on a Chevy. I have a 69 Nova & a 69 pickup, & I drove a 69 C-10 parts delivery truck for almost a year, all of which endured all kinds of speedshifting, etc. The only problem was the parts truck shifter pin came out on a run one time. The Nova still has a dent in the dash where the heel of my hand shoved the shifter into 2nd for a couple of years. The stuff those old Chevys endured would have torn a Ford shifter to pieces in a matter of days.

[hjalbert]

i had a 73 chevelle with a 3 on the tree, and I was the only person who could drive it without getting it stuck in gear, and i was to lazy to change the linkage bushings. when it cam time to sell it, this was a great pain in the arse, because it seemed all of my buyers had never even driven a stick. I believe letting them test drive it took years of my life, and the clutch life, but i actually like the way it shifted,was mutch quicker then my 4 on the floor

[Narkoleptik]

forgive my ignorance, but could someone post pics?

I'm confused.