Auto Shifter options 69 SB?

[440fish]

I really would like to maintain the look of the factory console shifter on the SB but the seemingly weak detents between gears (and ability to shift into neutral from D without depressing the button) has me a little concerned. Things happen fast at 6000 rpm's and i'd feel a lot better with a more positive shift mechanism with some safeguards. I drove my buddies 70 Challenger with slap stick and that's a far superior system when you are really getting into it....

Is there something i can do to improve shifting performance and still maintain factory appearance? If not, what do you recommend for safe and positive street performance shifting?

 

[mmissile]

Adapt a slapstick unit out of a 70-74 B&E.

 

[Lionized]

Adapt a slapstick unit out of a 70-74 B&E.

I'm curious if the shifter stops from the slap-stick could be adapted to work with the B-body console shifter?
That'd be cool!

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Hmmmm....OK, here's thinking out of the box. I've seen a few automatic/console track cars with a regular door/cabinet type slide-lock over the slot in the console where the shifter is. This makes a "poor man's reverse lockout" kind of thing. What if you did the same thing, but pop-riveted that slide-lock UNDER the lid of the console. All you would see on top is 4 pop-rivets & you could pretty easily lift up the console lid (2 screws under console door) to slide the door/cabinet lock out of the way. You'd only use it at the track since you couldn't put the car in park/neutral/reverse with that lock slid over. It's much easier to do that with the door/cabinet lock visible on top the console, but then it doesn't look stock....just an idea.

 

[440fish]

Adapt a slapstick unit out of a 70-74 B&E.

Did the 70 B Bodies come with the slapstick shifter?

 

[440fish]

Hmmmm....OK, here's thinking out of the box. I've seen a few automatic/console track cars with a regular door/cabinet type slide-lock over the slot in the console where the shifter is. This makes a "poor man's reverse lockout" kind of thing. What if you did the same thing, but pop-riveted that slide-lock UNDER the lid of the console. All you would see on top is 4 pop-rivets & you could pretty easily lift up the console lid (2 screws under console door) to slide the door/cabinet lock out of the way. You'd only use it at the track since you couldn't put the car in park/neutral/reverse with that lock slid over. It's much easier to do that with the door/cabinet lock visible on top the console, but then it doesn't look stock....just an idea.

Sounds like im not the first to be concerned. HAHA. Id probably just go aftermarket at that point

 

[mmissile]

Did the 70 B Bodies come with the slapstick shifter?

Nope, it'll be a conversion. Otherwise everybody would bolt one in. If you use a 70 slapstick...it'll have a round/chrome shaft/stalk, and the earlier shiftknob and button should go on. It'll look more original than the later T-tandle.

 

[440fish]

Nope, it'll be a conversion. Otherwise everybody would bolt one in. If you use a 70 slapstick...it'll have a round/chrome shaft/stalk, and the earlier shiftknob and button should go on. It'll look more original than the later T-tandle.

OK thanks for the clarification

Wonder how much jockeying it would take to make it work. Suppose i need to look at some pics of the 70 assembly

 

[mmissile]

I would only think the linkage could be a real modification. They're both factory, forward-pattern, TF shifters. I would think it would be easy.