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Looking for advice on a steering column shifter eliminator

Jaysam

Jaysam

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So I bit the bullet and I’m converting my ‘74 Satellite 318 from a 3 on the tree to a 4 on the floor. I had seen a newer part offered in the Classic Industries catalog 68-76 column shifter eliminator. I’m not interested in replacing the entire column with an aftermarket one. So I’m looking for advice on these column shifter eliminators or I wanna hear what anybody has to say on maybe another route as to what I should do. Any reply would be great appreciated.
Thanks, Jason

97759E9A-64BA-4202-88A3-82A6991C8CDC.png 413A8704-9425-4C3B-B91A-5D07CE4A34EB.png 6848CCD7-D4E9-4931-8204-933E10E3418F.png
 
Since you are there, make a pass at closing yours up. Nothing lost if you don’t like it. I cut and welded mine, came out fine. Note, you will have to leave an access hole to tighten the Allen screws as shown in pic.

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Not all column sleeves are steel. My 3 on the tree was pot metal. Can't weld that. but you can epoxy and bondo a patch.
Doug
 
Is it really three on a tree or is it an automatic, because I’m looking for a manual 3 speed, thanks
 
Takoctopus said:
Is it really three on a tree or is it an automatic, because I’m looking for a manual 3 speed, thanks
Click to expand...

It is a manual 3 speed with the shifter on the steering column that I’m currently changing to a manual 4 speed on the floor. I apologize but any parts coming off this vehicle are already spoken for and going to a project that a good friend is trying to get together.
 
Jaysam said:
It is a manual 3 speed with the shifter on the steering column that I’m currently changing to a manual 4 speed on the floor. I apologize but any parts coming off this vehicle are already spoken for and going to a project that a good friend is trying to get together.
Click to expand...
Ok, just checking, thanks
 
I just finished this conversion, and personally enjoyed the process. The part fit fine, the only issue I had was mine didn't have an access hole for a set screw that holds the Lockout Tube to the Collar furthest from the steering wheel. I don't think this should be an issue, as you bend over tabs that achieve the same thing. If I need to, I can drill and tap the hole for the set screw in the future. I did buy the unit from Classic Industries as well. You will be pulling the Column for this conversion. If you have the time, then I would go forward with the conversion, that's just my opinion, as it worked out well for me. I'll include a link to an excellent series of video's by "Cuda Cody", that detail the entire rebuild. Including some pics of mine...good luck whichever route you choose. I realize his video shows an E body Column, but aside from the Crush Can, it's exactly the same.

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There wouldn’t have been a lock-out/shift tube on a ’72 floor shift column. The tube is eliminated altogether when making this conversion.


IMAG0026.jpg
 
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
There wouldn’t have been a lock-out/shift tube on a ’72 floor shift column. The tube is eliminated altogether when making this conversion.





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I wondered about that when I was doing my conversion, I even emailed Cuda Cody for clarification. While you don't have to have a lock out tube for a floor mounted setup, leaving it out eliminates the "lock-out" feature on the column all together. I went with the example in the Video I shared, it shows the column as having a lock-out tube, even though it's not a column mounted shifter...matter of preference if you wish to have the "Lock-out" feature on your column
 
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1970 was the only year the factory used a lock out tube and related linkages on a b-body floor shifted application. A factory correct ’71-72 conversion would involve removing the tube and replacing the lower bearing with a seal and retainer. There is a small spring needed for the lower column head casting and a rubber stop to do the job correctly. Yes, you can run the lock out if you want, just not correct for any other year than 1970.
 
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
1970 was the only year the factory used a lock out tube and related linkages on a b-body floor shifted application. A factory correct ’71-72 conversion would involve removing the tube and replacing the lower bearing with a seal and retainer. There is a small spring needed for the lower column head casting and a rubber stop to do the job correctly. Yes, you can run the lock out if you want, just not correct for any other year than 1970.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I guess that explains why the unit doesn't have the access hole that's drilled and tapped for the set screw. Also explains the video I attached, since he's working on a 1970 model column, albeit an E body, which I assume was the same as the B body. Does the spring and rubber stop achieve a lockout condition, or did it not have that feature for floor shift columns?
 
The lower head castings are the same as E-body, some brackets are different (this picture is an E-body column). Without the tube the lower head casting becomes a spring-loaded manual key release, triggering the steering wheel lock with key removal. There is a label sticker explaining this function. As well, it is designed to prevent the steering wheel from locking up without this double action if shutting down ignition while the vehicle is in motion.
BTW, the original 1970 flour shift lower head casting does not have the manual tab and label cast.
Some other chatter about this on Cody's forum.


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Last edited:
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
The lower head castings are the same as E-body, some brackets are different (this picture is an E-body column). Without the tube the lower head casting becomes a spring-loaded manual key release, triggering the steering wheel lock with key removal. There is a label sticker explaining this function. As well, it is designed to prevent the steering wheel from locking up without this double action if shutting down ignition while the vehicle is in motion.
BTW, the original 1970 flour shift lower head casting does not have the manual tab and label cast.
Some other chatter about this on Cody's forum.


View attachment 1086840
View attachment 1086869
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information, I was wondering about that label and now it makes sense. Once again this forum has the best folks by far, for all levels of information and detail!
 
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