71 mid length pistol grip use

[70chall440]

Is anyone using the mid length pistol grip (71+ B body bench seat or buckets with buddy seat) in the rear (behind the torsion bar cross member) position?

Here is the situation, I am building a 71 Charger and the PO set the car up to take the forward mount shifter/PG because he was going to run a bench seat. I want to run buckets with a buddy seat. I am going to be installing a TKX trans (which I already have) which puts the shifter in the rear position and uses the short (think E body) PG shifter handle. The make a trans that will put the shifter in forward most position such as you would find with a 70 B body (or A body), but this is too forward for a 71+ B body.

For those unfamiliar with this situation, Mopar used essentially 3 shifter mounting positions in its 60 & 70s cars, the forward most position was used in B bodies up to 70 and A bodies. The rear position came around in 70 and was used for the E bodies. In 71 they used what is called a "dog bone" mount which attaches to the transmission in front position but moves the shifter back about 5", out 3" and up about 1.5".

I have looked at a lot of pictures of various 71+ Chargers and have seen a few that it appears that either the short shifter is being used in the forward position or the other way around. I am not sure what I am going to do really, I can configure the trans I have now to mount a shifter forward but I don't know that I can get it where I want it, or I can just use the rear position like everyone and reconfigure the car itself.

I am interested to see pictures of 71 B body floors with the rear shifter position (I'd like to see how the hump is installed), also I'd like to hear from anyone that might be using the mid height PG in the rear position.

 

[Runcharger]

You never asked but this is the rear (same as E-body) shifter mounting with the seat in the rearward position.

 

[70chall440]

You never asked but this is the rear (same as E-body) shifter mounting with the seat in the rearward position.

View attachment 1394884

Hard to say but it looks like if there was a mid length with a buddy seat there it wouldn't be terrible.

 

[T2R9]

I think it would work. The shifter would move back 6 inches or so. The only thing is will the height clear the buddy seat since the shifter position is lower.

 

[70chall440]

Thanks for that pic, it shows me that the mid length would work if I mounted the buddy seat rearward just a little but as you say it remains to be seen how it would feel when using it. I guess what I need to do it mock it all up which will take a bit of work. I think I will need to remove the hump that is in there regardless.

 

[70chall440]

I am going to cut out the hump in the car, then mock it up and see what is what.

 

[Austin Charger]

Is anyone using the mid length pistol grip (71+ B body bench seat or buckets with buddy seat) in the rear (behind the torsion bar cross member) position?

Here is the situation, I am building a 71 Charger and the PO set the car up to take the forward mount shifter/PG because he was going to run a bench seat. I want to run buckets with a buddy seat. I am going to be installing a TKX trans (which I already have) which puts the shifter in the rear position and uses the short (think E body) PG shifter handle. The make a trans that will put the shifter in forward most position such as you would find with a 70 B body (or A body), but this is too forward for a 71+ B body.

For those unfamiliar with this situation, Mopar used essentially 3 shifter mounting positions in its 60 & 70s cars, the forward most position was used in B bodies up to 70 and A bodies. The rear position came around in 70 and was used for the E bodies. In 71 they used what is called a "dog bone" mount which attaches to the transmission in front position but moves the shifter back about 5", out 3" and up about 1.5".

I have looked at a lot of pictures of various 71+ Chargers and have seen a few that it appears that either the short shifter is being used in the forward position or the other way around. I am not sure what I am going to do really, I can configure the trans I have now to mount a shifter forward but I don't know that I can get it where I want it, or I can just use the rear position like everyone and reconfigure the car itself.

I am interested to see pictures of 71 B body floors with the rear shifter position (I'd like to see how the hump is installed), also I'd like to hear from anyone that might be using the mid height PG in the rear position.

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It helps if you have longer legs which pushes the seat back a little further. I love it.

 

[70chall440]

View attachment 1405937
It helps if you have longer legs which pushes the seat back a little further. I love it.

So what position is your shifter mounted in, the front or back?

 

[Austin Charger]

So what position is your shifter mounted in, the front or back?

I have the regular console/bucket seat (rear) shift mount.

 

[70chall440]

That is very helpful, thanks.