73PlyRR
Well-Known Member
I have a 73 Roadrunner and I had to have the transmission rebuilt by a local guy who's been rebuilding Transmissions for 40 years.
I have a 318 4BBL with old hooker headers on it 904 transmission with column shift.
He called me in while he was installing the new transmission and showed me that the shift linkages were all messed up. Who ever installed the headers jerry rigged the shift linkages so that he cannot reinstall it the way it was. Previous owner flipped some of the linkages and turned around some of the brackets and left off a few. The problem was the headers were in the way so whoever worked on it just kind of threw everything together and it "worked"
Now that that the tranny has been rebuilt my mech does not want to put it all back the way it was because he said that was one of the things that contributed to the tranny failing in the first place.
So my choices are from most to least expensive
1. Get an column shift cable to replace the mechanical linkages. Not as easy as it sounds because who makes them?
2. Get an aftermarket shifter from someone like B&M mount it on the floor in front of the bench seats. Wedging the shifter in between the front seat and the dash maybe not enough room to fit a shifter in.
3. Get TTI headers and replace the entire exhaust apparently the headers were for a B-Body with floor shift. Getting new headers made for column shift or replace with Shorty headers. Most Expensive option for a 318/4 that I only plan on keeping for a few years until I get a 360 with a 727. to replace it.
So now my questions:
Options 1, anyone make replacement shift cables for a column shift B-Body? I checked LOKAR and they are a no go.
Option 2: Or should I just go with a B&M floor shifter and wedge it in? I can use it with the new engine and tranny when I go to replace it.
TL;DR Previous owner screwed up my transmission shift linkages and need to replace it with a cable shift or aftermarket floor shifter?
I have a 318 4BBL with old hooker headers on it 904 transmission with column shift.
He called me in while he was installing the new transmission and showed me that the shift linkages were all messed up. Who ever installed the headers jerry rigged the shift linkages so that he cannot reinstall it the way it was. Previous owner flipped some of the linkages and turned around some of the brackets and left off a few. The problem was the headers were in the way so whoever worked on it just kind of threw everything together and it "worked"
Now that that the tranny has been rebuilt my mech does not want to put it all back the way it was because he said that was one of the things that contributed to the tranny failing in the first place.
So my choices are from most to least expensive
1. Get an column shift cable to replace the mechanical linkages. Not as easy as it sounds because who makes them?
2. Get an aftermarket shifter from someone like B&M mount it on the floor in front of the bench seats. Wedging the shifter in between the front seat and the dash maybe not enough room to fit a shifter in.
3. Get TTI headers and replace the entire exhaust apparently the headers were for a B-Body with floor shift. Getting new headers made for column shift or replace with Shorty headers. Most Expensive option for a 318/4 that I only plan on keeping for a few years until I get a 360 with a 727. to replace it.
So now my questions:
Options 1, anyone make replacement shift cables for a column shift B-Body? I checked LOKAR and they are a no go.
Option 2: Or should I just go with a B&M floor shifter and wedge it in? I can use it with the new engine and tranny when I go to replace it.
TL;DR Previous owner screwed up my transmission shift linkages and need to replace it with a cable shift or aftermarket floor shifter?
