Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Sarasota FL
Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic?
I have looked through the archives and found very little about this. I am interested in improving the shifter and was wondering what others have used that is not just stock rebuild. The less modification to the console the better. Let me know if you have any experience with this.
Thanks in advance. Marc
Thanks in advance. Marc
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Marc80)
I've been researching this for several months myself & haven't gotten much useful info. I'm waiting for a callback from a local Vette shop- if they come up w/ anything solid I'll post it here.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: Ventura Harbor CA California
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Marc80)
I have a B&M Mega shifter in the 73. It looks cool but for performance it is a waste of money. The best way to increase crisp shift points on a 400, 350 or 700r4 is to play with the governor and leave it in drive. You can use a shifter like I have and go with a full manual body or no kickdown and that makes it tough for the street. On the above listed transmissions the electric solinoid, kick down and tv cable make a real soft shift when engaged and shifting manually. So in short if you want cool, yes they will fit, there are pictures on the link below. If you want to lower your et, buy a governor kit for 26 bucks and leave it in drive.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 275
Likes: 13
From: South Bend, Indiana
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Marc80)
I found myself overshifting at the dragstrip going from 1 to 2. So I took the stock shifter apart and filed notches in the shifter plate. Then I could slam it as hard as I want and not go past 2 until I press the button and repeat. Shortly after I did this someone came out with an aftermarket plate that just bolts on to the stock pattern to do the same thing.
1976 406, TH400, 3000stall switch pitch, nitrous, 4.11
1976 406, TH400, 3000stall switch pitch, nitrous, 4.11
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Sarasota FL
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Bob Blackmon)
The problem I have that is motivating a change is that the stop flange on the shifter (the one attached on the shaft running down from the central button) is missing and provides no protection from mis shifting. The aftermarket plate sounds like a good idea. but with the cost of that and the shifter parts paid I would still have a loose feeling "broomstick in a bucket of bolts" -as someone in archives described it.
Cosmetics is part of the picture but performance is more important.
I will keep checking back and see what comes up.
Thanks, Marc
Cosmetics is part of the picture but performance is more important.
I will keep checking back and see what comes up.
Thanks, Marc
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (jimtreber)
I found myself overshifting at the dragstrip going from 1 to 2. So I took the stock shifter apart and filed notches in the shifter plate. Then I could slam it as hard as I want and not go past 2 until I press the button and repeat. Shortly after I did this someone came out with an aftermarket plate that just bolts on to the stock pattern to do the same thing.
1976 406, TH400, 3000stall switch pitch, nitrous, 4.11
Jim,
I've had the same problem at the strip, mostly going from 2nd, past 3rd, & into neutral- not a good thing! I'd be very interested in looking at the plate you're talking about- do you know who is making it???
1976 406, TH400, 3000stall switch pitch, nitrous, 4.11
Jim,
I've had the same problem at the strip, mostly going from 2nd, past 3rd, & into neutral- not a good thing! I'd be very interested in looking at the plate you're talking about- do you know who is making it???
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Marc80)
When I added the OD trans to my vette I also changed the shifter detent on the stock shifter to get all 4 forward positions. In addition to that I filed an extra notch for the second gear slam shift. Now the unless the button is depressed the shifter wont go up past 2nd. I pull it all the way down to first, then just slam forward when I want to upshift to 2nd. It stops on the new notch. Then to get it into 3rd, a slight press of the button to get it started over the notch and throw it forward to the next notch. It works pretty good. And the shifter is still the stock one. Before it was just one single smooth slot from 1st to 3rd. It was difficult if not impossible to get it right all the time, especially under hard acceleration and all that. File a new notch or two can modify a stock shifter to work much better.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 275
Likes: 13
From: South Bend, Indiana
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Les)
Jim,
I've had the same problem at the strip, mostly going from 2nd, past 3rd, & into neutral- not a good thing! I'd be very interested in looking at the plate you're talking about- do you know who is making it???
I've had the same problem at the strip, mostly going from 2nd, past 3rd, & into neutral- not a good thing! I'd be very interested in looking at the plate you're talking about- do you know who is making it???
1976 406, TH400, 3000stall switch pitch, nitrous, 4.11
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 8,220
Likes: 208
Re: Anyone installed aftermarket shifter in automatic? (Marc80)
I had B&M Megashifter on my TH400 and it was very easy to install, comes with new shif panel that can easily be mounted in the stock location. I really liked, I just don't like automatic cars... :yesnod:
