ratchet shifter owners, please step inside
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
ratchet shifter owners, please step inside
I'm about to rebuild my tranny and install Trans-Go shift kit
with stick shift option.
I would like to install ratchet shifter but it seems that all shifters
are meant to be used with full manual (reverse pattern) valve bodies.
I say this because if you read operating instructions for B&M megashifter
or Hammer shifter it says that to go from in-line gate mode to ratchet mode
shifter must be in drive position (or I guess OD for 4-speed trans).
That is good if you have reverse pattern because you are actually in 1-st gear
but for normal pattern you have to ratchet through all gears to get to first
and when you stop in 1st gear you have to ratchet all the way
to D and than go to in-line mode and to R or P position.
It is similar with Hurst shifters.
Does anybody know if its possible to go from in-line gate mode to ratchet mode
and other way arround in 1st or does shifter really have to be in D position?
Or if you know for a ratchet shifter that works differntly!?
with stick shift option.
I would like to install ratchet shifter but it seems that all shifters
are meant to be used with full manual (reverse pattern) valve bodies.
I say this because if you read operating instructions for B&M megashifter
or Hammer shifter it says that to go from in-line gate mode to ratchet mode
shifter must be in drive position (or I guess OD for 4-speed trans).
That is good if you have reverse pattern because you are actually in 1-st gear
but for normal pattern you have to ratchet through all gears to get to first
and when you stop in 1st gear you have to ratchet all the way
to D and than go to in-line mode and to R or P position.
It is similar with Hurst shifters.
Does anybody know if its possible to go from in-line gate mode to ratchet mode
and other way arround in 1st or does shifter really have to be in D position?
Or if you know for a ratchet shifter that works differntly!?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
Likes: 707
From: WI
I had a ratchet shifter in a previous car, it came with shift pattern stickers for normal and reverse order. It doesn't matter to the ratchet if you have normal or reverse order, it can work either way. Mine did not have gate mode, does that mean it can work like a stock shifter and not ratchet? Mine had a RPM shift control box and a CO2 air ram, it shifted very fast! For the street I left the RPM control off, since it was set really high and then just used the ratchet part.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: berwick pennsylvania
i had a hurst promatic in my 79 z. ratcheted it down one pull at a time to l1 then slapped it fully forward one time to up shift to next gear . not sure if that would work for ya. not sure what way the a4 valve body is (forward/reverse)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
The problem is, that by operating instructions it looks like you have to
ratchet a lot of times to go from P or R to 1-st gear and vice-versa.
Imagine that in short period of time you have to turn arround your car in
narrow place; you'll have to ratchet that thing like crazy to manoeuvre
the car.
Here is C/P of operating inst. for B&M megashifter:
OPERATION
The B&M Megashifter normally
functions as a straight gate detent
shifter from Park to Reverse to Neutral
to Drive and as a ratchet shifter from
Neutral to all forward gears. Refer to
the following instructions for proper
operation:
STRAIGHT GATE MODE: With the
trigger in the upper position, the shifter
functions in the STRAIGHT GATE
mode. The handle travels in a direct
line forward and backward from Park to
Drive. The trigger must be raised up to
clear the stop gates while going through
the gear positions.
RATCHET SHIFT MODE: The
RATCHET SHIFT mode allows firm,
positive no-miss upshifts and downshifts through all the positions from 1(Low gear) to Neutral. To switch from
STRAIGHT GATE to RATCHET operation, first operate shifter to the Drive
position. The trigger will snap down
approximately 3/4". The shifter is now
in the RATCHET MODE, Drive gear
position. The shifter will only operate in
the RATCHET MODE between Neutral
and First, it will not ratchet to Reverse
or Park. This is done to prevent accidental shifting into Reverse.
ratchet a lot of times to go from P or R to 1-st gear and vice-versa.
Imagine that in short period of time you have to turn arround your car in
narrow place; you'll have to ratchet that thing like crazy to manoeuvre
the car.
Here is C/P of operating inst. for B&M megashifter:
OPERATION
The B&M Megashifter normally
functions as a straight gate detent
shifter from Park to Reverse to Neutral
to Drive and as a ratchet shifter from
Neutral to all forward gears. Refer to
the following instructions for proper
operation:
STRAIGHT GATE MODE: With the
trigger in the upper position, the shifter
functions in the STRAIGHT GATE
mode. The handle travels in a direct
line forward and backward from Park to
Drive. The trigger must be raised up to
clear the stop gates while going through
the gear positions.
RATCHET SHIFT MODE: The
RATCHET SHIFT mode allows firm,
positive no-miss upshifts and downshifts through all the positions from 1(Low gear) to Neutral. To switch from
STRAIGHT GATE to RATCHET operation, first operate shifter to the Drive
position. The trigger will snap down
approximately 3/4". The shifter is now
in the RATCHET MODE, Drive gear
position. The shifter will only operate in
the RATCHET MODE between Neutral
and First, it will not ratchet to Reverse
or Park. This is done to prevent accidental shifting into Reverse.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
The problem is, that by operating instructions it looks like you have to
ratchet a lot of times to go from P or R to 1-st gear and vice-versa.
Imagine that in short period of time you have to turn arround your car in
narrow place; you'll have to ratchet that thing like crazy to manoeuvre
the car.
ratchet a lot of times to go from P or R to 1-st gear and vice-versa.
Imagine that in short period of time you have to turn arround your car in
narrow place; you'll have to ratchet that thing like crazy to manoeuvre
the car.
Did you do the transgo kit yet? I've never had soo much fun in my life as when I did mine
I'll set on the side lines here and see how you progress with this ratchet issue, cuz it's one i tabled until someone came along with a good idea..
When I did the transgo, I left it so it will shift by itself if in drive or od, but I soon realized with the stock shifter it's almost impossible to race/shift manually without a ratchet.. (i'm a stick car guy, this is my first automatic car).
-- Joe
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Good point..
Did you do the transgo kit yet? I've never had soo much fun in my life as when I did mine
I'll set on the side lines here and see how you progress with this ratchet issue, cuz it's one i tabled until someone came along with a good idea..
When I did the transgo, I left it so it will shift by itself if in drive or od, but I soon realized with the stock shifter it's almost impossible to race/shift manually without a ratchet.. (i'm a stick car guy, this is my first automatic car).
-- Joe
Did you do the transgo kit yet? I've never had soo much fun in my life as when I did mine
I'll set on the side lines here and see how you progress with this ratchet issue, cuz it's one i tabled until someone came along with a good idea..
When I did the transgo, I left it so it will shift by itself if in drive or od, but I soon realized with the stock shifter it's almost impossible to race/shift manually without a ratchet.. (i'm a stick car guy, this is my first automatic car).
-- Joe
I really hate tranny doing something by itself, thats why I'll go with stick shift option.
I still haven't started with upgrading/rebuilding my tranny cause I'm still waiting for converter to come (it was shipped two months ago
)As for shifter I found Hurst Auto/Stick 3 to operate like I would wan't it to, but of course, it's made only for3-speed trannies.
Here is C/P of how that one works:
This is an attractive and high-style, cable-operated ratchet type floor shifter for popular automatic transmissions. It is designed for high performance racing applications, yet equally at home on the street.
Delivers short precise gear changes through an exclusive dual pattern ratchet gear selector
Operates both forward and reverse valve bodies, plus ratchet into neutral feature
Ratchet mechanism may be overridden to reach any gear by pulling the stick up and moving it to desired position
Sturdy black console with anodized aluminum trim plate and embossed with the familiar Hurst logo
Includes bright chrome-plated stick and brushed aluminum T-handle (3/8-16 thread) for added comfort and control
Includes 12-V switch assembly for neutral safety or back-up light connection
Progressively illuminated gear position indicator.
Complete with hardware, heavy-duty 5' shifter cable, and easy to follow installation guide
Positive reverse Loc/Out for NHRA and IHRA requirements
Here's a pic of it:
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
I wish someone made a T5 tailshaft that would mount the torque beam, because an fbody bellhousing, 4+3 master cyl, 4+3 clutch/flywheel setup would work with a 700R4 driveshaft. I ran some pretty spiffy times with a T5 for a lot of years.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 110
From: Brandon Fl
On the mega shifter it works in normal mode from P to D then rachets down to the forward gears. So if you were going to turn around it is no different than a normal shifter. It also can be set up as either a reverse or standard shift pattern so that isn't an issue either. I had one in a 72 Camaro I built and it worked great.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
On the mega shifter it works in normal mode from P to D then rachets down to the forward gears. So if you were going to turn around it is no different than a normal shifter. It also can be set up as either a reverse or standard shift pattern so that isn't an issue either. I had one in a 72 Camaro I built and it worked great.
-- Joe
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Yes, but with stick/shift option that I'm installing that would mean
that it goes normally to 4-th gear and then you have to ratchet it
to 1st and then back to 4-th and normally to R or P...........so you
would have to move forward in 4-th gear if you don't ratchet it all way down.
something inside shifter?
