Manual column to floor shifter conversion kit

What is the easiest way to to convert my 3 speed column shift to the floor on my 55 Bel Air

Fenton and B/M used to make a 3spd floor shift conversion back in the late '60's early 70's...maybe a search on e-bay or vintage racing parts... I put a Fenton kit in when I first got my "57 Sedan Delivery way back when.

not too bad of a job remove athe old linkage cut a hole in the floor for the shifter. install new linkage. I got a hurst indy shifter from jegs. they are 135 bucks plus shipping now if you are interested I'll take what I paid for mine 3 years ago plus you pay ups shipping. $90.00 + shipping. it will need a new boot you can get one from jegs. or pick one up at auto parts store. Kit has all the hardware and instruction sheet. I went to an automatic tranny. so don't need it. if you are interested shoot me an email.

The last time I did this I reversed the linkage on 1st & reverse. That put ist where reverse normally is. You can get a mean 2nd that way.

Column to floor conversion

What all is required for this besides a shifter and a hole in the floor?

I don't know beans about transmissions (yet) but I would also like to attempt this conversion feat. I've already added a 4BBL to my 265 and just bought some headers. I think a floor shift would be a cool addition as well.

And remember - you can't dumb it down too much for me!

What all is required for this besides a shifter and a hole in the floor? I don't know beans about transmissions (yet) but I would also like to attempt this conversion feat. I've already added a 4BBL to my 265 and just bought some headers. I think a floor shift would be a cool addition as well....And remember - you can't dumb it down too much for me!

Wolfman....Converted my first '57 to a floor shift in the 60's, when I was still a young teenyager....Not hard at all....You just need the shifter, bracket, and rods....Personally, A Fenton or Hurst Mystery shifter would be my first choices.....However, the deal from Bennie sounds good.....Do you still have a bench seat? If so, whatever one you go with, you will want to ask if the shifter will clear the bench seat....Here's the Hurst Indy:

Thanks Pops - you're always a great help! :adore:

I put a Hurst Mystery Shifter (not sure if they still make it) on my 55 years ago. Was not a difficult task at all. Just use care when you cut that hole and be prepared to drive with the seat in the far rear position unless you have installed buckets.

not too bad of a job remove athe old linkage cut a hole in the floor for the shifter. install new linkage. I got a hurst indy shifter from jegs. they are 135 bucks plus shipping now if you are interested I'll take what I paid for mine 3 years ago plus you pay ups shipping. $90.00 + shipping. it will need a new boot you can get one from jegs. or pick one up at auto parts store. Kit has all the hardware and instruction sheet. I went to an automatic tranny. so don't need it. if you are interested shoot me an email.

Bennie,

Did you sell the shifter yet? If so, will it work with a bench seat?

Thanks,
Joe

Hey There I have a chevy van with a c10 engine with a bad hyrdo 3 speed on the coll-um want to put it on the floor will your hurst kit work ?

Hey There I have a chevy van with a c10 engine with a bad hyrdo 3 speed on the coll-um want to put it on the floor will your hurst kit work ? Thanks

I do sign decals/vinyl of any kind if your'd like something just for the helping info

Bringing back the dead... thread, that is.

Wolfman- did you ever change yours over to the floor?? I am looking at this same conversion within the next couple of weeks and was looking for some updates/experiences/advice.

Anyone else who has done this recently, feel free to chime in!

Thanks ahead of time!

-J

GR- Thanks for the links. Have you made a similar conversion? The reason I ask is that the instructions, at least to me, seem generally easy until I start the install... The the S hits the fan! Looking for do's and don'ts that pop up that arent covered in the manual. HA!

Thanks for the links again! I'll be picking something similar up within the week or two.

I did a similar conversion on two different cars using a Fenton conversion kit but that has been many years ago in the mid/late '60's...one on a '54 BelAir and one on a '57 sedan delivery. I remember it as being pretty easy to do with the hardest part locating and cutting the tunnel properly...I screwed up the measurement on the '54 and had to recut the hole some more and then had to patch it so the boot would cover the hole. Also adjusting the shift rods just right took a little trial and error, I was only 16 and just learning a bit about cars then. I haven't done one since.
I'm sure there are others here who have done this more recently and can offer some better tips and tricks than I can. Most of the suppliers/manufacturers have very good tech advice on their products that can be accessed online or phone if you encounter a problem.

"The reason I ask is that the instructions, at least to me, seem generally easy until I start the install... The the S hits the fan! Looking for do's and don'ts that pop up that arent covered in the manual. HA!"
:sign0020: yep I can truly understand that

I put a Hurst Indy shifter in my 55 wagon a few months ago. Not a major problem. I ended up having to heat the shft lever about 2 inches above the pivot and bending it forward about 15 degrees to clear the seat. The only problem I had was the shfiter mounting frame interfered with the speedo cable and I had to cut a clearance on the shifter frame. I did the install on the tranny on the ground, Then put the whole thing in the car, less the shift arm, and reattached the shifter in the car.

I have a Hurst Indy shifter that i am contemplating installing on my 57 wagon. The main reason i want to go floor shift is so i can run long tube headers. But i think i am going to miss the "cool factor" of the column shift.

I have a Hurst Indy shifter that i am contemplating installing on my 57 wagon. The main reason i want to go floor shift is so i can run long tube headers. But i think i am going to miss the "cool factor" of the column shift.

That made me chuckle, Back in the day, a column shift was anything but cool. Every kid wanted a floor shifter.

Haha yeah it's come full circle now. My column shift works but needs tightened and adjusted so i think i am going to stick with it.