dash mounted automatic shifters

[tucsonron]

Just bought a nice 64 SWB w/out engine & tranny. I have a LA 318 and small block 727.
I'm building this for my 26 yr. old son who loves the dash mounted auto shifters. How
difficult is it to add one one of these to a truck that's not had one before? If I'm not
mistaken I believe it takes a tranny specially made to be cable shifted.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me ?

THANKS

[steven]

Not sure about the technical stuff, but you have to have the right dash. Or find a wrecked dash with the proper hole in it. There's a bracket welded to the backside of the hole for the shifter.

I'm not much help.

[712edf]

One place to find one of these set-ups is the old A100 vans (64-70).They had dash shifters that might be made to work.Their trannys had a unique tailshaft housing that allowed them to "hang" from the crossmember.While alot a these vans were manuals, autos do exist.

[CSS-Registry]

a 64 would have a push button shifter:

[1965D100]

I did see a dash mounted shifter in one of the trucks at the yard this past weekend... Not sure what it would all entail though...

[Rodger]

Ron

From 1961 all Mopar Automatic's used until the end of the 1965 year's production "run", used the cable shift transmission.

The 1965 year used the cable shift transmission, with a lever shift unit at the dash.

If you stumble into an large boxie era Motor Home, you will see the dash mounted shift unit. The chrome housing which shows the P - R - N - D - 2 -1 has a flat mating/mounting surface, while the pick up truck version has a curved mounting/mating surface to match the dash. The knob and lever part are the same.

An alternate version is to get the automatic shift unit from a AMC Concord or Eagle from the local pick & pull. This will be a floor shifting unit for about $5 to 10 Dollars.

This is all I know ( and it aint much ).

Rodger & Gabby
COS

[66patrick]

You can take that motor home shifter base and cut it with a Dremel or something similar, to fit the contour of the truck dash.

[slick]

It's a standard transmission. Nothing special about it. Instead of shift linkage it's just a cable..

[wally426ci]

Good info!

[Russ]

It's a standard transmission. Nothing special about it. Instead of shift linkage it's just a cable..

The pushbutton 727's didn't have an external shift lever, the cable goes into the transmission. I've read here on the forum that a 65 dash shifter setup is unique and different than 66-68. The 65 shift arm seems to be the hard to find part of that setup.

[tucsonron]

Thanks for all the help/info, guys. In light of your info I've decided to go
with one of the Lokar Geneie - old style appearing shifters.

[Rodger]

Ron

How much for that new box from Lokar Geneie ???

Rodger & Gabby
COS

[tucsonron]

The one I like is $189.99 - might be a bit rich for my budget. Some company named Spectre has a similiar one for $60. Just got the truck Sunday (from this site - the green SWB that was in Phoenix), I'm still in the planning stages. Plan to try a Pacer front suspension - if it can be done at all. My brother owned a large welding company in Phoenix for 20 years. Even though he was the owner and involved in the administration end for the majority of the time he owned the business, he used to build dirt midgets, sprint cars and owned his own late model
stock car that he built from scratch. I'll be leaning HEAVILY on his welding/fab skills. Got a fresh 727, LA 318 estimated @ about 275/300 HP, new radiator and the entire Pacer if I need the steering column, p/s pump etc. Going with the Ramcharger/Dodge van fuel tank,
Dynamat the h**l out of it etc. Going to give it to my son who is a youth pastor @ a church in Manhattan, Kansas. Prior to him going to bible school to get his bachelors in Springfield MO, we had a 67 Dart that we were going to build. He gave that up to go into the ministry. Met a
great gal in school got his degree, (so did she) married and now has 2 little girls. He won't be able to afford any kind of "hot rod" in the near future so I'm going to do him up one real nice and just give it to him. Now that my daughter (she's 25) sees all this she wants one. But she's
going to have to wait until after I find me a Hillman Husky to build for myself. Looking for any info anyone might have about swapping a 2300 cc Ford or Mopar V-6 into one of the Huskys. I've been a "lurker" here since the the old site had to be closed. Learned a TON, have owned probably 10-12 of these Sweptlines. I'm a substance abuse counselor in a prison, I recognize all the signs of addiction but I am powerless to stop this one. I also have a tolerant, understanding supportive wive who doesn't realize it but she is probably an enabler to my addiction. You guys are great, I'll be looking for more info as the project progresses. If the Pacer works out I'll document it with pics, dimensions etc. Boy, a simple answer turned into all of this dribble.

[slick]

Sounds like a good deal to me..Funny you mention Manhattan,KS because I use to live there. Don't know if you've been there, but it's pretty awesome

[tucsonron]

Spent Christmas 2008 there for a week, 'bout froze by back quarters off.
Been in Arizona since 1963 when I was 9 years old, my blood is a bit thin
for sub zero temperatures. Told my son and his family no more winter
visits for this Arizonan, summer & fall will get it done as far as visits go.

[MountainMoparRobin]

I'm not laughing at you, but instead of how the thread went and then your description of how the temp affected you.

[tucsonron]

Laugh at who or what you want, as far I'm concerned. Humor (IMHO) is a much misunderstood and unused tool in our society. If something I do or say can make
soome one laugh/smile/grin - COOL. I finance my hobbies by working as a substance
abuse counselor in a state prison. A few years back I actually got a written reprimand
from a supervisor for "being too funny" in the groups/classes I conduct. Prison is a
dark, depressing place. A person can certainly get an inmate's attention with a bit
of humor. Glad you laughed.

[peet]

Hallo,
I saw a photo of the Auto Dash shifter somewhere, and
now i cannot find it.
I would appreciate it if someone might know where to
look for it

Regards,
Peet

[Jeffc]

http://imageevent.com/jeffc/techstuff3; ... 53.zebra_s
Look here for some info on dash lever/pushbutton shifters
for a standard 66 and later 727 you should be able to use a cable lever shifter
from any auto truck 66 to 67, just be sure to grab everything from the shift post
on the trans to the shifter. This system was also used in the A100 vans up to 70
and in motor homes into the mid 70's.
I recommend using a dash with the hole for the shifter already in it. Trying to
mod a dash and getting the shifter to mount right is a lot more work than it
sounds, much easier to swap the dash if you can find one. Any dash from a
auto truck from 65 to 68 will work (as above 65 is a one year only 2 cable shifter
although the 2 cable type was frist used in the A100 van in 64).

[peet]

Thanx, a lot