[nxk2000]

I’m working on a 69 Chevelle. I’m in the processes of converting the column shifter to a console shifter. I don’t know a whole lot about these older cars so I will try to give as much information as possible. The steering column non tilt and the new console shifter is what I think they call a horseshoe shifter. I had planned to leave the linkage connected up to the column after the conversion. This way I could keep the trany locked when the ignition is turned off and not have to fool with the backup lights. Is it normal to leave column linkage connected? After being close to done I have discovered that the travel is different between the two shifters. It appears that the column shifter has the shorter travel. Has anyone else dealt with these same troubles or have some helpful info to give me?

 

[MikeN]

Does your horseshoe shifter have two electrical switches mounted to it?

 

[nxk2000]

It doesn’t have any switches. Because of the short travel in the column it will not shift to L1. With just the console shifter it shifts correctly. I don’t know if all of my linkage is correct to the column. There is a rod (gm term equalizer asm) that goes from the chassis to the bracket coming off the trany. I’m thinking the arm on this rod is to long affecting the travel at the trany. If you understand what I’m explaining did gm use different lengths? If the pictures in the factory assembly instruction manual (1969 page 417) is correct in size it looks to be about 1” or 1 ½. The current arm is about 3” long.

 

[540cutlaSS]

The rod from the column to the lower linkage can be ajusted. That might help.

 

[MikeN]

My horseshoe shifter has switches on it for reverse lights and neutral safety switch, so I did away with the backdrive linkage from the transmission to the column. In your case, you're gonna have to keep the backdrive linkage to operate your switches. I guess you'll have to adjust the linkage as mentioned above.

 

[nxk2000]

I will try to make this easy for all to understand. I have a travel problem. Here is what happens when I make my adjustment. With the shift lever on the column all the way up and the trany in park I should be able to set the swivel bolt. This part is pretty easy and well known to most educated technicians. Now when I try to go through the range of gears I can’t go into L1. If I disconnect the linkage and turn the lever on the trany it will continue into L1. To me this means that the travel is different between the shift lever on the column and the lever on the trany. Is there a difference in the arm length on the equalizer assembly between different years and models of gm cars? I’m now thinking that the previous owner has swapped tranys and maybe changed the equalizer assembly by mistake.

 

[Gambi69]

I don't know if this will help, but I am going through a similar problem. I have a 69 malibu w/ a TH350. Car was originally a column shift, but now has a console w/ "horseshoe" shifter. I recently purchased the car this way, and I found that the car won't go into 1st gear when the shifter is placed there, and gears are "between" the spots they are supposed to be in in the shift gate. I have come to this conclusion: The range selector lever on the tranny is different for a console model, than one for a column model, and I think that I still have a column selector lever. OPGI.com is the only place I can find that has these for sale. Hope this helps!
-Marc

 

[nxk2000]

With a little bit of cutting and welding I shortened the arm on the equalizer assembly. This gave me the correct travel that I needed on the column half of the linkage. I didn’t see the equalizer assembly on OPGI.com but found the correct range selector lever. I was able to modify everything to work correctly. Thanks for the help.