Technical Is it possible to column shift a T5?

[NashRodMan]

has anyone done it? How hard is it? What did you do for reverse?

Any help would be appreciated. I think column shifting is cool/old school!

Thanks,
Paul

[gkgeiger]

They say anything is possible, but that would be a tough one. Have you looked at the difference between a top loader and side loader?

[Texas Webb]

Why?

[larry k]

"""""""""""""""""""" WHAT DID YOU ASK ??? !!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""

[oldschool66]

When I was a kid, ( early 60s ) the first thing we used to do was to get the 3 speed shifter on the floor, then later on if we could afford it we bought a 4 speed and a Hurst shifter. why would you want to try to put a 5 speed on the column???? I'm just asking.

[NashRodMan]

Originally Posted by oldschool66

When I was a kid, ( early 60s ) the first thing we used to do was to get the 3 speed shifter on the floor, then later on if we could afford it we bought a 4 speed and a Hurst shifter. why would you want to try to put a 5 speed on the column???? I'm just asking.

Because I think column shifting is cool. There is another thread going on now about it. Check it out. I have a T5 to possibly put in my 41 chevy coupe (custom) but would like to keep it column shift and would like to know if its possible. I may put it in or I may put in a 3 speed OD. Not sure yet and just asking questions to help me figure it out. Just trying to think out of the box, thats all.

[MATACONCEPTS]

NO! Column shift can only operate 3 speeds. The mechanism is a lever that moves to the left, up&down, then right, up&down. 4 positions only, 3 forward gears 1 reverse.

You could make that shifter operate a Automatic trans.

[NashRodMan]

Originally Posted by MATACONCEPTS

NO! Column shift can only operate 3 speeds. The mechanism is a lever that moves to the left, up&down, then right, up&down. 4 positions only, 3 forward gears 1 reverse.

You could make that shifter operate a Automatic trans.

Thanks MC.

[MATACONCEPTS]

Get a phillips screwdriver & take off the 4 screws on that little shifter box on the column under the hood & see how it works, it's very simple. Grease it & put the cap back on.

[prewarcars4me]

Easilly? Not even close.

Can be done? Yep, lot of time and engineering, and most anything CAN be done.

[Rickybop]

You could shift a 4spd with a column shifter, with a separate stealth shifter on the floor or an electric solenoid for reverse, but a 5spd...whoa.

[32Auburn]

I believe there were some british cars with a 4spd column shift, can't remember which, any old brits out there.? Or maybe it was peugeot, had one a very long time ago

Originally Posted by MATACONCEPTS

NO! Column shift can only operate 3 speeds. The mechanism is a lever that moves to the left, up&down, then right, up&down. 4 positions only, 3 forward gears 1 reverse.

You could make that shifter operate a Automatic trans.

[HOTRODPRIMER]

Originally Posted by MATACONCEPTS

NO! Column shift can only operate 3 speeds. The mechanism is a lever that moves to the left, up&down, then right, up&down. 4 positions only, 3 forward gears 1 reverse.

You could make that shifter operate a Automatic trans.

I call B.S. back in the mid 60's some Chevrolet vans offered 4 speeds on the column.

I believe it was also a common practice in some foreign cars. HRP

[31Vicky with a hemi]

There's a few threads on here about that.
One of them is about developing such a shifter.
The problem is having so many gates in the column. The next problem is not having any external shift levers.

As far as gates go, With a 3 speed there's only 2, 4 speed has 3, 5speed can have 3 or 4.
That's a lot of crap to stuff into a column.

Another poster stated that a foreign manufacturer had done this, search them out.

Top loader means the gears load from the top. It has nothing to do with the shifter, its location, method of operation, or mounting.

Column shifting ain't cool, its ancient OEM not old school.

[MATACONCEPTS]

Originally Posted by 32Auburn

I believe there were some british cars with a 4spd column shift, can't remember which, any old brits out there.?

I was thinking like a VW Bug shifter, but . . . ????? Anything is Possible

[TomH]

Originally Posted by HOTRODPRIMER

I call B.S. back in the mid 60's some Chevrolet vans offered 4 speeds on the column.. HRP

We had Ford vans at work that were 4 speeds on the column,if I remember right with 105 HP motors, gutless POS.

[MATACONCEPTS]

Originally Posted by 31Vicky with a hemi

Column shifting ain't cool, its ancient OEM not old school.

That's what I thought, I like big bad hot rods too, until I drove my 53 Panel. It's kind of cool, both your hands are out there Big in front of you, its kind of tough feeling, kind of like those dumb ape hangers on a Harley. Kind of like a brawler.

[prewarcars4me]

Originally Posted by 31Vicky with a hemi

Column shifting ain't cool, its ancient OEM not old school.

I kind of miss my 59 Ranchero with 3 on the tree.

[49ratfink]

I had a 1965 Datsun truck with a 4 speed column shift, I am fairly certain it was a "top shift" type trans, though I just drove it and never really had to work on it so I could be wrong on that

5-speed column shift... that would be some engineering marvel.

... as for why.... the other day there was a stock looking 41 Pontiac sedan across the street from me at the auto repair shop, when I looked inside there was a big ol 5 speed shifter coming out from the floor. would have been more cool on the column. big ol' stock looking 4 door sedan... don't know what motor was in it but it did have dual exhaust.

[NealinCA]

41 Packard was a column shifted toploader arrangement...but still a 3 speed.

I would look at using a column shifted 3 speed along with a seperate aftermarket overdrive unit...

Neal