Technical Is it possible to column shift a T5?

[banjeaux bob]

there were some International cabovers with 5 speed transmissions AND column shift.Live long and prosper,may the force be with you......

[hotroddon]

Originally Posted by MATACONCEPTS

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

Huh? VW bugs were never column shift, certainly my 66 that I drive daily isn't, and neither were any others.

[oldschool66]

Originally Posted by NashRodMan

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.

That's cool, thinking out of the box is what got this whole hot rod thing going in the first place. I was just curious because we hated column shifts, they weren't "cool" back then. When I was in Japan in 67 I had a Hillman Minx and that had a 4 speed on the column, and it was right hand drive, that was interesting to drive, especially after a few warclubs of Asahi beer on a weekend. Now I'm old and have a TH 350 in my roadster, nice and easy. Good luck with it.

[Stevie G]

Hmmm, my '30 Buick is a floor shift, and my 39 Buick is a column shift. It seems that for a while (like the period this board focuses on) column shift was considered progress.

You might also look at how a front wheel drive (aka - cable shifted) five speed shifter works. I've been thinking about this for my E100 and A108. I like five speeds. Two cables. There has to be a way to modify the column shifter, I just haven't taken it apart to see. Easy? maybe, maybe not. It depends on how you define easy and what your skill set is.
Go for it.

[Mr Nilsson]

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.

That´s interesting, because I´ve owned a couple of cars with 4 on the tree. Common thing in Europe in 50s and 60s.

But you´ll need a sideloaded gearbox, adapting a T5 would probably be more work than it´s worth.

[31Vicky with a hemi]

Originally Posted by prewarcars4me

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

It took me about 20 minutes to get tired of the column shift 3 speed in my 66 elcamino. Took me about 2 years to work up enough gumption to cut it for a floor shifter. Best thing ever for that one.

I had 59 ford panel wagon with 3 on the tree shift, the archaic appeal of it wore off after the first stop sign. I didn't drive it enough to worry about changing it.

I suppose a floor shifter looks out of place on some cars. Funny how nearly every one was available with floor shifter, console, and bucket seats as an up charge.

[rustynewyorker]

It can probably be done, but it won't be easy and it won't be cheap. How much do you want to spend to run a T5 in there?

A Chevy 3-speed with OD would probably work a lot easier.

[Texas Webb]

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.

In the 60"s a friend ni high school had a Simca 4 on the tree.

[MATACONCEPTS]

Originally Posted by hotroddon

Huh? VW bugs were never column shift, certainly my 66 that I drive daily isn't, and neither were any others.

I wasn't thinking of column mount, but on how the remote shifter work.

What's trying to be accomplished here is outside of what we know of on how typical column shifts work.

[Atwater Mike]

Look at it from an evolution standpoint.
When the engineers first had to link the side arms to the shifter, they split it up:
1st/reverse, and 2nd/high; two tracks, just like the 'H' pattern on the floor shifters.

If a guy wanted to do this, he could remove the cover at the arms and measure for a third arm, to go next to the 1st/reverse or the 2nd/high, wherever he wanted the new reverse to be. The pin is then replaced with a longer one, and the 'pawl' at the end of the stick welded onto for the needed extra sweep.

My '58 Simca Arronde had a 4-speed column shifter, and this was the way it worked.
Simple geometry, lever factor, and some lightweight fabrication.
Consider this: When it was first built, the second track had to be alongside, and a pin simply 'selected' the track. How about just one more track?

George Hurst did it...remember his first shifters were for 3 speeds! Look at a 4-speed Hurst.
All we're doing is going 'back to the column'!

[MATACONCEPTS]

How about 3 gates? Here's a ruff draft. Let's do this hambers!!!

[40FordGuy]

There's a 39 Buick in the Sacramento area... column shifted 4 speed,..Reverse uses a cable link from the reverse side lever, to a knob under the dash. Very cool and fun to drive !!!

4TTRUK

[NashRodMan]

Originally Posted by Atwater Mike

Look at it from an evolution standpoint.
When the engineers first had to link the side arms to the shifter, they split it up:
1st/reverse, and 2nd/high; two tracks, just like the 'H' pattern on the floor shifters.

If a guy wanted to do this, he could remove the cover at the arms and measure for a third arm, to go next to the 1st/reverse or the 2nd/high, wherever he wanted the new reverse to be. The pin is then replaced with a longer one, and the 'pawl' at the end of the stick welded onto for the needed extra sweep.

My '58 Simca Arronde had a 4-speed column shifter, and this was the way it worked.
Simple geometry, lever factor, and some lightweight fabrication.
Consider this: When it was first built, the second track had to be alongside, and a pin simply 'selected' the track. How about just one more track?

George Hurst did it...remember his first shifters were for 3 speeds! Look at a 4-speed Hurst.
All we're doing is going 'back to the column'!

Haha...you guys are finally coming around!! LOL Just kidding. But, this thinking here is, IMHO, what hot rodding was about back in the day. Someone wanted to try something different and that would set people on a track of how can we do that; like a challenge. Ingenuity is what got those guys on the salt in AV8's going over 100 MPH and more. The same ingenuity is what caused Barris and others to create things/cars that were not done or seen before. Granted it may take a lot of money to do this, or maybe just a lot of time and thinking, but we shouldn't just say nah, and be done with it. There are a LOT of smart people on this board and possibly someone who has done it.
Paul

[Mooseandsqurl53]

As mentioned before, early
Econolines had 4 speeds in them. I had a '64. Was cool, but very worn out, kept popping out of gear. Like some of the other guys are saying, fabricate. You may need a longer shaft and the shifting pin will be off center, but get another shift arm, cut one side of the groove all the way through and put it in the middle. That would be low and second, the two with the grooves not cut out will be reverse on top, 3rd and 4th on bottom. I think I said that right. You guys correct me if I'm wrong. Oh, it's a T-5. Never Mind

[Hot Rod Grampa]

Late sixties Peugot has 4 speed column shift. Isuzu NPR cab over has a cable shifted 5 speed. Smooth and simple. With enough time and a desire to succeed, it could be done. Being able to bolt a cable operated shifter almost anywhere in the interior, regardless of where the tranny is would be slick.

[RHOPPER]

I was going to do a remote linkage on my t5, so I studied the linkage for alternative ways to shift. If you remove the shift lever, four bolts, you'll see the linkage is just a rod that move fore and aft, and rotates. That "cup" on the end of the rod just pins in. It would be easy to remove and lengthen the rod out the back. The plug on the back behind the rod pops out so you could access the linkage from the rear of the tranny. I'd look in junkyards for a late model cable shifter system. Some FWD transaxle cars have a similar single rod shifter arangement. The column portion would be the most difficult as you would need three gates, not two like a three speed. As stated above, some imports have four speeds on the column which would have three gates. That may be the easiest way to start.
Or.. go with a three speed and buy an overdrive.

[skidmarks]

The econoline ford van in the 60s had a optional 4 speed column shift trans I think was a zf. Only seen one

[wolfhound423]

Drove a few French cars with 4 speed column (Puegot comes to mind). One, a Citroen Mehari, had the 4 speed shifter on the dash! I loved the 3 on the tree in my old Plymouth - ultimate anti-theft device. Not many people under 55 that know how to drive one...and absolutely zero 17 year olds looking to boost a car for a joy ride know how to work a column shifter. Remember what the Beastie Boys said:
Out on a mission a stolen car mission
Had a little problem with the transmission
3 on the tree in the middle of the night

[JohnEvans]

Econolines used the British Ford Dagenham 4 speeds like early Falcons and Mustangs.

The collum part of a 5 speed collum shifter is the easy part ,back at the trans with the single rail control is where it will get interesting. You would have to mod the T-5s top cover over the shift forks to bring out shafts to mount shift arms on. Have fun !!!!

[32v]

carefull what you wish for have you forgot hanging the rt arm up running through the gears? i thought it would be cool too but it isnt fun. back to the question put paddell shifter in . i was playing with one at sema last year