I have a 41 pickup column shift, one of a couple I have ever seen, I finally got around to getting it installed. Since I am using a Saginaw steering box, and full synchro trans, the column jacket and steering shaft needed to be shortened, and connected to the new box. It also required the fabrication of new shift levers on the transmission, to correct the ratio. A buddy supplied the shift rod assemblies off a 46 Merc. With the stock levers on the trans, the sweep at the shift handle from 2nd to high gear, was only about 4 inches, it's now 6-1/2 inches. The new arms are cut from 3/16 cold rolled. I wanted the lower column support mounted to the frame, so I fashioned a glorified muffler clamp.
I really like that install, it almost makes me not want a 5 speed. Although that being said in the 80s I rented a toyota camper van in new Zealand that had a 5 on the column. Phil
Very clean, excellant work. Were those made from muffler type guillotine clamps? Can you show how they were made?
OJ, I don't use guillotine type clamps, even on exhaust. Since the column tube was 1-1/2", that's the size clamp I used. Those clamps are always oversize, and just right to weld the "shoes" that were cut from 1-5/8" tube. Not wanting to distort the u-bolt, I used silicone bronze. Doing this way, it gives a secure grip on the mass jacket, without crushing it. The leg was a bent piece of 7/8 tube. It gives the install a utilitarian look, and hopefully not agricultural !
Tony, I haven't gotten to the clutch linkage get, I suppose it will be some kind of z-bar or rocker arm.
It's pretty standard stuff, I chose some Chassis Engineering pieces, flattened the rear c/m, to use a 42-48 passenger car rear spring. Since the bulk of my work is vintage race cars and hotrods, I wanted it to reflect that image. It will be painted Washington Blue, with off white wheels.
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