3 On the Floor???

The other day I was in the local auto parts store and I saw a 3 speed floor shift kit. It said it was ideal for doing colum shift conversions. From my experience, early vans and "kits" dont go well together. So my questtion is what would need to be done to make it work? Should it be done? Maybe the linkage wouldnt get caught up as much? Just curious.

-Ryan

Ryan what kind of linkage did the kit have? Just remember your transmission is behind where you sit instead of beside you like a car or pickup.

Heres one on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sparkomatic-pick-up-truck-3-speed-floor-stick-shifter_W0QQitemZ360092970082QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item53d736ac62&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I never tryed to put one in a first or second gen but i did have a 4 speed floor shifter in my 75 chevy van and i would bet you could but one in a first or second too it might look a bit silly having a 6 foot shifter bent over the dog house that you could most likely could never speed shift but it would most likly work slow shifting it ... It would be a true rat fink shifter .give it a shot might eve look pretty cool ...

Til you hit the brake and it tries to grab R or 2 ...

It would be cool it you could get it to work correctly but that would take a lot of custom linkage work and the shift pattern would still be backwards...

Sounds like it would take alot of work and wouldnt even work well... I think ill stick with the colum.

my thought was if doing a manual it would be cool to switch to one with overdrive - and the floor mount shift - but as it has been pointed out there is room factor between the doghouse and dash - and the linkage problem - could one use a cable system? - like the fiero or similar ? - have only driven a manual on column a few times and wasnt really liking it - i did have a vw bus with standard (floor mount) and did like that - oo3

Bad enough jamming that tranny between gears with an old sloppy column shift.............I can't imagine the linkage nightmares attached to rigging a floor shifter to a 3 speed.

Until you've laid under your van stuck in a busy intersection....because it was jammed between gears.......pulled the side plate off, letting all the 90 weight run down onto you and the street while you take a big screw driver and pry the shifter forks loose...........reset it......reinstall plate and jump back in and go ............well..........you just haven't enjoyed one of the finer moments of vanning a flattie!................LOL

I used to have it down to a science with my last Chevy..........I'd amaze you how fast I could do this trick.

This is why I'm happy to have a power-glide in this one.

That sounds rough. Never happened to me (Knock on Wood) and hope it never does.. That's a finer moment of vanning a flattie I can do without...

Turbo 350...............................it will never happen again! Had an old Maverick that had a column shifter, used to jam all the time, and the linkage fell apart a few times too.