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Old 04-02-2026, 11:37 PM   #1
Talkwrench
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Default Shifter conversion
Brian said I should post this. So here's a shifter conversion that one of my clients has done here in Australia. He's been rebuilding a Pilot by himself , body mechanics, all. Doing a great job I might add, I just give him advice on the mechanical stuff now and then.

He did show me the head gaskets he got from the UK and they looked composite but with no fire ring , anyone seen anything like that??
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File Type: jpg shift.jpg (28.3 KB, 307 views)
File Type: jpg shift1.jpg (28.8 KB, 296 views)
File Type: jpg shift2.jpg (33.7 KB, 288 views)
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Old 04-03-2026, 01:22 AM   #2
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Brian said I should post this. So here's a shifter conversion that one of my clients has done here in Australia. He's been rebuilding a Pilot by himself , body mechanics, all. Doing a great job I might add, I just give him advice on the mechanical stuff now and then.

He did show me the head gaskets he got from the UK and they looked composite but with no fire ring , anyone seen anything like that??


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Old 04-03-2026, 01:23 AM   #3
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Old 04-03-2026, 11:40 AM   #4
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Curious . . . what transmission is that? On Hell of a lot of work!
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Old 04-03-2026, 11:51 AM   #5
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Default Re: Shifter conversion
it's a column change trans, converted to floor shift. Pilots were originally column change....one hell of a lot of work, why not just use the Pilot gears in a floor change housing?
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Old 04-05-2026, 01:20 AM   #6
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Brilliant! I love seeing someone using their skill and initiative, to convert what they have, into what they want.
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Old 04-05-2026, 10:38 AM   #7
Bob C
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Default Re: Shifter conversion
Someone posted this picture years ago. 1949 Mercury OD trans with a 4-speed truck shifter modified to shift the trans.
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Old 04-05-2026, 01:59 PM   #8
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Someone posted this picture years ago. 1949 Mercury OD trans with a 4-speed truck shifter modified to shift the trans.
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Old 04-05-2026, 02:55 PM   #9
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Here's yet another approach. This one uses a late 50 Merc OD trans and an early 3-speed top. Posted 10 years ago.
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File Type: jpg 50 Merc OD convert w 3-sp top shift 1.jpg (77.3 KB, 104 views)
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Old 04-05-2026, 07:26 PM   #10
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Expavor’s, I believe on his 1940? Express. Have always marveled at his cleverness building that.
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Old 04-05-2026, 07:29 PM   #11
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Here's yet another approach. This one uses a late 50 Merc OD trans and an early 3-speed top. Posted 10 years ago.
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