Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)
Reload this Page Shifter conversion

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-02-2026, 11:37 PM   #1
Talkwrench
Senior Member
 
Talkwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,708
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??
Attached Images
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)
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"
Talkwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2026, 01:22 AM   #2
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 11,643
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Quote:
Originally Posted by Talkwrench View Post
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??


__________________
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 04-03-2026, 01:23 AM   #3
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 11,643
Default Re: Shifter conversion
__________________
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2026, 11:40 AM   #4
Bored&Stroked
Senior Member
 
Bored&Stroked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 5,906
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Curious . . . what transmission is that? On Hell of a lot of work!
Bored&Stroked is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2026, 11:51 AM   #5
Brian
Senior Member
 
Brian's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Masterton, New Zealand
Posts: 4,096
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?
__________________
Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!
Brian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2026, 01:20 AM   #6
69a
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 321
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Brilliant! I love seeing someone using their skill and initiative, to convert what they have, into what they want.
69a is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2026, 10:38 AM   #7
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 9,598
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.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 49-Merc5.jpg (95.1 KB, 132 views)
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2026, 01:59 PM   #8
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 11,643
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob C View Post
Someone posted this picture years ago. 1949 Mercury OD trans with a 4-speed truck shifter modified to shift the trans.
__________________
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2026, 02:55 PM   #9
John R
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: near Washington, DC
Posts: 612
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Here's yet another approach. This one uses a late 50 Merc OD trans and an early 3-speed top. Posted 10 years ago.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 50 Merc OD convert w 3-sp top shift 1.jpg (77.3 KB, 104 views)
__________________
Those who do not move do not die, but are they not already dead?
John R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2026, 07:26 PM   #10
1952henry
Senior Member
 
1952henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,840
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Quote:
Originally Posted by petehoovie View Post
Expavor’s, I believe on his 1940? Express. Have always marveled at his cleverness building that.
__________________
I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.
1952henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2026, 07:29 PM   #11
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 11,643
Default Re: Shifter conversion
Quote:
Originally Posted by John R View Post
Here's yet another approach. This one uses a late 50 Merc OD trans and an early 3-speed top. Posted 10 years ago.
__________________
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:47 PM.