Hello all. Here is a question for everyone. As far as I know, the original shifter for '70-'72 Skylark/GS has never before been converted to be a positive stop, slap shifting shifter. Is this correct? I've come up with a design to do that. All it takes is a light slap or bump forward from 1st and the shifter will positively stop at 2nd. Another bump forward and it stops at 3rd. It will not go to neutral unless you squeeze the handle and push it forward. I'm curious if any aftermarket detents have been available for the Buick shifter. I know they are for the Chevrolet horseshoe shifter. Dan
Yes, a member here has done that, modified shifter plates, http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/rachet-shifter-plates-for-stock-console-at-cecil.349571/
Thanks for the information. I see that one could be used as a slap shifter for one of the two upshifts. This is how mine works. It can be slapped for both upshifts.
I'm not sure what you mean. It slaps from 1-2, and again from 2-3 without having to squeeze the handle at all. Is that what you want? I'm working on a design for the overdrive transmissions too.
What parts have to be replaced on the stock setup and what is the cost, please. Are you ready to ship them? I've very interested.
Thanks for posting. I'm not quite ready to sell, but I should be fairly soon. The detent and the crossbar (pawl) both have to be replaced. I'm just a car guy that restores and modifies my own cars. I originally thought of the design to use in my own car with a Chevrolet horseshoe shifter and, after about 10 tries, it worked perfectly every time. I had made my own detent for the same shifter years ago, but it would only let me slap shift from 1st to 2nd. I knew as soon as I had refined the latest design that others would like it for racing. I have 6 different detents for the Chevrolet shifters to be used with different transmissions and I've been selling them for almost 2 years with patent pending on the unique design that allows my detents to work like they do. I had to start a business in order to sell my parts. I'm a 60 year old full time hydropower electrician that worked many years as an industrial construction electrician. (IBEW Inside Wireman) I get $90 for the Chevrolet True Slap detents. The Chevrolet shifter is able to use the factory crossbar. Since I have to make 2 parts to modify the Buick shifter, they will be a little more. When I have enough made to sell, they'll be $130, plus shipping. I was loaned a Buick shifter by a gentleman in Michigan to see if converting it to work like my Chevy shifter was possible. I shipped the shifter in the video back to him a few days ago to test in the car. He's going to test and report back. I was able to buy my own Buick shifter a few days ago, so I'll soon be able to test every detent and crossbar I make, just like I do the Chevy plates. You can search True Slap at YouTube for more videos. Dan
I wish this shift plate was adaptable to my '67 shifter. I love the functionality and stealth of this conversion. Thanks,
I posted in another thread about my experience with Dan Janes Slap shifter. I assisted in testing and finalizing this Slap Shifter and want to say that I'm very happy with it. The only time the handle is squeezed is when going into 1st gear to get ready to "slap shift". Once in 1st gear you simply slap it into second (no squeezing the handle required). To go into drive you simply slap it again (no squeezing the handle needed again). It will not over shift either time.
I have a spare detent plate for my 2004R conversion. If I sent that over would you be willing to give it a swing and see if this will work or could be made to work with it?
That would be very helpful. I could get measurements for each position from your detent plate to apply to my True Slap design. I'll send you a private message. Dan
What do you do to get it to neutral from drive and is it able to get to reverse when shifting to neutral?
You can't accidentally push it to Neutral when shifting from 2 to 3. There is a positive stop at the 2nd gear position, and also at the 3 position. To shift from 3 to N, you must squeeze the trigger to get the crossbar above the 3rd gear stop. The photo in my prior post shows the step up, as you go forward, from 3 to N, and again from N to R, and from R to Park. Just like the factory detent, you can be in 3, squeeze the trigger, and then push all of the way to Park, if you want. Dan
When you shift from 3rd to N you must squeeze the trigger, but if you do not release the trigger you can got to reverse?