Modify column shift auto to prevent shifting into neutral when manually shifting

Anyone modify the gate in the column to prevent accidental shift to neutral when shifting to 3rd?

 

There is a gate in the non tilt.....i have a tilt column, im not sure it uses the same gate. Shop manual doesnt show the same part that is in a non tilt.

 

Larry, I hear you, and I have my governor modified to shift at desired rpm. I’m told by tranni experts that starting the turbo 400 in low gear manually applies extra holding power so there is a reason to shift manually. I don’t understand the inner workings of the tranni well enough to explain it. I will figure out how to modify this gate to have it stop at 3rd or “D” and have to pull leaver to go into neutral. I’ll post my mods later.

 

Figure out a detent to stop the 1st to 3rd accidental shift while you're in there....

 

Larry, do gov mods change shift points at all during normal driving?
Shifting 6,8k at w.o.t. would be great but only want the normal 1.5- 3k for city use under 1/4-1/2 throttle.

 

Modifying the governor & the modulator adjustment will accomplish what your looking for. Unfortunately it takes some experimentation & time.

Tom T.

 

2004r, no vacuum modulator.
Someone should have a X gram removal = this rpm increase?

 

It not ONLY has to do with the governor weights but ALSO the springs.

Tom T.

 

CRAP. nothing easy

 

Well, there is "easy", but it it ain't "cheap", (fast is not negotiable).

You want an easy manual shift automatic solution? Get a LENCO. (Yeah, on of them old things...)
And you won't have to mess up your steering column.


My dad and uncle tried making hydraulic autos shift fast and reliable with less work and complexity of components (this was over 65 years ago) and found it was just not working out.

After my father was killed, Leonard again started working the problem, and figured he would get rid of the juice all the valves, need for the pump, converter, keep the internal clutch for locking up the ring to the sun for direct drive, and make use the better torque multiplier of ring, pinion and sun gears for low gear. By the time he got done tossing all the extra parts aside, he only had a handful of parts and a huge case. So he had some magnesium cases cast, and machined them, and his own gear sets and went testing.

(insert long story here...)

After the LENCO got traction (se what I did there?) things started going faster and more changes.

By carrying and using different gear sets as well as clutch pack make up, you could dial in the car to track, weather, engine tune etc. variables. Stacking cases, and and adding a reverser, and later, "air pods" to shift with a button. (and then Wally Parks shaking his head no at those for a season or two) and before long, it was like Opra showed up in the pits and said: "You need a LENCO, and you need a LENCO, and just like that, everybody was shiftin'...

 

My friend who Is a extremely talented took on the modification of the shift gate for the tilt column. Column had to be completely disassembled to get at the shift gate on the tilt column. Regular column is less work to get at shift gate - FYI
I can now upshift from 1-2, 2-3 without accidentally sliding into neutral. To go to neutral, simply pull shifter lever towards yourself and move lever. Pic of stock shift gate, after modification. The first pic is the modified gate. Thanks Gerry!

 

My mechanical wizard buddy added the step for 1-2 as well. Ill get the column in the car late next week, when i can do some real testing on the road. Always wanted to keep the bench seat column shift. With these mods, im hoping for manual shifts with less chance of slipping into neutral. Ill comment in a few weeks once ive put it through some manual shifting.

 

Lmk if you can still miss 2nd and hit 3rd.
I don't seem to have the going from 1st, 2nd or 3rd to neutral issue.

 

I have manually shifted my column in my car since I started racing at 15, im 42. It took a few trips to not go 1-3 and only hit n once ever. The key it to not be crazy forcefully on the stick.....not everything needs slammed.

Just because you manually shift your car doesn't mean you can't do very accurately and repeatedly.....see my slips......now the weather changed on in the middle of night and the car picked up on rd 3, I got rounds 4 and 5 tickets flipped......
I should had gone done that last round, but the car count was very thin then and I was worried about too many rounds quickly slowing it down.....as you can see even with scrubbing some topend mph it didn't slow down.
My lights were a little slow, this event was the 1st time in the car that year

 

The next day we started mid day and the heat got me slightly..........got another round at tt later in the evening and the car went right back to then night number, lights slightly better too

Second pic is day 1 at same event......you can see me feeling the tree out in my almost year off b4 this event.......night 2 no red slightly better grouped but still slow, day 3 slightly better yet........I think I had it figured out though by the time i.loadef up to leave.....lol

Moral. Don't say a manual column shifted car can be as consistent as an auto shifting one........cause it can be......the driver has to the job at the right time is all. It might be easier.......
But doesn't mean its better or can't be done...........cause the slight changes here is more weather than shift rpm

 

Test drove the car, happy to say the possibility of sliding onto neutral while shifting to 3rd is gone. Looking foward to street legal at Mission Raceway- first one is April 15th.