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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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I just called Lokar this morning and they said they don't make a floor shifter for my 1956 Ford o Matic. has anyone got another suggestion?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
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A powerglide one might work. Has same shift sequence as your '56.
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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks John, I called Lokar back about that suggestion and they said it won't work because the spacing of the detents is wrong. I guess I could use a shifter from a t-bird anyone have a decent unit they would like to sell...let me know Buzz
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By RodgerF - 14 Years Ago
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I found an original "speed parts" type floor shifter conversion on ebay awhile back. I have no intention of using it but got because it looked neat. I'll see if I can dig it up and give you a better idea of what it is. It was unused in the original box.
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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks I would definetly be interested in that shifter. Let me know... After further back and forth with Lokar, it comes down to the fact that they have never had a '56 FOM in their location to work on. So they can't quarantee what they have will fit. Unfortunately they are located in Nashville Tenn. and I'm in California, so i don't think I'll be able to drop one off or bring my car in for a fitting.
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By RodgerF - 14 Years Ago
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Buzz, Sorry for the delay, I got sidetracked and it slipped my mind. Hazards of gettin older I guess.  Anyway, I dug it out and took some pictures of it. I'll post them up as soon as I read how. I can send them to you if you want just pm me with your email address. The shifter is a Foxcraft. It's listed for the '51-'56 fordomatic. I can't guarantee every last washer is still there but the brackets, linkage, rubber boot, etc are all there. There are a couple of unopened bags of hardware. The instructions are even included but I've never found a use for those. Rodger
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By RodgerF - 14 Years Ago
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Here they are.
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By Bob's 55 - 14 Years Ago
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Roger, I can see why you bought the shifter, it's really neat looking and appears to be in great shape. I dig the hell out of old stuff like that. Hope Buzz can use it...
I can see why Lokar is reluctant to say if their shifter will work on a trans it was not designed for. The Lokar shifter has safety locks in it to prevent shifting into Park, Reverse and Low without pushing the button down and also has a safety start switch for Park and Neutral.
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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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very cool piece...i sent you a PM... thanks for digging it out
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
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That shifter shown in the drawing, would have a reversed shift pattern, ie park would be all the way back and low all the way forward. Unless it has a reversing mechanism in the shifter itself. In order for the shift pattern to be the way we are used to them, the lever on the transmission would have to be vertical, as on a T-Bird. Not trying to kill a sale on the shifter, just making an observation.
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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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J, that's interesting I see what you mean...but I'm gonna give it a look see anyhow, if nothing else it's a cool vintage piece and I love that stuff too
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By Ol'ford nut - 14 Years Ago
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I don't have a transmission to look at but was wondering how hard it would be to get trans shift to point up instead of down. Would think it shouldn't be too hard to make adapter.
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By Bob's 55 - 14 Years Ago
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Old Nut, your right, I just looked at a trans I have lying on the floor (Fordo/FMX/Cruzo Hybrid??) and it wouldn't be hard to fab something, just make sure it clears the kick-down lever.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
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The lever can be rotated 180 degrees, but you have to take the valve body out to get to it. The retaining nut is inside the trans. I have welded a vertical ear to the existing arm also.
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By Bob's 55 - 14 Years Ago
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John, Will the shift lever interfere with the kick-down if it is rotated 180 deg, looks close. I'm just curious, not even going to use the trans I got sitting here but maybe I can learn something about it, (but I would actually like to know what it is, haha).
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
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Bob: If it interferes, it could be heated and bent to clear. Just be careful if you heat it in the trans, there is a rubber seal where the shaft enters the case.
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By rmk57 - 14 Years Ago
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The real fun part of that job is putting back the shift detent ball back in place. If its not a big issue I would try adding a piece to the existing lever.
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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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interesting ideas, I will keep this thread and refer to it as problems arise. I am anxious to get the shifter and see how it actually works. I can't imagine why it would be designed to work backwards. Isn't reversing mechanical direction one of the easiest things to design into a piece? I'll follow up with answers once I get the shifter and lay it all out. thanks all
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By Buzz - 14 Years Ago
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got the shifter today Thanks again Rodger. John is correct, the shifter is designed to work in reverse order, with park being closest to the seat. I'll know more tomorrow how I intend to use it once I get under the car.
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