Topic: Toploader Shifter question

[J_Speegle]

Don't know why I've not run across this before but haven't


Are the shifter rods different between a small block and a big block on a Mustang?

Thanks

[jwc66k]

Jeff
Oh, I'm gonna love this - what year? And plant? 
The book says a major change between 65-68, 69, 70, and 71/72 with 67 390 an oddball, with all three rods. I would have thought the Hurst shifter would have made a difference but it was a dress-up feature stick only.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Jeff
Oh, I'm gonna love this - what year? And plant?  .........

Ha, ha, ha ..... you won't get that opportunity again (I think

67!!

[70cj428]

Hi Jeff, I'll have to dig some rods out for pics, But I know in 68 the reverse rod is different (slightly longer) on the 390/428 cars and the reverse lever in the shifter box itself is different, the other rods are the same. Kinda the same deal for the 70 hurst unit, the big block uses a different reverse rod, But the 1-2 , 3-4 rods, and the shifter itself are all the same. The mounting plates for the shifters are also different from small block to big block.  (don't have much experience with 69's as I usually just swapped the shifter out with a hurst unit...)

I would have thought the Hurst shifter would have made a difference but it was a dress-up feature stick only.

Actually, the 70 Hurst shifter started life as a competition plus unit with some changes to reduce felt vibration in the stick and to reduce costs (no stop bolts, ect), the linkage was made by ford but is unique to the 70 Hurst shifter. All in all, the 70 shifter is a way better shifter than the 69 unit...(in my humble opinion)

[70cj428]

Just FYI... If you need a 68 big block shifter, you can buy the reverse lever and the mounting plate reproduced, just dissassemble a small block shifter box and replace the reverse lever. If you have an original set of small block rods, you can elongate the slot in the reverse rod to get enough ajustment to ajust the shifter. For some reason, there's not enough meat in the repro reverse rod to enlongate the slot.. John