Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

I know its been done before but can't find information or images.

I've searched for a Packard floor shift top to convert onto my side shift trans to no aval, so when I saw a '39 Ford shift tower for $40 I jumped on it. (cheap because it had no stick )

Its not an easy conversion, I had to make new shift forks , new selector rods as the Ford throws are wrong , so the detents are in different places, And an adaptor plate.

So Far Ive made the shift stick (from a trailer stub axle) & grafted a new fork onto the Ford 2nd/3rd ford selector. It's been a lot of measuring , bending , tweaking. 2 days so far but & Ive got it shifting nice between 2nd & top. Have to do 1st / reverse yet.
















Ford forks in wrong locations & way too small - you can see adapter plate here.



This began life as a stub axle, the Ford shifter has a nub for 2-3 , the ball on end is for 1-R




Cant justify $300 for a '39 Ford gear stick - made my own

Wow, Thats impressive. I can't wait to see how the shifter turns out. What year Ford shifter did you use?

Quote:

I used the lid from a 36 Ford 3 speed trans. Up to 39 is basically the same. From 40 they went to a side shift.

I finished the job, Lid on / lid off checking for interference marks / grinding / adjusting dozens of times. The 1st reverse selecctor was easy after the 2nd - 3rd. On and off it took about a week.

I'm more than happy with the result though the gear throws are fairly long, no hint of jamming between gears.