Early Cobra Shifters

[406mac]

Were any modifications made to the early Cobra Shifters other than turning them around 180 degrees?....I read this on this Website..."The original cars used Ford shift linkage with a modified Mustang handle. As simple as you can get." Did the modifications involve any change in the angle in the shaft itself? I found this early Mustang/Fairlane Shifter that appears to have had the bend in the shifter arm itself increased...Thanks for any help....

[1985 CCX]

Stock units, that unit is too bent to be correct.

[Dan Case]

Are you asking about Cobras or 427 Cobras? "Early Cobras..." implies one thing and curved shift lever implies something else.

Cobras, leaf spring chassis cars CSX2001-CSX2589, used gear shift lever and knob assemblies that were short and straight.

427 Cobras, coil spring chassis, CSX3002-CSX3360 used curved lever assemblies turned around forward.



1963 design versus 1964 design lever assemblies: lever assemblies are not the same and the easy to spot difference is the shape of the finger grips for the reverse lock-out mechanism. The 1963 design grips are thin curved (and easy to break off) while the 1964 design grips are straight with angled tips in a much heavier cross section.

1963 design versus 1964 design knob assemblies: 1963 has a one piece black knob used with a thin hex chrome plated hex jam nut while 1964 has a two piece knob, an upper portion in black and a hemispherical chrome plated lower section.

427 Cobra shifters were very different, long, bent, and angled. Here is one in a CSX3101-CSX3200 car.



The Shelby American purchase order list is not being helpful because the part number listed is for a sub-assembly containing a lever assembly, rubber boot, and knob assembly as a purchased unit. The order list does not breakdown what pieces went into the purchased pre-assembled group.

[johno42]

You da man

Originally Posted by Dan Case

Are you asking about Cobras or 427 Cobras? "Early Cobras..." implies one thing and curved shift lever implies something else.

Cobras, leaf spring chassis cars CSX2001-CSX2589, used gear shift lever and knob assemblies that were short and straight.

427 Cobras, coil spring chassis, CSX3002-CSX3360 used curved lever assemblies turned around forward.



1963 design versus 1964 design lever assemblies: lever assemblies are not the same and the easy to spot difference is the shape of the finger grips for the reverse lock-out mechanism. The 1963 design grips are thin curved (and easy to break off) while the 1964 design grips are straight with angled tips in a much heavier cross section.

1963 design versus 1964 design knob assemblies: 1963 has a one piece black knob used with a thin hex chrome plated hex jam nut while 1964 has a two piece knob, an upper portion in black and a hemispherical chrome plated lower section.

427 Cobra shifters were very different, long, bent, and angled. Here is one in a CSX3101-CSX3200 car.



The Shelby American purchase order list is not being helpful because the part number listed is for a sub-assembly containing a lever assembly, rubber boot, and knob assembly as a purchased unit. The order list does not breakdown what pieces went into the purchased pre-assembled group.