Another Toploader question

KrAzEcJ · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 05:07 AM

My toploader is a 31 spline that will be on a 460 and was wondering about shifter location. Is the 24" that I have the right length and does it place the shifter in the right location? To many toploaders and to many tailhousings out there! LOL

trularin · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 05:25 AM

What a great question. I ended up with two shifter handles and about 20 hours of work to get mine installed and working.

May I suggest you select a shifter make and model, like a Hurst Comp Plus. Make sure it is one that fits that trans ( I have the same one ). Then, if you are willing to spend the time, contact Hurst and ask for details for that shifter. When the packet arrives you can take the measurements out to the car and see if what you are doing is going to fit.

I had a bent handle the first round and it put the knob too far back. As I adjusted the handle ( torch and teenager work well for this part ) I noticed It was getting bent more and more towards the front of the car.

In the end, I made a special bracket with two holes in the top of it and bolted a new handle on top of it.

Works fine.

Sit in the cockpit and put a pad behind you so you are about where you are going to sit. Then put your hand where you want neutral to be. That should give you an idea of where the hole should be.

Good luck.

My $0.02

blykins · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 06:31 AM

Give David Kee a call....That's what I did. A 24" Toploader is the correct length for a 427 car. However, like you said, tailhousings are a big jumble....I just called David Kee (he advertises on here), told him what tailhousing I had, and he put together a Hurst Comp shifter package to fit my tailhousing and put the shifter in the correct spot. Looks and fits great.

blykins · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 06:32 AM

Hey Tru.....DK does his the same way. It's a cast aluminum bracket that bolts to the shifter....then the shifter handle bolts to it to get the right location in the tranny tunnel. You did good!

Excaliber · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 10:54 AM

27" top loader here. The mounting bracket for the Hurst shifter bolts to the trans. Looks like a manufactured piece to me, like maybe you could buy one from someone like Kee's.

trularin · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 11:10 AM

When you are custom, you are really custom.

You can't tell mine is bolted to the bracket, but who cares.