reverse pattern shifter 66 fairlane

[Jb427]

has any one seen or ran a reverse pattern shifter in a 66 67 fairlane with a console my old man is not having a good time with the 4 speed so its coming out for now and auto is going in so he can enjoy the car too.

I would like to keep the console factory looking but with reverse pattern shifter anyone here done or seen a fairlane like this?

[Rory428]

Years ago, when I ran a C6 in my Fairmont, I modified a factory Mustang/Fairlane floor shifter to work with my Art Carr/Ford Motorsport reverse pattern transbrake valve body. I just ground down the detent between the original "D" & "2" position. It then essentially the same as a Hurst 1/4 Stick  shifter. Low gear was where D would have been originally, to go into 2nd you just pulled the handle down until it hit the detent between the factory "2" and "L" position, and for 3rd, just push the button in the handle, and pull down. Worked great, looked factory, the detents had the correct spacing (unlike most GM based aftermarket shifters), no cable to melt on the headers, and it worked with the factory neutral safety switch. (even the backup lights worked.)

[Falcon67]

I'd consider a B&M Pro Ratchet since the shifter basically sits straight up, should be somewhat easier to package.  It's a solid reverse pattern unit that will take a beating over years.  Mine gets whacked with 90 lbs of air pressure twice per pass, has for many years.

[gt350hr]

     I have the factory '67 console shifter and simply cut down the "step" for manual second. This allows a simple "pull back" into second and "push button" and pull into third. The first second shift comes fairly quickly and the modified shifter allows a confident shift into second. NHRA compliant because the factory neutral safety switch is still used as well as reverse lock out as the button still has to be pushed for reverse. Obviously still looks stock .

[66FAIRLANE]

I hate cable shifters and wanted to retain the stockish look so made a new detent block with a tall one that slides. It essentially locks it in the forward gears. No button slap shift into 2nd and button in slap against detent for 3rd. Pull lever, drop block and your into N, R, P.

[Jb427]

I hate cable shifters and wanted to retain the stockish look so made a new detent block with a tall one that slides. It essentially locks it in the forward gears. No button slap shift into 2nd and button in slap against detent for 3rd. Pull lever, drop block and your into N, R, P.

would you mind posting more photos of your set up 66FAIRLANE i like the look of that.

[66FAIRLANE]

Sorry mate. I have never taken any. Every time (not very often) I have had it apart for something I mean to take pics and a little vid but always forget.

[Blueoval77]

Have done this with mustang shifters for years . Tech doesnt care for it but I like it a hell of alot more than a cable shifter.... Just some rework on the gates.

Just noticed you got a sexy lock out there,,,, but the damn steering wheel is on the wrong side , howd that happen ?   

[Rory428]

Have done this with mustang shifters for years . Tech doesnt care for it but I like it a hell of alot more than a cable shifter.... Just some rework on the gates.

Curious why Tech would have any issue with a factory shifter. I ran my modified 69 Mustang shifter in my Fairmont drag car for over 10 years, including NHRA National events and divisional points meets, at 8 different drag strips, and never had any Tech guy give me any trouble about my shifter. Several other Ford racers in the Northwest used the same style shifters, including Ross Childers from Oregon, who had one in his  mid 80s, ex Bob Glidden Pro Stock Thunderbird, that he races in Super Gas. In the extremely unlikely event that I ever had to return to racing a Ford with an automatic transmission, (amputation, becoming paralyzed, suffering a stroke, etc),That would be my shifter of choice again.

[Blueoval77]

No reverse lockout . And thanks for reminding me that its not just paranoia when I feel the entire universe is fighting me.....    I never went so far as to ad that sexy little lever there like the man with the fairlane did. The thing that makes the mustang shifter nice I guess could make it a bit unsafe in those regards...Ive never had a reverse issue as I was always shifting away from reverse until I went to bump it into neutral after the beams... Just had to be aware...Did you have a lockout worked into yours ? If you did I would love to hear about how you did it.

[gt350hr]

   On the stock Ford shifter , reverse can NOT be engaged without pushing the button on the side of the T handle. That qualifies as a reverse lockout in anyone's language.

[Blueoval77]

Nope , must require two hands....

[66FAIRLANE]

My sliding detent is higher than the shifter will lift with a button press. This effectively locks it in the forward gears until the lever is pulled.....can do it all with one hand though. As for the steering wheel I just woke up one morning and there it was 

[mike7570]

Have done this with mustang shifters for years . Tech doesnt care for it but I like it a hell of alot more than a cable shifter.... Just some rework on the gates.

Just noticed you got a sexy lock out there,,,, but the damn steering wheel is on the wrong side , howd that happen ?   

I'll bet he drives on the wrong side of the road also!

[Rory428]

On my modified 69 Mustang shifter, I had nothing added as a "reverse lockout", nor was I ever asked to . It is a factory shifter, if NHRA required a 2 handed reverse lockout, even a bone stock 17 second street car would be technically illegal. As gt350hr mentioned, to engage reverse requires pushing the button in the shifter handle, besides, if you have a 5 point safety harness, and are properly buckled in, trying to get both hands on a floor mounted shifter would be rather difficult. I have seen some people add something like a gate latch, or door hinge as a interfering "lockout" on an OE shifter, which looks like crap.Also, what about cars that retain factory column shifters? Several years ago, Phil Featherston brought his original 64 Thunderbolt to Mission for the Mega Ford race, and his mid 9 second T Bolt still has the original column shifter.