I never liked the way the horse shoe shifter shifted if you did it manually. I did quite a bit of research and the options weren't great because I have a 4 speed. I settled on a B&M Quicksilver rachet shifter. I like the rachet action and it feels solid going in and out of gears. Its more of a natural motion like a 4/5 speed. I picked it up with a $50 off coupon from Oreily's. I was looking at fitting it, the angle of the tunnel and where I wanted it meant a lot of modifications but it wouldn't work as is. Plus I wanted to keep my stock console as I use the pocket to store stuff. I decided to sacrifice the old horse shoe shifter and took it apart to use the bracket plate. I cut it down and mounted it in the factory holes. I put the B&M where I wanted it and marked the holes. I got it all attached and ran the new cable and got it all setup. Then I went to fit the B&M plastic top cover and it was too short to use with the stock mounting plate. Bummer. From a garage project I had some left over diamond plate. I measured it out to cover the hole so I could mount my stock shift top plate. Measure my shifter range and cut a hole to use the existing B&M rubber gasket. Everything fit well. Loving the rachet action so far!! I love these little projects that don't take days or weeks. Just hours!!
Hate the plastic knob and have a cool one on the way.
-- Edited by gearlube on Sunday 16th of August 2015 10:50:27 AM
67ss said
Aug 16, 2015
Looks very cool. I know it is a little late but shiftworks makes a new gate piece for the horseshoe shifter so it has positive stops for each shift.
gearlube said
Aug 16, 2015
67ss wrote:
Looks very cool. I know it is a little late but shiftworks makes a new gate piece for the horseshoe shifter so it has positive stops for each shift.
Yep I had that. I just put it up on EbaY. But I could just never get a good feel with it. First to second was fine, but second to third was just strange for me.
SteveS said
Aug 17, 2015
I have the same shifter and have had good luck with it. I think you will like it Tom.
gearlube said
Aug 17, 2015
SteveS wrote:
I have the same shifter and have had good luck with it. I think you will like it Tom.
Then that is a great endorsement then! Hooking up my shift light tonight. Any bites or your chevelle?
OscarZ said
Aug 18, 2015
Tom I was probably going to get that shift works set up for my console. Can you PM me the details or a link to your eBay listing if it isn't sold yet.
gearlube said
Aug 18, 2015
OscarZ wrote:
Tom I was probably going to get that shift works set up for my console. Can you PM me the details or a link to your eBay listing if it isn't sold yet.
If you want it, I would do $25 shipped to you. You can Paypal me.
OscarZ said
Aug 18, 2015
Thanks Tom but I think I'll just wait to make sure that I actually get an overdrive trans prior to worrying about the shifter. Also wonder if I wouldn't feel the same way as you. I had a Pro Ratchet before the console and did like the ratchet shifting.
gearlube said
Aug 19, 2015
OscarZ wrote:
Thanks Tom but I think I'll just wait to make sure that I actually get an overdrive trans prior to worrying about the shifter. Also wonder if I wouldn't feel the same way as you. I had a Pro Ratchet before the console and did like the ratchet shifting.
Totally understand. I just could not get used to the motion and I always felt like it is too many steps. Plus it didn't feel solid to me. The ratchet action feels solid and I know I cannot damage the trans
bowtie said
Aug 20, 2015
Tom, I felt the same way about the horseshoe shifter. I looked into that piece but ended up going a little different. Now I definitely don't have to worry about overshifting..... :)
I can't see your pics at work, but I also looked into the Quicksilver shifter and doing a console that would use a manual trans shifter boot and make it look like a more modern manual tranny.
I never liked the way the horse shoe shifter shifted if you did it manually. I did quite a bit of research and the options weren't great because I have a 4 speed. I settled on a B&M Quicksilver rachet shifter. I like the rachet action and it feels solid going in and out of gears. Its more of a natural motion like a 4/5 speed. I picked it up with a $50 off coupon from Oreily's. I was looking at fitting it, the angle of the tunnel and where I wanted it meant a lot of modifications but it wouldn't work as is. Plus I wanted to keep my stock console as I use the pocket to store stuff. I decided to sacrifice the old horse shoe shifter and took it apart to use the bracket plate. I cut it down and mounted it in the factory holes. I put the B&M where I wanted it and marked the holes. I got it all attached and ran the new cable and got it all setup. Then I went to fit the B&M plastic top cover and it was too short to use with the stock mounting plate. Bummer. From a garage project I had some left over diamond plate. I measured it out to cover the hole so I could mount my stock shift top plate. Measure my shifter range and cut a hole to use the existing B&M rubber gasket. Everything fit well. Loving the rachet action so far!! I love these little projects that don't take days or weeks. Just hours!!
Hate the plastic knob and have a cool one on the way.
-- Edited by gearlube on Sunday 16th of August 2015 10:50:27 AM
Looks very cool. I know it is a little late but shiftworks makes a new gate piece for the horseshoe shifter so it has positive stops for each shift.
Yep I had that. I just put it up on EbaY. But I could just never get a good feel with it. First to second was fine, but second to third was just strange for me.
Then that is a great endorsement then! Hooking up my shift light tonight. Any bites or your chevelle?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ShiftWorks-4-speed-Ratchet-Shift-Detent-Thomson-Performance-Chevy-Horse-Shoe-/131581089615?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
If you want it, I would do $25 shipped to you. You can Paypal me.
Thanks Tom but I think I'll just wait to make sure that I actually get an overdrive trans prior to worrying about the shifter. Also wonder if I wouldn't feel the same way as you. I had a Pro Ratchet before the console and did like the ratchet shifting.
Totally understand. I just could not get used to the motion and I always felt like it is too many steps. Plus it didn't feel solid to me. The ratchet action feels solid and I know I cannot damage the trans
I can't see your pics at work, but I also looked into the Quicksilver shifter and doing a console that would use a manual trans shifter boot and make it look like a more modern manual tranny.