Column shift lever delete

Discussion in 'Technical' started by bvergeer, Sep 23, 2021.

  1. bvergeer

    bvergeer Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    17
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    1971 2 Door
    I have a 71 2 door that’s I’ve converted from C4 to AOD and a tunnel mounted ratchet shifter. Now I need to remove the column shift lever and replace the column collar.

    Finding the column collar is eluding me. I’m sure a few of you have been through this, what did you find or how did you make it work?

    thanks,
    Bob
     
  2. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2012
    Messages:
    7,560
    Likes Received:
    2,319
    Trophy Points:
    531
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chesapeake VA
    Vehicle:
    1972 Comet GT clone 306 . 1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 1988 T-Bird awaiting 331 ..
  3. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,456
    Likes Received:
    2,835
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    I did as Krazy suggested... cut shift mount and epoxy up opening, Sand & paint as necessary.... but didn't remove collar to do it.
     
    Ronald Hopkins likes this.
  4. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Messages:
    6,739
    Likes Received:
    634
    Trophy Points:
    318
    Location:
    York. PA
    Vehicle:
    '70 Maverick Grabber
    I did the same thing to my 3-speed column but I also took the column apart and removed the internal shifter tubes.
     
  5. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,456
    Likes Received:
    2,835
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    I also disengaged the ...steering wheel key lock mechanism (lever). I did this after it fell down and locked the steering wheel while I was driving...:yikes:
     
  6. bvergeer

    bvergeer Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    17
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    1971 2 Door
    Sounds like epoxy and paint is it. Thanks all.
     
  7. jasonwthompson

    jasonwthompson Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2012
    Messages:
    1,327
    Likes Received:
    450
    Trophy Points:
    196
    Location:
    Carrollton TX
    Vehicle:
    72 Comet
    I purchased a used 71-73 Mustang column online and removed/used the collar from that. It was identical to the Maverick/Comet except for the column shift handle provision of course.
     
    TeeEl likes this.
  8. TeeEl

    TeeEl Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2019
    Messages:
    728
    Likes Received:
    468
    Trophy Points:
    162
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    '73 Ford Maverick Resto-Mod
    The right way to do it is to get the sleeve from a column that originally came from a car with
    a floor-shifter. Of course they are harder to find now than they were 30 years ago when
    I converted mine. In any case, I wouldn't use epoxy. Get some body panel adhesive tape to cover the hole with from the inside. Then use body filler on the outside...
     
  9. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Messages:
    6,739
    Likes Received:
    634
    Trophy Points:
    318
    Location:
    York. PA
    Vehicle:
    '70 Maverick Grabber
    Similar to how I filled the hole, a wad of aluminum foil inside the hole and cover it with All Metal body filler. Sand, prime, and paint. I think my 3-speed collar was different than those for an automatic trans, the hole had some depth to it.
     
    71gold likes this.

Share This Page