Column shift safety question

I have installed a b&m shifter. What do i need to do to the stock column shift besides removing the handle? I am mostly wondering about the locking steering feature in park. Once i crank it it doesnt lock so maybe thats good enough as i now shift with the floor shifter. Id hate to have it somehow lock while im driving. Whats the standard procedure here.

 

As long as you don't turn the key off while driving, there's no problem.
You can always remove the locking pin at the top to remove any possibility of that happening. That locking steering wheel won't stop a professional thief anyway. If it's not turned all the way counter clockwise, you won't be able to get the key out when you shut it off.

Ideally, replacing the collar with one from a floor-shift car is preferable for eliminating that shifter nub that makes it obvious it was a column-shift car.

 

The key has to be turned to the off position to lock the column. Not possible to do when driving unless you have a serious problem in the column or turn the car off while flying down the road. You really shouldn't have any issues as long as the lever was in park when you remove it.

 

It's absolutely possible. If the collar is turned all the way counter clockwise, which is where it would be when the shifter is in "Park", the key can be turned to the off position and the steering wheel will lock. If the collar is turned clockwise, you can't turn the key to the lock position and remove the key. With the after market shifter on the floor, the linkage to the collar is no longer connected to the shifter. So like I said, if it's a concern, simply remove the lock pin at the top of the column under the steering wheel.

 

ill do this to totally eliminate the possibility. Ill see if i can google the lock pin so i know what to look for. Hopefully its very evident when i take the wheel off.

 

There is really no need to pull the wheel, all you need to do is knock the pin out of the lever and remove it. Be sure to have it in park and it will all work as designed. Here are two images to clarify, first is the lock pin, it is driven by the lock cylinder (key). When you turn it to off the pin comes back to lock the wheel but it won't unless the car is in park, that prevents the car from being able to move when the wheel is locked. The second is a picture of the shifter detent (not the actual one in our cars) that is inside the column, it will hold it all in park when the lever is removed. I wish I had a column handy that was apart so I had better pictures but it's in a box somewhere. Just know that what engages the detent is spring loaded and will not come out of park after you remove the lever unless something goes really wrong.

 

I think this one is closer to what is in our columns.

 

Yeah, that's the lock pin I was talking about.

 

At the base of the steering column is a tab that the shift linkage attaches to. I used a piece of coat hanger (don't throw any rotten tomatoes at me, please ) to pull it all the way to the right, replicating first gear all the time. The steering wheel never locks when rigged like this.

 

Then how do you remove the key when you shut it off? It typically comes out only in Park if I remember right.

 

Larry is correct.

 

You guys are probably right there. I did this over 20 years ago and likely remembering it backwards. When I get a chance, I will get a picture of it. It is probably pulled over to keep it in the Park position.

 

My column is locked in park with a heavy wire tie. It's been that way for over 20 years.

 

That is what we have done on three cars so far. Works great.

 

My car was, and still is, a manual shift but I had the same issue when going to a floor shift. I pulled the column out and removed the shift tubes and linkage, removed the lever, cut off the nub and did some body work to close the hole, paint. Looks like it came from the factory that way.