[cowdoc]

Just picked up a '73 Challenger, auto on the column. I want to convert it over to floor shift. There are console brackets that need to be welded on the driver's side of the center hump. Has anyone done this project? Having a hard time researching the exact location for the brackets, although I did read there are depressions on the hump where the brackets would go.

 

[Sweden]

Dont have any advice but i must say that it is a wonderful car you got :smileup:

 

[cowdoc]

Dont have any advice but i must say that it is a wonderful car you got :smileup:

Thanks! Can't wait to drive it! Right now it's still on the trailer.

 

[TikiMan]

Nice score. Looks great !

 

[trudyc]

wow what a nice looking challenger. didn't no that they made them with the column shifter. that is so cool I would rather have it on the floor also. great looking car you will enjoy that baby

 

[trudyc]

sorry I meant to ask what motor you have in it?

 

[cdahl383]

That's one awesome car man, love the orange rims with little hubcaps, looks mean!

What kind of floor shifter are you installing? An aftermarket one like B&M or Hurst or are you installing an entire center console with a stock floor shifter?

I converted my 72 Nova from a column shift to a floor shift a few years ago. I installed a B&M Megashifter (ratchet style shifter). I cut an X in the carpet and had to cut out a small rectangle to for the shifter linkage to hang down into the trans tunnel. Then drilled out four holes to mount the shifter. It came with a plastic cover so I just trimmed up the carpet around it and it looks like it was stock now.

Underneath I'm less familiar with because my buddy did most of that work, hooking up the cables, adjusting them, setting up the brackets, etc. I don't remember welding anything though, we just bolted stuff up under there.

Maybe the Dodges are different in how they're set up though, not sure.

 

[dodge man2]

I'd probably recommend getting a shop manual, might help quite a bit in terms of hooking everything up like the linkage and wiring. The car I used to own I had it taken apart but that's been over 25 years ago, don't remember much about it.

 

[TheOldGuy]

On these cars, the hole in the floor (cutout) for a 4 speed manual and a floor mounted console automatic, would use the exact same hole for the linkage. The ribbed rectangular "U" channel that surrounds the hole on a 4 speed car is still available. What you need are captured nut spot welded to the transmission hump brackets/tabs that are not available. Those were welded to the floor, 2 on the drivers side and 3 on the passenger side if I remember correctly. Finding a bone yard console would act as a guide where to weld your own fabricated brackets. These are hidden by the carpet that is stuffed under the sides of the console.

Wow! Thanks for the memories.

-John

 

[cowdoc]

Thanks for the responses. The car has a 340 in it, bored 40 over, a mild purple cam and headers. I want to go with the stock shifter and console. Found most of the parts in catalogs, found a linkage on ebay.

 

[dodge boy]

Sounds like a fun project!!

 

[SteveHarley]

Car looks really good. I personally would leave it just the way the shifter is. It's an automatic who cares if its not on the floor. lol

 

[Dodgeguy]

Thanks for the responses. The car has a 340 in it, bored 40 over, a mild purple cam and headers. I want to go with the stock shifter and console. Found most of the parts in catalogs, found a linkage on ebay.

Well it can be done, I did it but it was 20 years ago on a 71 I think what I did was cut out the brackets out of a donor car as well as the steering column.But I do not have any dimensions sorry.

 

[Scat Pack]

Doing this kind of conversion looks like a challenge, but there is some good advice based on owners' experience here.

 

[wvhemis]

First and foremost if I may offer a little advice... get the Fender tag decoded if it still has one...by wild chance look under the back seat and see if the broadcast sheet is still there. If it is a 73 340 car then it is a very low production car that came with a bench seat with a fold down armrest...that is why there are no brackets for the buckets next to the tunnel. I would look into this as you may hurt the value of a low production car... just saying

 

[wvhemis]

BTW I woulkd not cut the floor and junk the stock shifter

 

[cowdoc]

BTW I woulkd not cut the floor and junk the stock shifter

Oh yes, the fender tag is there and I DO have the broadcast sheet. The car is a 340 car, originally Bronze poly but now Vitamin C orange. And originally a vinyl roof car, which is no longer there. So the car has been altered significantly from it's original state. Numbers matching engine, not sure about the transmission or rear end. The tranny is the date correct 904, need to get it on a lift to read the number. The rear end is 8 3/4" with 3.55 gears.

What do you mean by junking the stock shifter? You mean go with aftermarket?

I'm not married to the idea of changing the console shift. I just like the look of the center console. With the changes already made to the car, do you think changing the shifter setup would increase or decrease the value?

 

[cowdoc]

BTW I woulkd not cut the floor and junk the stock shifter

Sorry I misunderstood. You're saying keep it stock. Also, should have done my homework a bit better, just decoded the fender tag (again) and it was NOT a vinyl roof car. A '73 non-rallye car with rallye options (hood, gauges, black tail light treatment, black grille). One of the previous owners added the '70-'71 RT stripe.

 

[VanishingPT2009]

Pete , I have done this mod myself = it is pretty straight forward!!! the trans hump will have a "boss" where the shifting linkage goes down through - to the trans linkage. After you aquire ALL the brackets AND linkage for the conversion - center and cut the boss with a hole saw and screw the small boot on ( there are dimples in the boss for the screw holes for the boot bezel) then center the rod in the boot. with all linkage and brackets attached as an assembly = you will have no problem locating where each bracket it welded to the floor!! this is how I did mine, and it worked flawless!! here is a link to a thread on moparts showing an ebody hump and floor shift assembly
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=5233978

 

[cowdoc]

Pete , I have done this mod myself = it is pretty straight forward!!! the trans hump will have a "boss" where the shifting linkage goes down through - to the trans linkage. After you aquire ALL the brackets AND linkage for the conversion - center and cut the boss with a hole saw and screw the small boot on ( there are dimples in the boss for the screw holes for the boot bezel) then center the rod in the boot. with all linkage and brackets attached as an assembly = you will have no problem locating where each bracket it welded to the floor!! this is how I did mine, and it worked flawless!! here is a link to a thread on moparts showing an ebody hump and floor shift assembly
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=5233978

Randy, great information as always! Thank you! So once the shifter linkage goes through the tunnel, does it connect to the trans linkage without any modifications?