+ Floor Shifters +

[1972coronet]

I'm (still) working on building the MPC 1975 Dart Sport , and am at an impasse of sorts ... I'm going for a 'looks-factory-but-is-not' interior ( i.e. , it's painted Testors Flat Red ; a non-factory colour for Darts , etc. ,  after 1970 ) , and to that end , I'm keeping the console . Now , 4-speed-with-console combo disappeared after the 1969 model year in Darts ; however , our brothers in Mexico could still get that in their Dart GTS , Valiant Super Bee , et al. , from 1970-1976 .

Frankly , the MPC console "stinks" . There's no provision for any sembalence of a quadrant ( automatic , obviously ) , nor is there a cutout for a manual shifter . So , I'm planning to 'roll my own' ...

... and I need some visual ideas !

I'm thinking of either a Competition Plus style ( "T"-handle ) or , perhaps , a factory "ball" shifter ( see attached photos : (1) 1974 Super Bee ; (2) 1969 GTS ; (3) 1968 GTS )  Show me what you've got  

[espo]

For the shifter its self I have used large size dress maker type pins. I try to find the ones with the thickest metal part, but some times it still seems to small of a diameter. Lately I have used different diameter paper clips. They are much easier to bend and shape as needed. If you have a large bench vise you can flatten the leaver a little to resemble a Hurst Shifter. For a console you can use strips of Plastruct to create the basic shape. Then file and sand to the desired shape. You may also need to use a little body putty to get what you want. Another thought on the console would be to look in the After Market section here, there is a list of many suppliers of interior as well as body conversion parts. Usually they offer the interior conversion to make a bucket seat car into a bench seat, but they also offer some interior parts that may work for you. Good luck on your build.       

[BigTallDad]

Try using solder for the shifter arm...it can be hammered flat and bent very easily.

[1972coronet]

Thanks much , David and Ray ! 

I like the idea of the large-sized pins . I'll have to see if the local Dollar Store has those !

Solder is another great idea . I never even thought of that as being "right" for this project .