Here we go again. Today was a bit frustrating, and looking back at Copper’s build I used the same description for what I was working on- the shifter setup. I mocked up the shifter and because of the different length of the 4L80E, I was able to hook it up direct. After way too long to get the angles and arm length right, it all works ok. Yes, just ok. The force required to get out of park is way too high. Thinking it might be the shorter shifter and the shorter arm, I grabbed another shifter like I used on Copper. Even with more mechanical advantage, the shift out of park is way too stiff, in my opinion. It’s hard to go from park to reverse- you go into neutral and then go back to reverse. So I pulled out the stops and built another bellcrank, copying Copper. Yep, same result. Unacceptable in my opinion. I called my trans guy, he said the park detent is pretty strong on a 4L80E, and you don’t notice it on the factory setup because of the longer shifter. Ugh. What are my choices now? I narrowed it down to .
Choice 1- B&M Hammer. I like the way it operates, but not much else. Not my style, and I’m guessing I still might have the same issue.
Choice 2- Gennie shifter. It’s a gated shifter , I can get a longer handle for more leverage, but I don’t know how to indicate the gears short of a high dollar add on. Actually, everything’s expensive on that one.
Choice 3- Winters shifter. Built like a tank, affordable, gates stop you in every gear. Just not as “polished” looking. If it had a sliding cover for that slot, I’d be all over it. And it fits in the blown budget, sorta.
Decisions, Decisions.
I had also thought of doing a column shifter- that’s not off the table yet either. So 4 choices?