I am planning on swappin my tired old powerglide for a 700R4 transmission. My problem is that I cannot find a shifter that will fit inside my console. I don't want to cut or remove my console because it is in mint condition and is origional. If anyone knows where i might find such a shifter, the sharing of this info would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Brad

I think someone on here (or on the "List") used a stock TH400 shifter with a new set of detents. He also used an overlay from a 200R shifter. Anyone help me out remembering who it was? I think it might have been Hugo, but I am not sure.

Q

that sounds like it would work, but i was kind of hoping for more of an aftermarket look (ie. B&M Megashifter, Pro Ratchet etc.) and maybe something with a ratcheting action. If all else fails and nothing of this nature exists, then i guess i could just take out the console =o( Thanks again
-Brad

I think it was Hugo?

Anyway, Brad, if you didn't mind the stock look... you could do that with a stock style 68 shifter (is your bird a 67/68 or 69?) and the 68/69 shifter's you can use as a ratchet style in effect.

Drop it in low, and you can just bump it up on gear at a time, they are set up that way...

Otherwise, I've seen quite a few that use the B&M style or aftermarket shifters that either mount onto the console, or mount into the console...

If I run across any examples I'll let you know!

Good luck, keep us posted -
Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

if you go with the 2004r instead of the 700r4, it'll fit better, and i believe there are kits to adapt the existing linkage.

Last year I put a 2004r in my '68 convertible,
I used the existing floor shifter with an adapter kit from Shiftworks.com . The trans fit great with
the same drive shaft & th400 crossover.It works great I love overdrive.

So if I change over to the 700R4 from a powerglide, I will have to change my driveshaft also? Are there any other little changes I would have to make to get the 700r4 in there? Crossmember? Lines? Etc?
Thanks again,
Brad

in short, yes.

in long:

from what i've gathered (getting ready to swap to 200-4r):
the 200 takes the same driveshaft as the 2 speed and th350, and you can modify the crossmember, or use a 400 crossmember. i'm sure the lines are a little different, but there may be a way to get them to work with slight mod. the lockup converter needs a power/cutoff switch, a tv cable needs to be hooked up to the throttle exactly right, and the linkage needs to be modified. kits are available for everything you need.

the 700 needs all of the above mods, plus the 400 crossmember will need modified, and the driveshaft will need to be changed to a shorter one, possibly with a different front spline. also, i believe most 700's have a chevy bolt pattern, while all 200s have BOP or universal.

the 700 has a steeper first gear (3.08 versus 2.74) but the 200 has a slightly better overdrive (.67 versus, umm .70 or .71).

wow that sounds like quite a chore =( I like the idea of the insane first gear and overdrive gears all in a nice little package, but wow... Where do you think i could get a driveshaft that would fit? I have heard I could get the driveshaft shortened (for a price) but maybe a new one would be easier. Sorry to sound so ignorant but I don't fully understand the what a TV cable is and why it would need to be hooked up to the throttle. (is that the downshift linkage- in laman terms?) And about the lockup switch- I can bring the switch into the "cockpit" instead of hooking it to the brake wiring and such can't I?
thanks again,
Brad... aka Novice (when it comes to tranny swaps)

I don't think there is a 700R4 with a BOP compatible bolt pattern. The 2004R has a universal bolt pattern (most do anyway).

There is a company called A&A Auto in Independence, MO that sells rebuilt "Pro-Street" 2004R's complete with shift kit, dip stick, and TV cable for $550.00. Their gear ratios are 2.74, 1.57, 1.00 and 0.67. Their phone is 816-461-3234 and email at armerl@mindspring.com.

TV cables are throttle position sensors that look kind of like kickdown linkages.

I decided to go with the TH350 because I got one for well, uh, free.