I know it sounds crazy:jester:. I want to extend my shifter up about 3 inches or so. Only reason is to make shifting easier and more comfortable. Anybody ever extend a shifter for this reason without a body lift? Any tips? Can you install the 3700 shifter extension without a lift kit?
Shifter Extending
- Thread starter flip47553
- Start date
mcdonald58
New Member
i think the best route to go is to get a hurst shifter.
Shawn
Cranky old man
I have done this for the same reason. It is much easier to shift. I ended up with a Hurst shifter. I got one for a F150. It bolts right in and is taller. If you want to do it on the cheap, I would get a stock shifter from an F150. The F150's used the same transmission as the Rangers. You have to watch the years though. They changed them a tiny bit. Just get a shifter that is close to the year of your truck.
You said they changed a bit, but what did? I'm interested on this mod since I plan on going to some JYs the next weekend.
Shawn
Cranky old man
I can't remember for sure right now. I think it's the hieght of the casting on the transmission that the Hurst bolts onto. The fork on one is a 1/4 longer than the other. Look into the two different Hurst shifter for Rangers. That's it, Hurst's come with a spacer plate that is needed on certain years. I think 1996 is the cutoff date. If I get time I will see if I saved that info on one of my hard drives.
Done!!
I decided just to extend my existing shifter. What an upgrade!!! Makes shifting real nice and easy.
1) I found a piece of steel rod 5/8" OD x 6" long. (old 4-way lug wrench was the perfect diameter. Know it is a 3-way. lol)
2) I removed my shifter knob and removed the shift boot. (Knob removed easily by heating with hair dryer, no beating it)
3) I removed the shift lever.
4) I cut the shift lever with a tubing cutter about 1/4" above the shift boot ring near the knob.
5) I turned my drill press and grinder into a lathe and turned down about 3/4" on both ends of new rod to fit snugly into the shifter lever and into the splined piece.
6) I then inserted the new rod into both pieces and tack welded them lightly. Tested fit on truck and then welded solid.
7) A little grinding to smoothe out the weld and it was perfect.
8) For the finish, I used a piece of heat shrink tubing to cover the shaft up to thew ball.
Picture coming soon. Was really easy to do and was worth the effort.
I decided just to extend my existing shifter. What an upgrade!!! Makes shifting real nice and easy.
1) I found a piece of steel rod 5/8" OD x 6" long. (old 4-way lug wrench was the perfect diameter. Know it is a 3-way. lol)
2) I removed my shifter knob and removed the shift boot. (Knob removed easily by heating with hair dryer, no beating it)
3) I removed the shift lever.
4) I cut the shift lever with a tubing cutter about 1/4" above the shift boot ring near the knob.
5) I turned my drill press and grinder into a lathe and turned down about 3/4" on both ends of new rod to fit snugly into the shifter lever and into the splined piece.
6) I then inserted the new rod into both pieces and tack welded them lightly. Tested fit on truck and then welded solid.
7) A little grinding to smoothe out the weld and it was perfect.
8) For the finish, I used a piece of heat shrink tubing to cover the shaft up to thew ball.
Picture coming soon. Was really easy to do and was worth the effort.
Fx4wannabe01
New Member
Nice execution solving your problem! Cleanly done too.
Only thing I would say is paint the extension and I worry about the ball itself coming off. How do you have the fall itself secured?
Only thing I would say is paint the extension and I worry about the ball itself coming off. How do you have the fall itself secured?