column shift conversion

s.e.charles

s.e.charles

Senior Member
could a model A transmission be adapted to a column shift?

i vaguely remember my 1968 Peugeot 404 had a 4 speed column shift. didn't help when i rolled it, but i can't blame the car for that.

thanks
 
There are kits to put a V8 trans in the A. If you used a side shift version of the V8 trans you might be able to do it, I'm not sure about clearance issues around the brake and clutch. This kinda backs up what Y-Blockhead already said. :)
 
Most early Ford column shift set ups are mounted on top of the steering column so that will clash with the way the column and fuel tank are set up. Remote control shift came out in 1940 Fords. The 1949 Lincoln & Mercury cars were the first of the Ford made cars to use a remote shift mechanism that was internal to the steering Column. The Fords were on top and the Lincolns were on the side of the earlier models. There was a remote shift set up on the 1941 Ford pickups with the 8N engine but that was a one year wonder that wasn't very popular. The little tractor engine just didn't have enough power.
 
I agree with Y-B that anything is possible with enough time and money (there was an article a few years back on a guy who had made a hand-operated clutch). But this begs the question - why would you want to? I would not see three-on-a-tree as a desirable end state.
 
i don't think i made my question clear. if i had a rolling chassis, none of the accoutrements noted as far as dash to engine controls/ frame cross members, or fuel container constraints (think bare bones speeder), would the model A factory transmission be mechanically adaptable to a column shift mechanism?

and if money was not a consideration (seems less domino effect given above parameters).

purely hypothetical condition at this juncture.
 
As JayJay pointed out: “But this begs the question - why would you want to? I would not see three-on-a-tree as a desirable end state.” In other words, a Column shift is really not cool.

A Model A is already cool because it has floor shift

With the exception of handicapped individuals who need hand controls and/or automatic transmissions, most people that modify their cars go from column shift to floor shift rather than the other way around.

David Serrano
 
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well, and i am perhaps blinded by my own thinking, perhaps every post should be subtitled: scale modeler here to research, learn, & absorb real world mechanical possibilities.

that disclaimer may assuage all the intimation i would actually tear down a vintage vehicle and create an undrivable machine. heck, i even try to position seats in relationship to pedals, steering, & other controls so a scale driver could actually manipulate them.

but i'm festering on how to section [narrow] a '29 roadster body to a one person speedster. steering wheel, foot pedals, and the ubiquitous four on the floor will all need to be centered on the drivetrain.

maybe i should further ponder how this can, plausibly, work its way out.
 
Here is how to do it. Use a miniature box on the column with the pattern you want. If it is a 3 speed then use an H pattern. Rig switches at each location and one switch to know on which side the shifter is. Then rig solenoids at the gearbox to copy the switch setting on the column. For instance, Reverse would have one solenoid move to the left and another one that moves forward. You would need spring returns for neutral or rig the box on the column and the solenoids to move to neutral when wanted. This is like the flight control surfaces on a radio controlled model airplane so maybe the components used there could be used on your Model A. They make servo controllers for setting up the airplane that use a direct connection, not radio control. If you take the return springs out of the joy stick on the controller then the transmission would stay where you put it. You could mount the controller anywhere, not just on the column. Some vintage cars had vacuum controllers that accomplished the same thing.
 
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To your question, and echoing NK's response: anything is do-able given enough time, money and interest. He and I are both engineers and I'd never stand still with "it can't be done".

I see the Model A as particularly difficult to center-line the driver due to the location and method of supporting the clutch/brake pedals, the steering column being well forward of the bell housing, and of course the shifter. One could imagine moving the driver somewhat aft, converting the brakes and clutch to hydraulic, and installing a steering gear with a whole lot of universal joints. The shifter would need to be brought aft at that point as well, but it is not unprecedented to have the shifter between the knees.

Or ... convert to electric, install juice brakes, and all you'd have to work out would be steering. Come to think of it, aren't some modern cars fly-by-wire steering? There's your answer.
 
I have a friend that restores old sprint cars.His favorites are Ford flathead V8 powered cars.I've seen a couple of them that used a Ford steering box,mounted dead center,with the sector shaft extended out a mile.Pitman mounted outside of the body.
 
A club member has a column shift in his car, but it has an 8BA flathead, trans and steering column from a '51 F100 (i think). It works well. You would need some type of adaptor to mate the side shift trans to a model A engine, plus change the driveshaft and rear end. If that can be done, well at least the column shift part is easy.
 
Going back maybe 15 years there was a handicapped individual in Southern California that had modified his Model A so he could drive it. Try looking for something like "handicapped" and you might get some leads.

UPDATE: I did a little research and the person's name was Art Moore. Unfortunately he made the conversion to an automatic. I hate the idea of an automatic in general but if it was done to enable a handicapped person to enjoy his Model A I am 100% in favor of it.

Charlie Stephens
 
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If your looking for a one person speedster look up antique sprint cars.
 

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Back when the AV8 roadster conversions to hot rod model As were popular, they put a model T gas tank in the trunk and did away with the old dash tank set up. This allowed them to use either the late top shift 3-speed or the remote control shift. Girl friends had to hang on to their guy when he was firewalling his hot rod. No seat belts back then.

For hot rods or customs, easy. For stockers, not so much.
 
good contributions giving me perspective after wading through.

sometimes it hard to formulate an accurate question unless you anticipate

all the directions the challenges will emerge.
 
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