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Column Shift or Ground Shift???

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Blahman20
4/11/2007 10:09:18 PM
What one do you have and what one do you prefer? I have a column shifter, but I think i'd rather have the floor shifter. Maybe it's just because i'm used to the ground shifter from all the other vehicles that i've driven, but the Column shifter gets a little getting used to (I sometimes go by drive or go past reverse)...i'm sure i'll get used to it though. What are your opinions (lol sorry i'm bored...just trying to get some conversation started up :))
lastcoupe
4/11/2007 10:13:31 PM
I've got a floorshifter in my blazer and my lumina.......That's the next mod for my Caprice...already have the buckets and console installed just gotta pick me up a good floor shifter and that's that.  If you can't tell...I prefer the floor mounted shifter.
BobTheBlazer
4/11/2007 10:25:30 PM
Bob has a column shifter but on my Shelby I have a floor shifter...It comes in handy when drag racing...at the strip, of course. 
hillbillyinOhio
4/11/2007 10:49:17 PM
I have the floor shifter in my 97, but sometimes after i drive the Wrangler (manual) for a few weeks, i forget which truck im driving when i get back into the blazer. I slammed it into Park one day going about 30 mph, I dont think the blazer liked that all that much.
Lee
4/12/2007 8:36:32 AM
Wish I had the floor shifter. I go past Drive and Reverse all the time and I've had it for a few months. All my vehicles have had floor ones, I just prefer it.
vagnozzi
4/12/2007 12:04:54 PM
column shift on my Jimmy, but I wish it was floor :( I hate removing the dash front for stereo installs with the column shifter, its such a pain :(
Mbastet99
4/12/2007 11:16:18 PM
Column shift, but I miss the floor shifter my old Cavalier had, they are much cooler!!
Dabber
4/13/2007 9:14:06 AM
There is a link somewhere(i have been looking for it since this thread started) That you can convert your column shifter to a floor shifter in the blazer. I remember this because I am considering it( IIRC it didn't sound that difficult to do) I have the column shifter and I absolutely hate it. Every vehicle I have ever owned has been a floor shifter. 
Lee
4/13/2007 10:12:29 AM
Hahahaha! Everyone hates their column shift. 
blznlowxtreme
4/13/2007 10:38:50 PM
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lee

Wish I had the floor shifter. I go past Drive and Reverse all the time and I've had it for a few months. All my vehicles have had floor ones, I just prefer it.
  i thought every xtreme wad the floor shifter, i guess i was wrong. i love mine though
Chevy Lover
4/14/2007 2:35:07 AM
It depends on how much I like my passenger!
If she's hot, I want a column shifter,          if she's not....floor shifter for sure...
Dabber
4/18/2007 9:31:58 PM
This is by NO MEANS mine but thought it might be useful to others.  Hope it works
 
 
 
I've already done somewhat of a how-to on this subject before for a 1st gen.. (www.pghconsulting.net/howto) This is my second gen one... I don't have some pics, I will add those when it warms up.

Tools Needed:
10mm socket
13mm socket
Drill (Depends on your current center console)
Wire Crimper and butt connectors
T25 Torx
T20 Torx
4.5mm socket (or equivilent reverse torx)
10mm box wrench
Flathead screwdriver
hammer

Parts Needed
Console
Shifter
Misc nuts (try to get the originals that came with it)
washers
Shifter Cable (GM Part # 15713353)
Steering wheel cowl (upper and lower) from a manual shift truck w/ tilt steering (or without tilt if you don't have tilt, get appropriate cowl)

Wiring: Instructions and clarifications at the end of this how-to

Remove old center console. There will be 2 nuts under the arm reset compartment, use a 10mm socket to remove these, then there is a nut to remove under the cup holders, the front just pops off it's clips.

If you have the center console that has the 2 cup holders mounted lenghth wise, then no drilling is required...

Turn the plate so that the wider end is facing towards the front of the truck, there is already a hole there that will fit on the stud that the cup hold section of your old console was on. (Note: You may have to take some of the bow out of the mounting plate to level it right so that the console will sit flush on the carpet, put it on the ground and use a hammer) Use the original nut and tighten down... Trust me that plate won't move. (For those of you with the wide front console where the cup holders are side by side and the retaining nut is under the tray, you will need to drill holes.. Just premount your console and shifter and mark where it needs to be drilled... Use lag bolts to hold it in, see www.pghconsulting.net/howto on how to do that)

Mounting Plate:



Disconnect your old shifter cable. This will require removing the bottom portion of your steering wheel cowl. Use a t20 torx. You will see where it mounts just below the column shift mechanism. Simply use a flat head screwdriver to pop it off. (Be sure to remove the U clip on there 1st, you will need that clip later) Disconnect the other end from the shifter plate on the detent rod on the tranny. (Use a flat head screwdriver to pop it off) Lift up the driver side carpet and you will see the cable w/grommet going through the floorboard.. Pull that grommet and pull the cable through into the car (or out of the car, your choice) You may have to remove the bracket on the transfer case holding the cable to move it.

(note: this is a first gen picture, but applies to the second gen as well)



Put the new cable in the same way just in reverse, but do not hook it up to the transmission yet. Route the cable under the carpet and through a hole in front of where you mounted the shifter.



Put the shifter on top of the plate and add washers to the rear stud to level it out...Just keep loosely putting on the console till it looks like the shifter gear indicator is flush with the console, and the console is flush with the carpet. Secure the shifter to the plate.



Run the cable through the hole in the shifter frame and attach it to the ball-stuf. Insert the U clip into into the base so it doesn't slip out.

Secure the console to the shifter and hump. Use the 2 10mm bolts in the cup holders for the front half, and the 2 10mm nuts under the arm rest compartment to
speeddemon560
4/18/2007 10:05:14 PM
I have the column shifter and I think it's great.  It doesn't bother me and takes up less space than the ground shifter.  Plus I don't like floor shifters because I'm always afraid that if I have 1 or more of my 5 dogs in the car, that they'll knock the shifter and change gears while I'm driving.  I wouldn't like that.
I have the cup holders and stuff in the center console because I don't have the floor shifter.  Plus, it's not all that difficult removing the dash with a column shifter....
EuroGoldLS
4/18/2007 10:26:17 PM
What!? you let dogs in your car!! I would never let a dog in mine unless they are on a basket or a kennel.
 
I prefer, either. my mom's Envoy has the console shifter, but mine has column. I like the shifter in our 81 Z28, semi-auto.
speeddemon560
4/18/2007 10:31:35 PM
I do let dogs in the car.  Heres a pic of 4/5 of them....  But yea, as I said before, I prefer the column shifter because it's safer and takes up less space.


Lilcheef
4/19/2007 12:28:30 AM
Floor shift for sure. All my Jeeps were floor shift and I think it's way better than colum shift. We have a Dodge Cummins in the family and it has the column shift, I always miss gears on it. I also like to rest my hand on the shifter while it's in drive, can't do that in a column shift and keep your elbow on the center console!!

Laters,
Chris
EuroGoldLS
4/19/2007 9:52:29 PM
Why have an automatic Jeep? Not that it matters. My dads '79 CJ7 is auto, but I wish so much it was manual, still fun to drive though!
 
BTW Speedy, how do you tell which dog is which? LOL
Mr Blazer LT
4/20/2007 1:38:58 AM
Column shift for sure, (even though I hate automatics) for the space.  And I have no trouble putting it in D and not accidentally going to 3 or anything.  If i'm gonna change gears on the floor, it's manual or bust. 
Lilcheef
4/22/2007 2:35:34 AM
Well I always had a manual up until I got my Grand Cherokee. That was my first auto and I got lazy. Now i'm a slave to it. My first 3 Jeeps were standard tho, bullet proof let me tell ya. Auto trannys suck for reliability.
drperry
4/22/2007 6:00:46 AM
Floor shift for me, lol, Though I wouldn't mind trying a 3 on the tree...
zr2offroad
4/28/2007 11:24:59 PM
I have a colume shifter in my Blazer and love it, I cant stand the floor shifter.  I also have a Silverado and it's a colume shifter, so I guess I'm just use to it that way.
Scuba65
5/3/2007 4:06:40 AM
I'd rather have a floor shifter.  We have lots of hills in town, and it's not handy to be shifting out of O/D into D when going downhill, to save on the brakes.

But, I do like my cupholders on the hump...
PJT2007
10/12/2008 12:41:31 AM
Man, I dont like that leather boot, not for me, I like the column shifter, out of the way for console space.  Does anyone know if their is an alternative to the leather boot?  Floor shift is fine, but i don''t dig the boot, maybe i can rig somthing up..,, like the slot with the brustles?
kiwiblazer
10/12/2008 1:01:49 AM
Grief, I can''t actually remember when last I saw a car with a cloumn shifter. Do they still make them?
drperry
10/12/2008 2:08:26 AM
Yep, they do.
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