elohim1 : B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400

B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by elohim1 on Sept 15, 2006, 9:26pm

I have been searching for shifters to use on my TH400. I am leaning towards the B&M pro ratchet.

Yes ? No? Is there a better one for the M715 ?

All ears, Thanks
Chris

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by jed on Sept 15, 2006, 9:53pm

I could sell you a slighly used one (I know it's a B&M ratchet but I'll have to go look for exact name!). It was in a Pontiac Firebird w/ a 400 BB and a TH400. Previous owner put it in and never got the car fixed up enough to drive. I took it out cause it seemed too complicated! I like the less expensive ones.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by bluesman2a on Sept 15, 2006, 11:14pm

Chris,

I went through the SAME issue. I found it VERY difficult to get a shifter I liked. My criteria were:

1) Cannot be a ratchet shifter. I'm sure these are great in race cars, but IMHO, they are goofy, annoying and suck.
2) MUST have something so my wife doesn't inadvertantly throw it into reverse (could be detent or a gate).
3) MUST be a cable shifter. Started out with a Lokar, and that linkage to the body is just stupid. Nice shifter, but they should make it with a cable, I took it back.
4) has to be tall enough for me to comfortably reach in a normal driving position.
5) should be simple, as in not too complicated it breaks a lot.

What I came up with was one of these:
www.artcarr.com
http://www.artcarr.com/images/SpecialsPage/ad4.jpg

I particularly like it. Since buying it I found they just rebadge the product for these guys, so you may get a better deal here:
http://www.wintersperformance.com/ca...nder/index.htm

The install is pretty simple. Either you need to make a plate with 4 holes on it, or you can do stand-offs on the tranny cover like I did here:
http://www.sjmembers.com/gallery/alb...0/DSCF0601.jpg
(pay no attention to the skanky hole underneath left by the previous owner that I haven't had a chance to clean up yet)

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by robertcowan on Sept 15, 2006, 11:32pm

get one that you can put in drive and it will shift by its self or you can shift it manually is my opinion. i put them in v-drive boats with powerglides. you can also get cable exit through the front or rear as options also. hurst made a dual gate shifter for 1969 pontiac gto.s and they sold them aftermarket also that is mechanical steel linkage rods that works good also. i can send a pix of one if you like. i got one in my t-bucket
bob

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by fsjguy on Sept 16, 2006, 12:44am

Funny you should bring this up. I just installed a Hurst ratchet shifter. Works nicely. It's a normal shifter in P,R and N. When you get into D, it goes into ratchet mode. Push up or down to shift from N down through 1. You have to LIFT it up to go from N to R and then to Park. I installed it because my OEM civilian FSJ linkage was loose and I couldn't get first without losing Park. I now have both and everything inbetween.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by bigwheelbob on Sept 16, 2006, 7:43am

In my opinion, the best shifter for the average person who doesnt want anything to complicated is the B&M Z Gate, at around $120 I have used these shifters in 99% of all the engine conversions I have done in the last 20 years for customers. They fit a very narrow area, come with neutral, and reverse light switches and have a 5 ft cable. I have never had any trouble with the customers figureing them out in just a few minutes. Not complicated at all. I think my next favorite for a street vehicle with a manuel shift automatic is the Quick Silver. A very simple ratchet type shifter, which you need with a reverse valve body.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by compexp on Sept 16, 2006, 8:47am

Naw, you need the Hurst Lightning Rod shifter - adds a couple more levers to an already crowded area. hehehe

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1...ingrodsbk7.jpg

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by jed on Sept 16, 2006, 2:15pm

I just went and checked and I was wrong...the rachet shifter I took out of the Firebird was a Hurst. The one I replaced it with was a B&M sport shifter. Maybe I'll put the Hurst on the "For Sell" board!

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by robertcowan on Sept 16, 2006, 4:12pm

heres the one i,d use.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail....15&autoview=sku

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by bigwheelbob on Sept 16, 2006, 7:13pm

That thing is aggrivating, and cost way to much.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by tacomainoh on Sept 17, 2006, 1:59pm

I hated the B&M in the 725. Pain in the ass.

I'll be using a nice column shifter to make room for all the junk on the floor: cutting brakes, triple stick Doubler shifters, front and rear PTO levers.... and my winch O/D shifter too. That's 8 levers.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by bigwheelbob on Sept 17, 2006, 5:50pm

I love a column shifter........... till you get some body flex, and get your trans shifted for you.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by elwenil on Sept 18, 2006, 7:07am

I don't recommend any B&M shifter. From all the ones I've found in used cars we have bought they are worn out and don't work worth a crap. In my opinion Hurst is much better quality.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by bigwheelbob on Sept 18, 2006, 7:34am


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">I don't recommend any B&M shifter. From all the ones I've found in used cars we have bought they are worn out and don't work worth a crap. In my opinion Hurst is much better quality.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>I have to disagree with that statement. I have been drag racing, and running mud trucks for over 25 years, I couldnt even tell you how many B&M's I have installed, or used in these vehicles, and 0 failures. Even the open mud Jeeps, when they set in the off season they get a little stiff. Just hose them out, lube them up and go.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by barrman on Sept 18, 2006, 8:56am

Sounds like another version of the Ford v. Chevy debate. I would have to agree with Lanny though about used car shifters. I used to be in the used car business and it seems that every car I every came across with one installed didn't shift right or work properly. I think it has more to do with installation and care issues with the former owner more than anything else, but. From that perspective. Hurst looks better. Maybe it is because every idiot with a magazine thinks they can install one properly and then actually care for it before they screw the rest of the car up so bad they had to trade it off so they can get to work.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by elwenil on Sept 18, 2006, 9:46am

Just to further the discussion, and not to argue, I will say that I have seen and installed B&Ms new that worked fine. But typically the used ones I have run across have worn gates and you have to do the shift and jiggle bit to get to the next gear even when adjusted to spec. I will say just about all of my experience is with ratchet type, reverse lock out shifters from both B&M and Hurst. I have heard nothing but good things about the Art Carr shifters and they are very similar, if not a copy, of the old Cheetah shifter which I have used and were very nice. In all honesty, the Hurst V-Matic 2 dual gate shifter that I had in my '69 Coronet 500 Conv. and in my '84 Ramcharger was the best shifter I have used. In normal use it is a reverse lockout shifter but once you get into the drive modes it will shift from L1 to neutral with no problems in one fluid motion. There are clear indents for each gear, but they don't hinder going from L1 to neutral. I was often shifting from L1 to N and then a little tug on the reverse lock out lever to get to reverse when rocking or doing quick maneuvers in the Ramcharger with it's manual valve body. Since it was a dual gate shifter, you could shift to neutral and push the handle down and then ratchet it back through the gears if needed. That worked pretty good when bumping around as I could hold onto the shifter without knocking it out of gear and could up and down shift quickly when needed. If I were to ever own another automatic equipped truck, I would put another V-Matic 2 in it.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by barrman on Sept 18, 2006, 10:03am

I wasn't trying to argue either. I think I wrote that, but wanted to make it clear.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by bluesman2a on Sept 18, 2006, 11:18am

On an interesting side note: I was watching From Dust to Glory this weekend (HIGHLY recommended watching) which is about the history of the Baja 1000. From what I could see on all the in-car footage, a LOT of Baja guys are running the Art Carr style shifters too...

If you guys haven't seen it, I would even recommend BUYING the DVD... Lots of cool gear-head stuff from Motorcycles, to $1M trophy trucks, down to stock pre-1972 VW Bugs.

Re: B&M pro ratchet shifter ? with th400
Post by elwenil on Sept 18, 2006, 11:53am


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">I wasn't trying to argue either. I think I wrote that, but wanted to make it clear.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I know what you mean Tim, that's just my disclaimer, lol. I more wanted to comment on the dual gate function that various shifters have but I didn't want it to sound so much like I was just ramming my opinion down every one's throat, lol.