So in the past, I have tried a variety of concepts to make short shifters. As in the shorter arm, less travel type. Not the kind that moves the pivot ball up and still has a tall arm. I have used other W series transmission shifter arms (celicas, coronas, ect) as well as cut them down. My favorite one was taking the stock upper half of the arm off, and lathing an extension out of aluminum in a stock shape. I did it in a brushed finish. The way I designed it, it could be used on pretty much any type of mini truck shifter (that I have seen) as well as any W transmission toyota car. I would do them from a core, or could sell just the upper shaft for a do it yourselfer. I'm figuring like $50 shipped plus core charge, or send me a core shifter arm. I know the photo is terrible, but its the best I have. I don't own the truck anymore and kick myself for not keeping that shifter. The truck did look better before I finally lost interest in it. I installed the rest of the console, and ran a 79-83 SR5 steering wheel. Here is what I mean. Here was my initial attempt at welding one down shorter...don't. They are rubber isolated inside. And if anyone has any questions, suggestions or comments, please let me know! If I get good response here I will post it on other toyota sites, then move on to posting on other sites for other brand minitrucks or cars. I'm trying to help out a niche market and make myself some extra funds for my trucks at the same time.
Here is a photo of the same truck with the stock shifter. And a few of my 78 with my before and after cut down and reangled toyota car shifter.
Since the stick is shorter does that mean i need to learn foward to shift? Id be interested in one for sure.
Nope. Arm is a little straighter, but no need to lean forward. I'm 5'8" and always have the seat all the way back. And I can shift without moving forward. I need to buy a metal lathe, but what I get exactly depends on how much demand for these there is.
You NEED to put a damn 5 speed in. The guy you got your bed from has what seems like a W58, that needs the speedo drive fixed. Could probably get it cheap.
You said you tried celica shifters.....Mines out of a celica supra soo ??? But the factory 2nd gen supra shifter bolts into seemingly every w series. Heck mines right now in a 4 speed. The shifters about the height of the seat cushion, IDK how much shorter you would want it. (excuse the mess, I was doin body work...) And a link to LC's shifter. 2 bills, ouch! Hope yours dont cost that much http://www.toyotacatalog.net/M1WebG...UniqueID=6EBA3462-9AB4-48B3-A0D0-36668324FEB0
Hmm... I might have to check into it... but, the side shifting four speed has kind of grown on me... It makes me all different and stuff...
I've tried a bunch of stock shifters. The truck ones are huge. The chrome older celica arms are shorter with a bit more backward angle. The later celicas have an even shorter one, but you have to swap the pivot housing as well, since the pivot ball is smaller and fits sloppy. I like the idea of making one thats a drop in fit without finding W58 parts. Plus a brushed aluminum look is always classy. Like mentioned, probably about $50 shipped plus about $10 for a core charge to pay for getting lots of stock shifters for the lower half. Or send me a lower to modify. I'm going to start rounding up as many stock ones at the yards as I can find to prepare for this though. Curt, I'll have to take a look at your sidecart shifter, I might be able to make a shortie for that too.
Im still interested in one. Do you need just the stick? I might be able to get one cheap down here. let me know the details. Also its going into a 86 5 speed. Shoots.
Nah, I have access to plenty of junkyards to find stock ones to modify. That's what I like best, is it has toyota reliability for the section inside the trans. Plus, LCE's is pretty fugly.
