[Johnny Kay]

Hello. Looking for recommendations based on install, use and experience. Considering these two shifters. Both look to work with the 96SS given our 4 speed trans and console set up. I'm interested to know if the B&M ratchet option would work better with the console glove box angle or if the Hurst Pistol has acceptable clearance and comfortable access when in first as well as any pictures and lessons learned on adapting to the console. Any of the above would be appreciated. Also - searched and believe I read all the past shifter posts on this topic but they are somewhat dated except this one - 96 SS floor shifter upgrade. Some good information in there.

 

[toonwarrior]

How about some rods 😳

 

[Johnny Kay]

Huge fan of the old school Lightening Rods. Are they even manufactured today?Where did you find yours - retrofit pick from a Cutlass 442? Thought they would be too wide for the console but obviously not given your clean install. How much customization of the console was needed?

 

[toonwarrior]

Unfortunately not my install so couldn't say, my one is a 6 speed hurst stick

If you have a 96 console then you can most likely get away with just modifying the removable piece, with a 94 / 95 console it'll be more challenging for sure. As for the functionality someone else will have to chip in, you may have luck finding some people in the FB groups who've run it also.

 

[Johnny Kay]

@toonwarrior - Recently sold my Viper and miss the manual already. Having shifter remorse 😀. Your set up is clean as hell. Well done.

 

[Johnny Kay]

Can’t find Lightening Rods for sale anywhere. Anyone have a line on a set please let me know. Did find this shifting diagram of interest.

 

[ls1caprice]

LIGHTNING ROD SHIFTERS

lightning rod shifter horse shoe shifter ratchet bitch shifter paddle shift eliminator

www.kilduffmachine.com

 

[Johnny Kay]

LIGHTNING ROD SHIFTERS

lightning rod shifter horse shoe shifter ratchet bitch shifter paddle shift eliminator

www.kilduffmachine.com

Sweet. Thank you.

 

[toonwarrior]

If you go down that path you should definitely make a build thread on it, would be awesome to see. I know if my car was auto I would be getting these rods for sure.

 

[Johnny Kay]

Good idea. Leaning that way. They have some other options like the Ratchet Big Bitch shifter. So many choices 😀.

 

[1slow96]

Much to "busy" looking for me....

 

[Z09B4U]

If you are expecting "true manual" shifting have a look at :
Turning a 4L60E into a Manually Shifted Transmission:

https://atracom.blob.core.windows.net/gears/2006/2006-05/2006_05_04.pdf

 

[1slow96]

Manually shifting an automatic is overrated. Dragracing? Leave in Drive... Auto-x? Leave in "2"....

 

[95wagon]

Leave in L1, upshift manually before PCM.
L1 most strength , 2-4 band and overrun clutch applied ,
Shift early so programed shifts still occur.
my 2 bits

 

[Johnny Kay]

If you are expecting "true manual" shifting have a look at :
Turning a 4L60E into a Manually Shifted Transmission:

https://atracom.blob.core.windows.net/gears/2006/2006-05/2006_05_04.pdf

Very interesting read, thank you for passing it along. The detail and schematics lay out the logic very well.

 

[Marky Dissod]

If you are expecting "true manual" shifting have a look at :
Turning a 4L60E into a Manually Shifted Transmission:

https://atracom.blob.core.windows.net/gears/2006/2006-05/2006_05_04.pdf

Not how I'd do it, but still, to use the word 'impressive' is damning by too faint praise.

Manually shifting an automatic is overrated. Dragracing? Leave in Drive ... Auto-x? Leave in "2" ...

With a 2.563 axle, drag race in '2', autocross in '1'.

Actually, in both cases, as well as just about any case where the use of the overrun clutches are not expressly desired, it would be better for the 4L60E's longevity and durability to reprogram the transmission's shift points so that, during the 'event', the shifter can stay in 'OD'.

Learned this 'cause of my wagon's 2.563 axle.
Wanted to know how much MpG 3.73 would cost me, made the mistake of driving in 'D' for 2 weeks.
I mean, one could argue that the 3rd gear overrun clutch in a 2.563 car is not that useful anyway.
My 4L60E needed a rebuild about 2 weeks later.
The 4L60E'd've been better off had the shift points been adjusted to completely avoid 4th.

Refer to

.
Even if you disagree, you'll at least see my point.

I can understand why many people would just use the shifter.
Fact remains, better for the 4L60E if the shift points are adjusted for the desired behavior.

 

[Johnny Kay]

All good points. Thank you for the knowledgeable and detailed opinion. In my case I’m running with a LT1 to 383 stroker, Cahill Pro Race Trans with 2800-3200 ProTorque stall and 3:73 rear gears. The Cahill team advises what you suggest . . ։ put it in OD, leave it there and let it eat. I’m considering the shifter upgrade more for me just to have something fun and different to mess around with. Also wanted to see if I could create a fixed physical locking point to use a hitch lock or similar to secure the car from being moved from Park as a theft deterrent. Have to research past posts to see if anyone has done something like this before. Going to be dialing in the tune next week and may get into the shift points . . . but probably will just leave it where it is for drivability. Thanks again for the input fellas . . . to each his own right 👍

 

[Marky Dissod]

Going to be dialing in the tune next week and may get into the shift points ... but probably will just leave it where it is for drivability.
Thanks again for the input fellas ... to each his own right 👍

In the sense that we prefer not to daily drive Toyodor kurolluhs and murder our automotive enthusiasm, yea, to each his own.
In the sense that separate and distinct tunes for autoX / drag racing / road racing vs the standard tune that you'd be willing to share with family and friends under more banal circumstances is worth the time it takes to write it plus the two minutes per pcm rewrite, I'd regret not saying:

Even with a 383 LT1 with 3.73, to each circumstance, its own tune variant will pay dividends in 4L60E lifespan.