Ratchet shifters anyone?

[BillyGman]

has anyone here ever had an automatic transmission with a ratchet shifter? If so, how did you like it?

[mpearce]

Just speaking from a one time experience. I got a chance to street race (as a passenger) in a built mustang. The guy is a friend of my wifes, and the car goes 10.70's on just motor, and 10.teens with NOS. At full throttle the engine roared so much my eyes vibrated and I couldn't see straight. He had a ratchet shift, and from what I saw, it was the easiest thing in the world to use. Minimal effort, minimal movment, and everything shifted and popped into gear quicky and easily. The only thing though, be careful when you launch, his car had so much power and torque, if he was holing onto his ratchet shifter when the lights dropped, he'd shift himself into second by accident.

As far as adding any big time technical help...sorry Billy...just thought I'd share my story.

:D

-Mat

[BillyGman]

As far as adding any big time technical help...sorry Billy...just thought I'd share my story.

:D

-MatMat, anything I can learn about this stuff is very helpfull my friend. Thankyou for sharing that with me, and for that piece of advice. Some of this current project of mine is new territory for me, and I can use all the help I can get. I'm trying to gain all the info I can. Right now I'm on a feeding frenzy of information about various drivetrain topics, so that I can execute my plan as efficiently as possible, in hopes that I'll encounter as few surprises as possible along the way.

This feeding frenzy mode is what I was in right before I chose the Trilogy S/Cer too. I'm sure there are several board members here who remember me pounding them with questions via telephone and e-mails about their S/Ced Marauders. And I'm glad that they put up with me, and were very helpful!!! All of their help enabled me to make educated decisions despite my former lack of experience with S/Cers in street driven vehicles.

[Krytin]

Billy,
B&M makes a ratchet shifter for late model (I think the cut off is 2000) Mustangs w/AODE transmissions that fit in the factory console. I have been interested in these but to lazy to call B&M to see if it might fit.

[chicago_cop]

has anyone here ever had an automatic transmission with a ratchet shifter? If so, how did you like it?

Just put one in a car that I am building.(B&M) I was told that they work fine if you don't use in the rachet mode too often. They are fine if used occashionally as in racing, and not every day use. I have a crate motor in a l950 Buick 350hp 400lb tq. It's in the finishing stages and will know more when it is done.

[BillyGman]

Just put one in a car that I am building.(B&M) I was told that they work fine if you don't use in the rachet mode too often. They are fine if used occashionally as in racing, and not every day use. I have a crate motor in a l950 Buick 350hp 400lb tq. It's in the finishing stages and will know more when it is done.Hmmm, sounds like an interesting project that you have in the works too. As far as the ratchet shifters though, I've been studying the B&M brand online catalogue, and thay have ratchet shifters that are always in ratchet mode, so I cannot see that being any problem for using all the time. They also do have a model that is less expensive that you can turn the ratchet mode on and off in. That must be like the one that you have.

[thePunisher]

billy i have a b/m prostick in the lightning...a pic of it can be seen here...


http://www.nloc.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108861

i love it!!!

[BillyGman]

Thanks for the info Paul. I didn't know you had tubbed out the wheel wells in your truck. That's some mean looking rubber you have under there. Since there isn't any gear indicator on that shifter, do you ever lose track of what gear you're in? I wanted to get the B&M "Pro Ratchet" shifter, but I'm leaning toward their "QuickSilver" shifter now, since it has a lighted gear indicator which is needed for night driving. The pro ratchet model has a gear indicator, but it isn't lighted like the QuickSilver one is.

[thePunisher]

there is a gear indicator...it is a strip sticker along side the handle...

[BillyGman]

there is a gear indicator...it is a strip sticker along side the handle...AAAAAHHH I see. I'll be on the telephone with the B&M company to talk with them about this stuff in about two weeks which will probably be when I'll be ready to place an order with them if things go as planned for me. The pro Ratchet shifter that I want doesn't have the gear selector that's lit, and I plan on driving this car at night, so I think I'm going to need that.That's why I might have to settle for the "Quick Silver" model. I appreciate your Input Paul. And let me know when you take that thing to the track!!

[AzMarauder]

Just speaking from a one time experience. I got a chance to street race (as a passenger) in a built mustang. The guy is a friend of my wifes, and the car goes 10.70's on just motor, and 10.teens with NOS. At full throttle the engine roared so much my eyes vibrated and I couldn't see straight. He had a ratchet shift, and from what I saw, it was the easiest thing in the world to use. Minimal effort, minimal movment, and everything shifted and popped into gear quicky and easily. The only thing though, be careful when you launch, his car had so much power and torque, if he was holing onto his ratchet shifter when the lights dropped, he'd shift himself into second by accident.

As far as adding any big time technical help...sorry Billy...just thought I'd share my story.

:D

-Mat
Is this for the MM or for your new Project Billy?

Since we don't "shift" our MM's I don't see what the use for one would be in it !

[johnfain]

has anyone here ever had an automatic transmission with a ratchet shifter? If so, how did you like it?

Can't speak to a ratchet but I can tell you that a CO2 shifter is the best. My friend Brian runs a 7 second 69 Camaro with one. But I have no idea if it will work with a AODE 4r70w.

[BillyGman]

Okay guys, no this is not for my Marauder. And yes, you're right, there wouldn't be any need for a ratchet shifter in a Marauder. Atleast not a Marauder as we know it. My Marauder is great the way it is, and I wouldn't change it. The shifter I'm going to buy is for my new car project which will have a 4L80E transmission. ;)

I don't have any need for a C02 shifter, since this will be a true street vehicle that will be run on 93 octane pump gas on and off the track just like my Marauder is. I haven't any desire for a trailer queen, nor a garage queen. this car will be my transportation for 2 or 3 days out of the week.

[Tallboy]

A new project, eh? I'll be back home in January. You've got a heater in that garage, right?:D

[BillyGman]

A new project, eh? I'll be back home in January. You've got a heater in that garage, right?:DHopefully by January I'll have the drivetrain all in the car, and will be able to concentrate on the small details like tire and wheel choices, and bucket seats. But so far, things aren't going as planned, so who can tell what stage of the game I'll be at in January. Either way, I look forward to your visit my friend.

[Tallboy]

Hopefully by January I'll have the drivetrain all in the car, and will be able to concentrate on the small details like tire and wheel choices, and bucket seats. But so far, things aren't going as planned, so who can tell what stage of the game I'll be at in January. Either way, I look forward to your visit my friend.

Right now I'm looking at arriving on January 12th. I'll probably hang out for a week or so...

[BillyGman]

Right now I'm looking at arriving on January 12th. I'll probably hang out for a week or so...Good. that sounds cool! I'm used to you only being here for a couple days. I look forward to hangin' out with ya again bud.;)

[TAF]

Right now I'm looking at arriving on January 12th. I'll probably hang out for a week or so...

Uh...instead of going NORTH...in JANUARY!!!!

Doesn't it make MORE sense for Billy to head his butt down SOUTH??!!!

[Tallboy]

Uh...instead of going NORTH...in JANUARY!!!!

Doesn't it make MORE sense for Billy to head his butt down SOUTH??!!!

He's got an open invitation [on that he can rely].

Maybe we should just head up to Connecticut and drag him down here?!:lol:

[jim geary]

Home in January! Where you going Chuck? Jim G

[Tallboy]

Home in January! Where you going Chuck? Jim G

Back to the homeland, my friend...Ansonia, Connecticut!!!!

[BillyGman]

Uh...instead of going NORTH...in JANUARY!!!!

Doesn't it make MORE sense for Billy to head his butt down SOUTH??!!!LOL!!!! I'll make it down there yet!!! but not before this project of mine is complete.

[David Morton]

...Since we don't "shift" our MM's I don't see what the use for one would be in it !I agree.

As a technician knowing what to do to make an automatic do whatever you need it to do in a race I've never really seen a need for them, especially in drag racing. But for road racing I have often thought the neutral lockout capability of a ratchet shifter, going from say first or second into drive and being stopped from accidentally bumping it into neutral is the one good thing to be gained from a ratchet shifter. But our shifter already has that, at least my 2004 does. Perhaps not going into third from first is good too, but I think it more a matter of taste, I myself would want to be able to go to third from first in one push, and skipping second is not a catastrophy under the type of situation I would be in should I be in manual low in a road race.

I don't see the need for one either, unless you want the bling value.

[BillyGman]

David, could you be overlooking somethings. First, Like I've already stated in one of my posts, my interest in ratchet shifters is NOT for my Marauder. It's for my project cat that will have an automatic with a fully manual valvebody which will be in a street driven car.

Did you ever try driving a car for your commute part of every week that you have to shift manually? Doing so would be troublesome with a factory shifter on the floor(those are called "detent" shifters) because it's too easy to jump over the next gear with those types of shifters and even wind up between gears. Especially in a race on or off the track. You would also always have to look down at the floor during a shift to see what gear you're in, and that wouldn't be good for your daily commute nor for racing!!!

From what I've been told, with the Ratchet shifter you have positive shifts that are quick. Have you ever driven a motorcylce? It's like the shifter on those (atleast that's what I've been told). So you wouldn't need to keep looking down at the floor during a shift to know what gear you're in with a ratchet shifter like you would with the detent factory shifters that are on the floor on cars with automatic transmissions. That's why I believe there's a need for ratchet shifters. You don't need a ratchet shifter if you have an automatic transmission that can work in automatic mode. But if you have a transmission that has a manual valvebody, then you need a ratchet shifter, or perhaps even a gate shifter. A detent shifter won't do.

[younga1]

While on subject, I have been exploring the B&M Hammer for my 2004 MM
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I have some cross checking to do on part numbers but have not yet had the time. I question whether Ford made the shifter in our cars for our cars only or did they simply steal an existing unit from another vehicle?? Any input would be greatly appreciated:)

[BillyGman]

While on subject, I have been exploring the B&M Hammer for my 2004 MM
<TABLE height=188 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=216 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=216 height=15></TD></TR><TR><TD class=Products-DetailImage vAlign=center align=middle height=173>http://www.bmracing.com/media/products/items/6_full.jpg </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I have some cross checking to do on part numbers but have not yet had the time. I question whether Ford made the shifter in our cars for our cars only or did they simply steal an existing unit from another vehicle?? Any input would be greatly appreciated:)Hmmm, I don't remember seeing those on the B&M website. I must have overlooked it.

[Krytin]

While on subject, I have been exploring the B&M Hammer for my 2004 MM
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</td></tr><tr><td class="Products-DetailImage" align="center" height="173" valign="center">http://www.bmracing.com/media/products/items/6_full.jpg </td></tr></tbody></table>
I have some cross checking to do on part numbers but have not yet had the time. I question whether Ford made the shifter in our cars for our cars only or did they simply steal an existing unit from another vehicle?? Any input would be greatly appreciated:)

This is the one I have been looking at too (for the last two years), and I still can't get a clear answer from anyone I have talked to. Some say the mechanism is the same but the console is not an exact match. Some say it will not bolt in w/out fabricating a new bracket. I don't have the money to "play" with this one.

[BillyGman]

This is the one I have been looking at too (for the last two years), and I still can't get a clear answer from anyone I have talked to. Some say the mechanism is the same but the console is not an exact match. Some say it will not bolt in w/out fabricating a new bracket. I don't have the money to "play" with this one.You should just call B&M.

[fastblackmerc]

How about these?

[BillyGman]

How about these?Those are just shifter handles.

[younga1]

If anyone has access to a Hollander Interchange manual, we could cross the shifter an bezel part numbers as I'll bet Ford simply pirated this from another model. If a mustang, I could be real easy. Any insight would be appreciated:help:

[younga1]

Billy,

Sorry I drifted off subject on your thread:o .

I previously owned a 71 Charger R/T S/E with a 440 Magnum which had a factory ratchet "Slap Stick" shifter. Took all the guess work and errors out of shifting when really getting after it.

Have also used the B&M Megashifter which is outstanding in many applications.

[BillyGman]

Billy,

Sorry I drifted off subject on your thread:o .

I previously owned a 71 Charger R/T S/E with a 440 Magnum which had a factory ratchet "Slap Stick" shifter. Took all the guess work and errors out of shifting when really getting after it.

Have also used the B&M Megashifter which is outstanding in many applications.That's quite alright, because it seems that this thread has run it's course anyway with the main topic, so I haven't any objections to it getting a bit off-topic. I don't know the answer to your question about using ratchet shifters in your marauder, but I just don't see any need nor big advantage to using a ratchetshifter with a automatic valvebody. I mean one that isn't a full manual valvebody in an automatic transmission. but maybe I'm missing something. After all, I've never used a ratchet shifter yet, so all I can go on is what I've read about them, and what others who have them told me about them.