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Will a Ford shifter work a TH400?

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Old 03-04-2013, 08:39 AM
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Default Will a Ford shifter work a TH400?

Swapping in a 5.3/th400 in a 96 sn95. Will the factory Ford shifter operate a th400? Sure would be alot easier to keep the factory shifter in place.
Old 03-04-2013, 08:54 AM
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Pretty sure it wont as the th 400 is going to have different detents than the 4r70. As in its different length throw between the gears.
Old 03-04-2013, 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by 87lsttop
Pretty sure it wont as the th 400 is going to have different detents than the 4r70. As in its different length throw between the gears.

Kinda what I was thinking. Was wondering if there was a conversion piece or something.
Old 03-04-2013, 11:38 AM
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No you would have to modify it in the actual shifter. Look on click click racing.com. They have tons of info on swaps and trannys.
Old 03-04-2013, 12:08 PM
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Actually I did this years ago. I put a 400SBC and a TH400 in a Toyota Land Cruiser and used a Mustang floor shifter. I don't remember all the details now but I may have had to adjust where the shift rod attached to the Mustang shifter in order to get the right throw.
Old 03-04-2013, 05:23 PM
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I'm using the factory Thunderbird cable actuated shifter on my 4L60E. I modified the arm on the transmission a bit and it works fine except I can't manually place the car in first (4 speed auto) which suits my application fine. The Ford Thunderbird shifter pattern is PRND21 with a button that turns on and off the overdrive and I believe the Mustang is similar. The Turbo 400 is the same pattern. I bet with a bit of time and fabrication you could get the stops to line up if they don't already. If the shifter is similar to the Thunderbird unit, lengthening or shortening the arm on the transmission side will change the throw which is really all that needs to be done.
Old 03-05-2013, 06:09 AM
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Thanks for the insights guys.

I was thinking of trying it - probably will lol! Nobody thought the 5.3 with the truck intake, acessories, and stock K-member would fit under the stock hood - guess what, it does! I'm not going to let a stinking shifter hold me up!!

The issue the way I see it is that if the "throw" of each shift of the shifter lands the trans in between gears, that could get ugly and waste a trans. I'll give it a shot though.



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