Will a Ford shifter work a TH400?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: THORNTON, PA (NEAR PHILLY)
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.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,621
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From: THORNTON, PA (NEAR PHILLY)
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2005
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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.
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.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 31
From: THORNTON, PA (NEAR PHILLY)
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.
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.
