Lokar Shifter Install
Installing a floor mounted Lokar automatic transmission shifter is the first step in keeping a clean, uncluttered look in the cabin of your project. It moves the shifter down off of the column, allowing you to swap in a clean, smooth custom column. In addition, you get the “look” of having a floor mounted shifter in the vehicle.
To accomplish these ends, the guys at Lokar Performance Products have put together a simple video walking you step by step through the process of installing one of their kits. They do cheat a bit by using a mockup transmission that is outside of the vehicle (we all know we’ll try to make it happen when the transmission is still in the vehicle), but if you have the means to do so have the transmission out of the car. It makes it much easier. Believe us.
First things first, you will locate the boss on the driver’s side of the transmission, and install the side mounting button, (cavity side out), into the boss. Sometimes it fits on the first try, sometimes you will have to knock some crud out of the boss. Next up is mounting the selector rod on the selector shaft. You’ll want to keep track of the nut that was on the selector shaft originally, as you will re-use this to secure the selector rod.
Next step is mounting the brackets. These are usually marked Left and Right. After installing a set screw in each of the brackets, you will put insert the set screw into the side mounting boss of the transmission. Then you install the tail shaft bracket and the main plate. Here’s a nice tip, when you mount the brackets and main plate to the transmission, install the bolts loosely, this allows you to be able to get all the bolts in without a major fight. Then you can tighten the bolts down.
Once those plates and brackets are secure, you can mount the shifter in the appropriate mounting point and prepare your shifter rod. Most times, these rods come at a predetermined length and need to be cut to fit. A trick to find the correct length is to first ensure both your shift selector and shift lever are fully in Park, and measure the distance between the two points. Then you take that distance and subtract 1 3/4” to account for the rod ends, and you are good to go.
From there it is on to adjusting the neutral safety switch, and the guys show you how to do that, and also how to test it to make sure that everything is as it should be. Then it is just a matter of slipping it back into the car and bolting everything up. Take a look at the video below, and then take a moment to browse the large selection of Lokar Performance Products available through Speedway Motors.
