Parts Bin: Shiftworks Shifter Conversion Kits Make Overdrive Swaps Easy

From time to time, OnAllCylinders will provide a peek at some of the newest products and deals that can help get your next project on track for less. Check out what’s in our parts bin this week:

Shiftworks Shifter Conversion Kits

Putting an overdrive automatic transmission in an old muscle car is a great way to improve drivability and even squeeze out an extra mile-per-gallon or two. And really — who on earth really likes driving at freeway speeds with the engine droning away at 4,000 rpm?

One issue that comes up with these overdrive swaps, though, is getting a shifter to work with the new transmission. Shiftworks has come up with two ways to solve that problem:

Shifter Conversion Kits
A Shifter Conversion kit will allow you to modify your car’s factory shifter so it will work properly with the new transmission. Shiftworks kits come with the necessary mounting hardware, detent plate, and a new shift pattern indicator. They’re available for 1964-72 Chevelle and 1968-72 Camaro with a TH-200-4R, TH-700R-4, or 4L60 overdrive transmission. Summit Racing also carries kits to convert Powerglide-equipped cars to a TH-350 or TH-400.

Floor Shifters
A Shiftworks Floor Shifter gives you that factory four-speed look. It’s also ideal for converting from a column shifter to a floor-mounted unit. The shifters come with a chrome shifter stick, a knob or T-style handle, and necessary linkage. They’re available for 1964-72 Chevelle, 1967-72 Camaro, and 1965-later Chevy II/Nova with a GM TH-350/400, 200-4R, 700R-4, or 4L60 transmission.

Shiftworks offers a couple other cool conversions:

An In-Dash Tachometer Conversion lets you to put a rev counter in place of the factory clock or the blank area where a clock would go. The Shiftworks tachs read from 0 to 7,000 RPM and have faces that match the instruments in your dash.

If your Chevelle or Nova’s dash has nothing but idiot lights, a Gauge Conversion Kit allows you to install a full gauge set. Most kits replace the factory fuel level gauge and clock (or clock blank) with a water temperature, oil pressure, fuel level gauge, and an ammeter or voltmeter. They’re available for 1966-72 Chevelle and 1966-67 Chevy II/Nova.