I'm considering converting from column to floor shift and have a few questions. First, factory or aftermarket shifter? I know that a factory one would probably be cheaper but, would it really be any easier to install? Secondly, what is the difference between detent, gate, & ratchet styles of shifters? I'm not exactly certain on this. I think that I'd want a detent style for a daily driver.

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1974 Dodge Dart Custom, 225, 904, now with a Holley 2300...

As long as you have all the parts, the factory one is easy to install. You should even have dimples in the floor pan that tell you where to locate the pivot rod. I put a shifter from a '70 Duster in a '76 Dart and it was a breeze. Once you have the pivot rod in the proper place, you can easily locate where the console mounting brakets go. I pop-riveted mine.

If you want more of a challenge, you can do what I did with my '73 D100. I used the shifter from a FWD Mopar, a generic cable, a few odd shifter rods and a few home-designed brackets and clips, and the console itself. It works fine and looks like something that might have come out of the factory.

I have nothing against aftermarket shifters, but prefer a stock look on my vehicles.

Aftermarket shifters are generally cable operated which might be a little easier to install but they look like, well, like aftermarket. I have yet to see one that had the look that I would want.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

there is someone making a billet shifter ratchet setup of steel plate to convert that crummy factory push button lock type handle . It works great, I did it, but fancy handle they sell with it for extra $ is too big, almost hits dash(67dart w console) Advertised in MOPAR performance. We used a generic Mopar parts (?) round knob on it, needed thread adapter, works really well. Shifter uses factory rods, floor mounts and linkage pivots etc, but really upgrades business end of it. Pricey, around 100$ but real nice..