Thread: Lokar Shifter Issues

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I've got a 23"Lokar double bend ( Nostalgia ) shifter in my 29 and it did take some fine tuning to get it to react right. As said here the neutral saftey switch also needs to be adjusted, when I did mine I set it up so it will only start in park, not in neutral, everything from reverse on down is dead. I would also get a 16 inch emergency brake, (trans mount) from Lokar and install that, I put one in and it works great. It seems all this stuff needs to be tweaked a bit to get it to work, but whats new. I agree that Lokar makes a nice product and with a little screwing around you'll get it adjusted. The hand brake I had to grind a little off the bracket to get the release rod to move down so it would release, but like I said whats new!!!!:

OR - Something like this???

All Good advice. Thanks guys.
Don Jr

I've got the Lokar 12" single bend with the stock knob on my Willys. I've voiced my dislike for this shifter several times and spoken to the Lokar and Gennie guys at national meets a number of times. Their comments are along the line that the shifter is meant for streetcars and not real hot rods.

The problem is that for high performance use where you want to manually shift it, it is easy to over shift it. I've already done it a couple times so now when I want to "step on it" I start in 2nd and let the T350 up shift to what ever it wants to then hold my right hand against my leg and gently push the lever into 3rd when it is time. Not a very good thing. Also since I don't use a kick down, down shifting quickly is not a good thing to do. Fortunately I have a strong motor with lots of mid range and a very light car so just stepping on it is usually enough.

I also receved a modified shift plate from another reader which I have not installed yet. It has a much better way to positively select gears. I'm going to make a modified one of my own over the winter and install it. I already have a replacement shift plate from Lokar.

The bottom line is that we have made a mistake in application here and we really need to select a ratchet style cable shifter for our 'hotrods.' I know they don't look a cool but function and safety need to take priority here.

I have several friends with the long lever ones that have a real hard time when they step on it with the lever wanting to down shift. Not good. Personally I would not use one over 12" long at all. You will have to tighten the pivot up too tight to function very well.

Neither company shows much interest in fixing these other than to stress the neutral saftey switch adjustment.

I will say that mine was very easy to set up and the neutral safety switch works flawlessly.

I have my blower ready to install and I can see that it will be next to impossible to shift under full throttle. I'll probably just have to leave it in drive. A new ratchet shifter will be in order for sure.

i have replaced 3 genie shifter rods due to wear. the gate in the bottom actually saws a grove in the shifter that stops it from staying in the lock . after time there is no detent to lock into. not my favorite shifter . tall shifters are just a pia because they will do just what you describe. dont know if there is a solution to it .

I had a low end B&M cable shifter in my last car. I wasn't pretty but it had gates that held whatever gear, including park and neutral. The Lokar is pretty, but this car isn't a race car....and when it's all over, a B&M or similar cable shifter would have been easier to set up and do my interior around, but now water (and $$$) under the bridge......

Shine,

I recall you telling that warning before and put a wad of grease on the gate of my Gennie shifter, but I suppose driveline heat will quickly drain off the grease unless I can put some sort of bag around it. Were the shifter gates that you replaced "dry" or is lubrication useless?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder