What could go wrong when going from column shift to floor shift? Resident Mechchanic

[Blkfordtaurusman]

What could go wrong when going from column shift to floor shift? Resident mechanics weigh in...I have 9 hours to decide. Is it a bad or REALLY bad idea?

[major]

The full conversion involves dropping the steering column, running a floor shift cable through the firewall and swapping the bracket on the transaxle that braces the cable in place. These are the difficult parts of the job, if you can do that the rest is simple bolt in stuff. I recommend using the shifter cable from a Duratec because it has a heat-shield in the engine bay, Vulcans do not. Bolting the shifter down to the floor tunnel will require some time for a non-floor shift car. I used washers and small bolts to get it high enough to match the console. The shift lock uses the same plug for both cars. Lights to the shifter if I remember correctly had to be spliced in. Get the floor shift column cover plastic. It's not as hard as it seems.

[Blkfordtaurusman]

Thanks Major, how many hours would this require for an experienced mechanic?

[major]

With all the parts ready and knowing where they go, 3 hours should be good. The swing-arm that bolts to the transmission range sensor needs to be swapped as well.
This is where the floor shift cable goes through the firewall.

[Blkfordtaurusman]

Thanks a million! A lot of valuable information that I needed to know before handing my car over to the mechanics. I am not a mechanic so knowing about all the pieces like the heat shield, where the wires to through the fire wall, and that the swing arm needs to be swapped were very important so I can go over this with my mechanic to make sure he spent take any short cuts. Where would be a good source to splice the shift light wires from?

[major]

Ash tray light or stereo unit if the ash tray light is deleted. You will want this set of lights to be dimmer controlled. It's been a long time since doing this swap but I remember a roll pin having to be removed on the steering column for the shift lock. A good mechanic should have no problem.

[Blkfordtaurusman]

Thank for those extra two tips. My mechanics is ok. semi retired and may not have attempted this before although I haven't asked him if he had. I like leaving nothing to chance to increase the possibility of success. Right now I have the floor shift console out and I am hoping to have my mechanic remove the shifter and the cable assembly from the Taurus at the Jyard (before they crush it). I'd do it myself but the long grommet looks rather tricky to push through and I don't want to skunk the integrity of the cable.