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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: Mike Phillips on February 12, 2008, 07:11:29 pm

Title: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 12, 2008, 07:11:29 pm
Hi everyone,

Has anyone here installed a Lokar Shifter in their Blazer and if so can you share a picture of how it looked when you were finished?

I'm looking at this one for my truck,

http://www.lokar.com/product-descriptions/23in-nostalgia-shifter.htm

(http://www.lokar.com/interior_pages/products/shifters_knobs/images/nostalgia_shifter.jpg)

Here's the cockpit before I dismantled it...

(http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/1975Chevy4x4RunningGear004.jpg)

Had one in my Milk Truck and really like it.

Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: VileZambonie on February 12, 2008, 07:17:55 pm
Gave up on the column shift?
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 12, 2008, 07:27:02 pm
I'm still going to use the spare colum that came with the truck for the tilt wheel feature but I'd like to use the Lokar shifter it it will fit and work well.

Going out to the wrecking yard tomorrow, friend of mine says there's a 4x4 Suburban recently brought in about my year, (1975), and I'll see if I can get the shift linkage off it for the column shifter just in case I go this direction.

Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: 76_Scottsdale on February 12, 2008, 10:53:19 pm
I actually just ordered the 8" inch version with the single bend last friday. It's backordered but it should be here this weekend. It's adjustable so I"m going to put it right in the hole where my old stick shifter was. I'll post up some pics when I'm done. It's a 76 K20, but it will look similar inside.


Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 13, 2008, 05:07:27 pm

I actually just ordered the 8" inch version with the single bend last friday. It's backordered but it should be here this weekend. It's adjustable so I"m going to put it right in the hole where my old stick shifter was. I'll post up some pics when I'm done. It's a 76 K20, but it will look similar inside.


Looking forward to the pictures.  Seems like with the shifter only be 8" long you'll have to reach down to shift the truck?

Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: 76_Scottsdale on February 14, 2008, 02:28:05 pm
Yeah, I always leave my tranny in overdrive when I'm cruising unless I'm towing or offroading but I don't mind having to reach down to put it in reverse. I just wanted something that would be clean and out of the way. I thought it would blend with the other TC shifter as well. I was looking at the same one you are but I have a cup holder setup in my fold down ashtray that would interfere with it.
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 15, 2008, 12:03:28 am
I thought it would blend with the other TC shifter as well.

What's the other TC shifter?  Link?  Part Name?  Picture?

I was looking at the same one you are but I have a cup holder setup in my fold down ashtray that would interfere with it.

Makes sense.
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Dragon on February 15, 2008, 01:41:07 am
I thought it would blend with the other TC shifter as well.

What's the other TC shifter?  Link?  Part Name?  Picture?
Mike, I think he meant his 4WD Transfer Case(TC) Shifter! The TC Shifter is shorter than a Trans Shifter, so you that your not grabbing for it by mistake.... ;)
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 16, 2008, 08:04:33 pm
Mike, I think he meant his 4WD Transfer Case(TC) Shifter! The TC Shifter is shorter than a Trans Shifter,

I was hoping it was some kind of aftermarket shifter for the TC, guess my brain was thinking TCI which is a company that makes aftermarket transmission components. 

Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: 76_Scottsdale on February 20, 2008, 12:23:34 am
Well the shifter came today. It'll be in this Saturday and I'll post a pic.
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 20, 2008, 02:38:50 pm
Well the shifter came today. It'll be in this Saturday and I'll post a pic.

Cool.  Been waiting to see how your experience goes and how the installation looks before ordering mine.

Title: Re: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: 76_Scottsdale on February 26, 2008, 01:10:32 am
Well I got it all finished up today. This was a major PITA because of the bracketry and all the bolts are allen head and it is a real pain to get your hands up inside there and bolt it all together. If you can I highly suggest putting it on before you put the tranny in, but it's do-able. I had to take my exhaust loose on the passenger side just to get my hand up on top of the tranny to tighten bolts. All in all the installation was a pain but I sure do like the finished product. I used the old shifter boot from my SM465 because I like the looks of it and it was already chrome and fairly new. The kit says that you need a separate "bell crank kit" to mount the shifter all the way forward like I did, but it seems to work fine for me.

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/allhailacdc/100_0115.jpg)

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/allhailacdc/100_0116.jpg)

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/allhailacdc/100_0117.jpg)

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/allhailacdc/100_0118.jpg)
Title: Re: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Dragon on February 27, 2008, 03:46:18 am
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff270/allhailacdc/100_0118.jpg)
You like to reach for things :o Wow you're more patient than I am, cause I like to have my shifter within ease of reach(And I have Long Ape Arms!!!)... :-X  Yep honestly My TC Shifter drives me a bit batty, but if it was taller, I know I would be reaching for it instead of my column shifter ;D

You did a Great Job Though, very clean install 8)
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Mike Phillips on February 29, 2008, 02:49:53 pm
Thanks for posting the pictures, gives us all an idea what a shorty Lokar will look like.  It is out of the way.

Think I'm going to keep looking at the 23" nostalgia for myself.  Called Lokar and they recommended the cable shifting version.

Picked up my TV Cable from http://www.tvmadeez.com/ today, kind of cool they're 7 miles from my house.  Going to try to put the tranny in this Sunday.

Getting closer...

Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: 76_Scottsdale on February 29, 2008, 09:10:27 pm
That's awesome that Bowtie is right down the road. I bought my tranny and everything from them. Seems like a pretty cool company.
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: Dragon on February 29, 2008, 11:50:49 pm
Picked up my TV Cable from http://www.tvmadeez.com/ today, kind of cool they're 7 miles from my house.  Going to try to put the tranny in this Sunday.

Getting closer...
Mike those guys have one heck of a Site, Thanks for posting their link!!! They give some of the best & easiest to understand information as to how a TV Cable works, along with how to properly install and adjust them!!!
This Link From Them Deserves a Sticky, as it is definately something that should be left for others to easily find!!! 8) 8)
http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php
Title: Re: Anyone installed a Lokar Shifter in their 4x4 Blazer? Picture?
Post by: 1976Scottsdale on March 01, 2008, 10:55:14 am
I used the stick from an old Hurst Indy 3 speed shifter in my 1978 K-10 and it looked awesome.  It was about 1/2" from the dash in Lo Loc.