[Graham Shortreed (Transma]

I read somewhere that cudas and challengers only came with a "Slap Shift" shifter if your vehicle was equipped with a factory floor shift and factory console.
I find this interesting and confusing at the same time, as I've got a 34,000 original mile 74 Challenger I purchased from the original owner and it doesn't have a Slap Shift shifter in it, nor does a fellow I know that has a 74 'cuda.
I've seen the Slap Shift units in various E bodies, so I just wonder if someone has an answer.
The id plate on the vehicle is of no help other than it has the following
a57/c16/c56/d34 which of course means, rallye, console, buckets and a TF8 transmission.

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

So what shifter does it have? Are you sure it is not the slap shift? It should have a 'T' shaped handle in your model with a button on the side.

[Graham Shortreed (Transma]

Dave.
It is not the "T" handle type.
The knob is round with the release button on top

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

You mean like the 1970 version? Are you sure it is not the 1970 version fitted? We have come across this before on another 1974 Challenger. Or is this the same car with a new owner? If it is the same as the 1970 version it is a slap shift.

[Ted S (Teds)]

later years do not say Slap Stick on the shifter, but it is.

[Graham Shortreed (Transma]

Thanks for the info guys.
With your help and another source, I found out that a 74 'Cuda or Challenger may or may not have the slap stick shifter in it. As this was the last year for both models, Chrysler would put in whatever they had on hand. When I worked for a *M dealer back in the mid 70's *M was doing the same thing on certain vehicles.
To answer your question Dave, my car is about as original as they come. As I said, I purchased it from the original owner, and its only got 34K on it, so can't see why he'd want to change the shifter.
Thanks again guys.

[Tom Charron (Tomc)]

He may have changed it because the T-handles plastic always cracked and broke at the base. I remember replacing 2-3 on my original 71 Challenger when I used it as my primary daily driver.
In any case, With my newly restored 72 I find the shifter a bit loose. I think the slap stick mechanism itself is OK, but the nylon bushings on the rod going down to the tranny seem quite worn.
Does anybody know of a rebuild kit?

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

It seems strange to me that Chrysler would fit a shifter into 1974 cars that they stopped fitting to cars in 1970. But at least one other on here has said their car came from the factory with this shifter although the owner had no way of actually knowing this for sure.

One of these little mysterys we could do with a difinative answer to.

But whatever shape the handle is Graham it will still be a slap shift.

[Jim Tiller (Moparman)]

I have a question on 3 speed manual trans shifters in E bodies. I read an ad for a 70 challenger with a 6cyl engine and 3 speed on the column; however every other piece of info that I have read with the exception of the owners manual for that car says that the 3 speed had a floor mounted shifter. Does anyone know if these cars were made with 3 speeds on the column as well or did they all have the shifter on the floor for the 3 speed?

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

I am pretty sure I have seen Challengers with column shifts but cannot find the evidence for it at the moment. Did bench seat cars not get a column shift??

[Bryan Eidins (Bryan)]

there was a guy at the nats with a tatty 70 plum crazy challenger with a bench seat and column shift,i think he was french.

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

I think the triple black 383 4bbl JH car at the euronats a few years ago had a bench seat and column shift when I think about it.

[LITEMUP (Von)]

i have a column shift steering column for an e-body.

[Jim Tiller (Moparman)]

Thanks for all the info but nobody says anything about whether these cars were automatic or manual trans cars. I have seen several auto trans cars with column shifts myself at various shows but never have seen one with a manual trans shift on the column so I dont know if they were made or not.Has anyone else seen one possibly in their travels?

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

Oh. Sorry. Missed that fine point. The only column shift one I have seen was automatics but I would guess that if it was a manual with a bench seat it would have to be on the column right? Wrong?

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

OK I just did 5mins research on my own web site and found the following.

Bench seat was not an option 1970 (at least early 1970 for sure). ALL trans auto and manual were floor shifted.

1971 you could order a bench at extra cost but you could not order a manual trans with the bench. It had to be column shifted auto.

I don't have the option info for 72-74 on my web site.

[Jim Tiller (Moparman)]

Thanks so much Dave as I didnt think I had seen any with manual trans and column shift but I wanted to be sure nobody else had as Chrysler was known to do some strange things in those days but I have never seen one with a bench seat myself and wasnt aware that they made such thing until I got on here so it seems that you guys really know your stuff and thats good as I have been into the Mopar scene all my life and it just seems to get better all the time and I have learned a lot from sites like this and I like that.

[Dave_R (Roppa440)]

These days the more I learn, the more I forget, and the more I realise I know nothing. But thanks for the compliment.