yes it's real

[bscottie]

a true ratchet shifter in an S197, custom modified and installed by me, looks a lot better than the plastic pos Ford piece

 

[MSgt46270]

That looks different. Not sure if I like it, it's so and so with me. But if your happy with it that's all that matters.

 

[srt2stang725]

can someone explain to me what the point of those shifters is? Ive always wondered...anyway, looks badass!

 

[Ken3030]

I like it!!

 

[bscottie]

not much of a functional benefit with Dougs tune, however the coolness factor is priceless to me, I hated the stock t-handle piece of plastic, I still have a little tweaking to do but overall pretty happy with the result

 

[kleistang]

in my opinion it looks like crap, fords plastic one looks like crap too. but i doesnt look like an elephant in top of an ant. u should just get the premiun package with the shifter that looks better.

 

[ulev1st]

What brand and model # shifter is that? Looks pretty sweet to me.

 

[2005redgt]

More info!!!!

-Bryan

 

[stkjock]

nice custom touch!

 

[LAK3RS]

I like the general idea, but personally it is way too high! If it were shorter, it would look much better.

 

[don_w]

I like the general idea, but personally it is way too high! If it were shorter, it would look much better.

+1 ... I love the idea of the old school look, but I would want it shorter as well. Also, unless I had a manual valve body in a 4R70W, I wouldn't have much use for a ratchet shifter.

 

[ixtlan]

I manually shift my auto a lot.
I had a ratchet (StarShifter) with a C-4 in a Classic Stang and loved it.
The advantage was being able to hold a gear longer and use the trans as a break too. On top of the performance advantage of being able to slam through gears without going from 1st to 3rd or drive.
One slam back means one gear change(up or down). With the stock shifter you have to pay attention you get it in the correct position. At a WOT run I really dont want to need to devote that kind of attention to shifting into the correct gear I want.
Great Idea to do your own conversion.
We do need details though.
I know B&M was working on a ratchet for the 5R55S but haven't heard much about it for some time.
Also TCI has one already but the price is rather steep.

It looks great to me and more along the lines of Old School too.
That I like.

 

[bscottie]

the shifter looks high in the pict, compared to the stock, anything looks high, the way I have it installed I can adjust it, initial feel is pretty good but I need to move it forward a little because of the boot, used some threaded rod just for that reason of height adjustment, the main reason I did this mod was a personal challenge, I had both the stock and IUP as well as a painted version and wanted something else, I joined TMS a couple of years ago to keep up with B&M on their release but everyone knows that it isnt no further than it was in 2006, I watched the hype from TCI after last years SEMA, and look where it is? I picked up the shifter used from craiglist, I am not sure of the B&M number but have a guess, I had to cut out some of the tunnel sheet metal and of course I pulled all the wiring out of the stock shifter, didnt use the locking solenoid or the neutral switch, I modified the shifter to use the stock cable to make linkage adjustment easier, and it was, the gears on the ratchet are the same, there is no funtionality on this with a stock transmission and a good tune, the computer will still shift or prevent shifting, I have some more tweaking to do before I am finally complete but for now I am happy with the results, this is the first one I have seen and not actually talked about, once I get everything settled I will take some final picts, gonna enjoy it

 

[ixtlan]

Keep us posted. I am interested for sure. Ya may want to even do a DIY article for it.

 

[don_w]

Ya may want to even do a DIY article for it.

+1... I'd love to see all the details.

 

[Error404]

ratchet shifters on the s197's are easy, just drop in a 4R70

Has B&M still not yet released their ratchet shifter? Man, I'm glad I decided not to wait any longer on that! I had a manual transmission plopped into mine from RET, I'm enjoying it so much more than before, it's just down right fun and plasters a grin on my face all the time! I thought I might have trouble in traffic, but no, it's been absolutely no trouble

 

[US-1]

Nice idea and I'd like to see a write up on the install. I personally never liked that particular shifter but.......it's your ride.

 

[Fastmover]

looks ok, plus you like it all that matters. IMO it is pointless, you cannot shift faster then the 5r55, they shift their ass off just fine!