I know this is going to seem like such a dumb question... but I need to know... The previous owner installed a Hurst shifter...Does the Hurst shifter re-configure reverse? The shift **** shows reverse next to first, instead of next to 4th. Is this right? I didn't pay much attention until I bought a shift **** from my favorite supplier, and noticed they are different...

 

Reverse should be by second gear on a stock shifter. If you flip the lever on the trans over you can put it next to first. I have never heard of it being by fourth except on 5 speed transmissions.

 

Yes, the Hurst shifters move reverse. This keeps you from shifting into reverse while you're aiming for 4th.

 

My Hurst for the Toploader has R next to first with a beefy safety lockout to prevent hitting R on a downshift to 1st. The idea is acceleration though, as you shift up you won't hit reverse because it sits way outta the way.

 

THANKS! by the way.... 67mustang302....Could you post i pic of the linkage and attaching points? Even a sketch would help.... I am completely in the dark!

 

Please explain this moving reverse in more detail. I have a toploader 4 speed with a hurst shifter, and my reverse is by second gear. It is a pain the arsss to find a shifter **** with that pattern, so I gave up. How do you move reverse by 1st gear?

 

Hm, looking at a parts catalog, standard reverse is actually down and left. Still, the move to up and left for some of the Hurst shifters prevents that accidental shift into reverse during acceleration.

If your reverse is down and left, either you don't have a Hurst shifter (just a Hurst handle), or your specific shifter doesn't relocate reverse. You can't change it yourself, it's all in how the shifter and linkage is configured.

 

You sure can change it yourself. There are three shifter rails on the shifter. The one in the back, closest to the tailshaft,is reverse. Take the shfter rail loose from the trans. Flip the lever that attaches to the trans upside down. Reattach the rail to the lever and adjust the rail length in the normal fashion. Reverse will then but up by first not down by second.

 

Hmm, wasn't aware you could do that without causinginterference issues with the other linkages.

 

No pics, it's tucked up in the trans tunnel and I'm not about to get at it to take a pic. [8D]The instructions will have a diagram though.
Whether R is on the right side of the shifter or the left side depends on the shifter. You can switch the R position between up/down just by flipping the bar that the shift linkage is on that's on the side of the trans. People do that with Jericos to have an o/d 4th gear. 4th is alwys 1:1 on a Jerico, but you can get 3rd as an o/d gear, and they make 3rd 4th and 4th 3rd by flipping the linkage, so when you shift into 3rd position you're actually hitting 4th, and when you shift into 4th position you're actually hitting 3rd. I wouldn't reccomend switching linkage around unless you know what you're doing though.