Hurst/Olds Lightning Rod Shifter

[zig553]

Anybody heard of one of these? I saw a picture of one when looking at comments on jalopnik. I read up on them and still have no idea how the hell they work. I wonder if one could be retrofitted to an E30?

[evandael]

reminds me of the lenco gear boxes http://www.lencoracing.com/


i dont know if they are similar, but ^ those ^ use multiple daisy-chained two-speed shiftable automatic gearboxes. if you have 4 gear boxes, you've got 5 speeds..

gearbox with two ratios

first gear box 1-2
second gear box 2-3
third gear box 3-4
fourth gear box 4-5

so in that case you'd actually have 4 separate shift levers inside the car. they provide immediate shift times as all the gear boxes are always engaged. there is no 'automatic' mode.

yes, they are expensive.

[Exodus_2pt0]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-HURST-LIGHTNING-ROD-SHIFTER-1950181-OLDS-CUTLASS-442-RODS-CHEVY-STREET-ROD-/400435038942?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3bc9cade&vxp=mtr

[frankenbeemer]

The look on her face says "it's business time!".



Never saw one of these, but I had a Hurst dual gate on my 1968 GTO.

[mikeedler]

A good friend of mine had a 1987 H/O 442 in H.S.
it had that shifter in it.

It really isn't all that crazy as it looks. It is just a regular automatic 3 speed transmission. You pull them all down at a light, then start at the right one and move it up to go to 2nd gear, then move the middle one forward to get to 3rd gear. It is just so you don't miss a gear (shift from 1st into 3rd or neutral)
My 55 Chevy Bel Air has a slapstick from B&M-- I hate it because it is annoying ratcheting through the gears and just leave the car in D.
Youngsters in this place nowadays!

[slammin.e28]

I still like the push button transs old Dodges had.

[ltz Viper]

Bang!

[QUKBMER]

My dad had a 69 442/hurst olds 455 bb ramair/ TH400 w/hurst dual gate shift/ 12 bolt 4:10 posi.

[Quadrajet]

I had been looking for one for years for my Cutlass. Someday I'll pick one up.

[QUKBMER]

Always though about installing one of these.

[SmokeE30]

Lightning Rods are pretty cool pretty much a copy of the Lenco trans but actually put in production in limited edition 442s. Not all the 442s of that generation got them but a decent amout did. I've always wanted a real Lenco trans so I can confuse the shit out of a valet driver one day. Plus they are just cool.

[mikeedler]

Always though about installing one of these.

that is what I have in my Bel Air, and I HATE it!

[JasonC]

that is what I have in my Bel Air, and I HATE it!

I have that one up on the shelf in the garage. Never got to use it lol. I have had the Hurst Vmatic in a couple of cars. I didn't mind it once i got use to it.