Hi Guys. This is probably my first post on FordMods. I'm Paxton, and have lurked on AFF for a number of years, however I've finally hit a snag with my EF that I'd like to ask here because you guys are the Falcon modification experts.

Anywho, I'm about sick of the Black Leather wheel in my XR6 sticking out like dog balls. I'd like to get a shifter to match, however there isn't any E-Series Auto Shifters that come in black, however there is a solution. I've seen in the AU Ghias, there is a black shifter that resembles the current shifter in my EF. This leads me to ask, what is required to get an AU shifter to fit in an EF? Trust me, I've waded through 50+ pages of threads on FordMods looking for this modification, and can't find anything.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Paxton.

Gidday Paxton

Congratulations on your first post.

Now regarding your desire to install an AU Auto shifter.

They are fundamentally different in their operation. The EF shifter presses the release shaft down, and the AU shifter lifts the release shaft up. This means they are not a direct swap.

You can however modify the AU. This involves removing the release mechanism from the EF Shifter, and drilling out the centre from the AU Shifter, and then inserting/gluing the EF mech in the AU Shifter.

It has been done, but is quite involved.

It should also be pointed out that there is one Factory Black EL Auto Shifter. It came out on the EL GT and is Perforated Black Leather and has a Chrome Button.

I have one in my EB.

You could always source a grey leather one and dye it black. This has been done successfully as well.

Good Luck

Some Pics of your car would be good too.

Cheers
BenJ

Removing the centre of the AU shifter is not that hard, if you have a bench drill. I mounted mine on the drill and progressively got bigger in the bits, until i was using a 1 1/2 wood bit to chew the last of the steel sleeve out. You will also need a stock shifter to gut and get the steel sleeve from. This was actually harder than removing the one from the AU, as i needed it in tact. Cut the hell out of the stock one with a sawsall or something similar makes light work of it though. Took me about 3 hours non stop to do the swap.
Cheers
Brett

Thanks for the reply guys.

I think a trip to "Pick (nick) a Part" is in order then, because I would rather have practice on a stock one first, before I go and damage one from a Ghia.

I do take it that a BA SSS swap in an AU is easier than in an EF then?

As for the car itself,





I'll have a go next week some time and post back. My only problem is the lack of a bench drill. I'll just have to try and put the shifter in a clamp and be steady with the Drill.

Wish me luck.


Paxton.