65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery

Well, I screwed up by overlooking one small but important detail on installing the little black mini console that comes with the shifter! I had it sitting on the hump when I did all the surgery on the console top plate. If I had read the directions more closely, I would have seen that the mini console needs to sit right on the shifter top bracket and if it is still touching the floor hump, trim as needed so it will sit on the shifter brackets. OK, so I trimmed it sufficiently so it sits properly and has clearance for the console courtesy lights. Now I find out that where I cut the top plate, there’s way to much space between the mini console and console top plate and will be virtually impossible to fix. OK, so I’ll check fleabay and hopefully find another top plate to do surgery on.

Well OK, I can still get the hole cut in the tunnel for the cable. Now I find that the hole will be right where the upper crossmember is located. I can’t really move the shifter forward the 3 inches needed for the cable hole (too close to the AC vent) and really can’t move it back (power window switch and the forward part of the armrest) is suppose to occupy that area.

Knowing now how this clusterfock was going to turn out, I should have gone with my 2nd choice of shifters - the Winters 257 for the 904-based transmission) which is a rear output cable. I do have one ordered and will hopefully be here within the next week or so. I’ll probably have to tear everything out that had been done, so right now it’s about 4 or 5 or 6 steps back and none forward on this part of the project. I just love all this custom work!