MTFCA Forum

So I picked up a Ruckstell axle this weekend to put in my car, and it seems to be good enough to just throw in once I give it a quick service, but I just realized that I need to cut a hole in my floor for the shifter, and it looks like it might be a bit annoying to measure for. Just wondering if there was a pattern or measurements already out there I can use to cut the hole in the right spot

Here you go. I used this on my '24 and it worked perfectly. Note that the hole is cut at an angle, not straight for-and-aft.

Depends on the location of the shifter and the year and body style of the car. One way would be to get some stiff cardboard and cut half to fit behind the shifter with the hole cut out to fit the shifter. You will need to move the shifter all the way forward as it would be in high range and all the way back as it would be in low range. Then cut the hole in the wood to allow the lever to move all the way in each direction. The mat is easier because all you need to do is make a slit going front to back and it will cover the hole in the floorboard. At least that's the way I did two of mine. The third one had the Ruckstell when I bought it.
Norm

Ah, good point. I've got a '26 coupe and the normal Ruckstell shifter on the back of the trans if anyone has a template for that, but otherwise I'll use the cardboard. Been long enough since I needed to do something like this I forgot about CAD (cardboard aided design)!

Have you considered installing the left hand shifter that goes through the parking brake lever slot?

Added thought for convince.
I drilled a round hole a bit larger than the shift knob.
I don't have to remove the knob to pull the floorboard.

Id personally be leery about using a pattern. I suspect some year or body style floorboards may be different. Also different style shifters and varying lengths of rods connecting the shifter to the shift lock may require placing th hole in a dfferent spot. Best way IMHO is assemble the shifter and take measurements.

Kenny Edmondson wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 7:47 am

Have you considered installing the left hand shifter that goes through the parking brake lever slot?

I was thinking about that, but since I have the original center shifter in nice shape, I decided I'm going to use that instead

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:12 am

Added thought for convince.
I drilled a round hole a bit larger than the shift knob.
I don't have to remove the knob to pull the floorboard.

Good call, I think I might do that and just have a plate on the floor to cover it up

RadRacer203 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:25 pm

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:12 am

Added thought for convince.
I drilled a round hole a bit larger than the shift knob.
I don't have to remove the knob to pull the floorboard.

Good call, I think I might do that and just have a plate on the floor to cover it up

I have a rubber floor mat. The cutout is a wide H. Seals around the shift lever quite well.

Oh even better! I wasn't able to find a rubber mat for a '26 coupe though, maybe I'll have to adapt one for a roadster or something?

Not all Ruckstell hardware is the same, even it it's made by Ruckstell!. Make your own pattern, and when locating your final layout, use the same reference point at all times. Also, there was never a metal plate to go around the shift lever. When Eaton took over, they made a much better set up.

RadRacer203 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:52 pm

Oh even better! I wasn't able to find a rubber mat for a '26 coupe though, maybe I'll have to adapt one for a roadster or something?

Michael, when my Dad and I restored his father's (my grandfather) 1927 coupe, back in 1970, we didn't know the floor was covered with carpet, so I bought a black rubber mat for a roadster or touring (can't remember which or if it even makes a difference). We just had to trim the sides to fit. Coupes are narrower than open cars.

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 5:39 pm

RadRacer203 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:52 pm

Oh even better! I wasn't able to find a rubber mat for a '26 coupe though, maybe I'll have to adapt one for a roadster or something?

Michael, when my Dad and I restored his father's (my grandfather) 1927 coupe, back in 1970, we didn't know the floor was covered with carpet, so I bought a black rubber mat for a roadster or touring (can't remember which or if it even makes a difference). We just had to trim the sides to fit. Coupes are narrower than open cars.

Gotcha, that's easy enough. I'll grab a roadster floor mat then

If you put the shift lever on the left side you won't have to patch the hole in the middle of the floor when you decide that your shoe makes it difficult to get around the Ruckstell shift lever.

Jack Putnam, in Ohio wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 23, 2024 11:34 am

If you put the shift lever on the left side you won't have to patch the hole in the middle of the floor when you decide that your shoe makes it difficult to get around the Ruckstell shift lever.

I'd be a bit worried about the space on that side anyway though, it's already so difficult to get my left leg on that side of the wheel with the handbrake set that I'm thinking of bending the handbrake further left for more clearance