Funny this should come up...I actually tried to convert my TR6 to a shift
knob mounted OD switch a few years ago. I got all the parts (shift knob,
switch, hollow shifter from a donor car, spare TR6 shifter to use for the
bottom part of the grafted shifter, etc.). I gave up once I discovered that
the angle of the TR6 shifter is such that, if you were to have a switch on
the top of the shift knob, the required angle of the wrist would have made
the OD switch motion very awkward indeed. It turns out that most cars I've
seen which have the shift knob switch (MGB & TVR come to mind) have a very
upright angle to the shifter. The TR6 shifter is too "leaned over" IMO.
My original reason for wanting to do the conversion, apart from the fact I'd
never seen it on a TR6 and I thought it would be a neat mod, was that I
thought the column mounted switch was a prime target for getting broken off
at some point. It just kinda sticks way out there. Well that's what I
thought at the time anyway.
After the aborted attempt at converting, I actually grew to like the column
mounted OD switch. I think ergonomically it's very well placed for shifting
in and out of OD while keeping both hands on the wheel. Sort of a pre-cursor
to the F1 style paddle shifters ala the 360 Modena, M3. et al. Ok, maybe
that's a stretch, but you know what I mean :)
Peter Zaborski -- CF58310 UO
PS -- I agree with Jim, I'm not aware of any TR series cars which had a
stock OD switch in the shift knob.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of Jim Davis
> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 6:24 PM
> To: 'jonmac'; 'Randall Young'
> Cc: 'Triumph List'; 6 List
> Subject: RE: OEM shift knobs
>
>
> No US spec TR6s had the overdrive switch on the gearlever
> knob from the
> factory. All US TR6s had the switch on the left side of the steering
> column. All the rhd o/d cars I've ever seen (or have seen
> photos of) had
> the switch on the steering column also.
> All US spec TR6s had solid gearlevers, and I feel certain the rhd TR6s
> did also as Rimmer shows only one lever offered. Early and late TR6
> gearlevers had a slightly different mounting arrangement onto the
> topcover, but that has no bearing on our discussion.
>
> Jim Davis
> Fortson, GA
> CF38690UO
>
>
>
>
> The introduction of overdrive switches in the gear lever itself was a
> progressive introduction on all Triumphs from about 1968. It started
> with the Mk 2 2000 and 2.5PI - and slowly spread. I think the
> TR saw it
> from about 1972 onwards - at least, for the injected version.
> Don't see
> why it shouldn't have applied to US spec cars as well. I
> don't know why
> it took so long to effect the carryover on to TR because it shared the
> same gearbox with the large saloons. The reasons for this change were
> documented by me some months ago on either this list or 6 Pack. Don't
> now remember which one as I don't have the copy. Jonmac
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