Hello all. Just purchased a 1951 3100. I’m going through all that is on the truck right now and evaluating what work needs to be done. Full disclosure, this is my first time working on this type of truck and all advise is welcome. As I was looking at the gear shift box location on the floor, I was wondering how do others look like. Did these all come 3 on the tree from factory and the floor location is a conversion? Looking at the plate that is on the floor, the stick opening is in the different location then where the lever is coming out from the box. New opening appears to have been cut.
In 1951 (and at least 1946 through 1990) 3 speed manual transmissions came from the GM factory with column shifters and 4 speed manual transmissions had floor shifters. The floor shifter shown in your picture is an aftermarket part. The plate on your floor is designed for a factory SM-420 4 speed where the shifter comes out of the top of the transmission through the factory hole on the upward bulge in the plate. The factory 3 speed plate had no holes, except for the hold-down screws. Someone cut the plate you have to allow use with the aftermarket shifter.
