Slapstick Shifter

[Lafarga]

Could someone please tell me what they are exactally? I've done some research on the internet, but I don't quite understand what's being said. Thanks.

[curtis73]

I'm not sure exactly, but they are an auto shifter that I think just splits up the shift linkages into a few different sticks. You're talking about the mid 80's GMs, right?

Not sure if it has different internals or just a different shift linkage

[CBFryman]

The "slang" term also means the newer Auto transmissions that can be shifted manually but can also be placed into fully automatic.

[stoned_pimp420]

EXACTLY what CBF said but not this newer "softshift" or other electronic auto/manual hibrid bullshitthat comes in these 05 and 06 cars. it doesn't work near as strongly as the type of mechanical linkage found in an older GM or Ford muscle car or truck.

[BNaylor]

On older cars with automatic transmissions, it is what the name implies. You slap it and it will upshift. I had one on a '79 Camaro Z28 with 5.7 liter and TH350 tranny. I would downshift manually to first gear then accelerate and go through the gears. All I had to do was slap the shift lever to the right and it would upshift to the next higher gear. Slapstick shifters were common on Mopar muscle cars and aftermarket shifter kits made by B&M and Hurst.

[Ridenour]

I was thinking a "slapstick" was like you see in some cars like LeMans or something, where it's a lever that only moves fore and aft, and you pull back to downshift and just push it forward to upshit. What would that be then? Just a different form of a "manumatic"?

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

On older cars with automatic transmissions, it is what the name implies. You slap it and it will upshift. I had one on a '79 Camaro Z28 with 5.7 liter and TH350 tranny. I would downshift manually to first gear then accelerate and go through the gears. All I had to do was slap the shift lever to the right and it would upshift to the next higher gear. Slapstick shifters were common on Mopar muscle cars and aftermarket shifter kits made by B&M and Hurst.

Older Mopar is what I was thinking also. The slapstick option would allow you to slap the floor shifter (automatic trans) to the next gear, and had a stop so you couldn't go past that next gear. Once the shifter had stopped at that position, it could then be moved to the next higher gear.