mudrunt Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Has anyone on here done a conversion by putting in a floor shifter from a cherokee and deleted the column shifter? I have an 89 with an auto and column shift but my column is busted and the one i found to replace it doesn't have the column shift. I do however have the floor shifter out of an auto cherokee minus cables. Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Just taking a SWAG at this, since I'm a 5 speed guy, but I'd wager to say it's probably plug-and-play. The floorpans are all stamped the same 2WD vs. 4WD, and the cutout is there for the transfercase shifter even on 2WD models. I'd assume the cutout would be there for the floor shifter/cable, but you may have to punch it out. Not sure if the shift cable is the same....the floor shift version might be shorter (?) Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 scrap your shifter handle, it's not worth trying to get just the cables. go to the jy, get a shift handle AND the cable for it all in one go. you'll also need the pan that screws into the hump below the shifter. the shift cable is held onto the trans. by a bracket with 2 bolts, i believe 12 mm. and then it's clipped onto the shift linkage. get one from the same model transmission and engine you have...that way it's the right piece. you'll also want to switch out your gauge cluster to one that doesn't have the column shift indications, which is no big deal. but basically, remove the column-shift steering column and cable, place the new one in, cut the hole in your carpet over the hump and bolt down the shifter, then route the new shift cable. you will also need a center console for a floor shifter and the bracketry to screw that to. a tip on the steering column..you DO NOT want to disconnect the steering column to steering box shaft AT THE FIREWALL as it doesn't have a keyed spline...disconnect it at the steering box on both trucks. that way, you will just insert the new steering column and hook it up. the steering box side can only go on one way. doing that will save you from needing a serious steering realignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudrunt Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 I have already switched the gauge cluster out for one with actual gauges. I have the carpet out to do a rhino lined inside and thought while i was at it i would change to a floor shifter. I have everything minus the cable for this I hate to have to go buy a new shifter and what not when all I need is the cable. Anyways, i also have the sheetmetal piece where the blank one is now for the new shifter. I was just curious how involved this switch would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudrunt Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 I also would really like to put a set of bucket seats in while its apart but finding those from reading on here is hard to do. Not pick on color just hate the bench for wheeling. I have some xj buckets but from what I have read alot of work to install them and I have no welder or cutting torch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiscus Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 should be simple plug-n-play as long as you have the correct parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 I also would really like to put a set of bucket seats in while its apart but finding those from reading on here is hard to do. Not pick on color just hate the bench for wheeling. I have some xj buckets but from what I have read alot of work to install them and I have no welder or cutting torch. you need the cable and the bracket for the tranny (they are different between the column and the floor shift) that will be cheap from the JY and it's all plug and play. converting the cherokee seats is no big deal if they're manual seats (power is a PITA) and all you need is a drill, a punch and hammer and some high-grade 7/16 bolts with lock-nuts. take the seat brackets off the bucket seats (4 bolts to remove the bottom cushion then 4 more to remove the brackets), and drill out the spot welds and rivets that hold the lower part of the brackets to the sliders. then you will need to do the same on your bench seat (careful to save the lower brackets on the bench...) and then put those ones under the cherokee sliders. make sure you have them positioned where you want them, put a 7/16 hole through (or use the hole the rivet was in), and bolt them down. then re-assemble the seat. it's really not that hard and you could have it done in a matter of hours. you will need the bucket seat female seatbelt ends as well. then for a full length center console you will just need the console, the bottom of the heater box, and the middle and rear brackets for it. doing it this way will be cheaper...cause the MJ brackets sell for about $130 used. I sold a pair of stock MJ bucket seats for $240 but the seats were really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudrunt Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 i will have to give that a try i am trying to make this my cheap jeep. so far i have been doing good. i love ebay, found the jeep, lift, and other knick knacks on there. only new thing on the jeep is the header panel, two fenders, and lighting but only $140 delivered to my door for all of it. Even have the 2 for $3 wal-mart paint sale paint job in progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comancheman Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 i did it on my 90 and i didnt need any brackets for the tranny just the longer cable. it took me a few hours and wasnt to hard at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudrunt Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 can i just get a cable somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comancheman Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 i used the one from the donor xj it was kind of a pain to pull it through the fire wall but just keep pullin and itll come out. i don't know if u could get one from your auto parts store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 Has anyone on here done a conversion by putting in a floor shifter from a cherokee and deleted the column shifter? I have an 89 with an auto and column shift but my column is busted and the one i found to replace it doesn't have the column shift. I do however have the floor shifter out of an auto cherokee minus cables. Any help would be appreciated. you'll also want to switch out your gauge cluster to one that doesn't have the column shift indications, which is no big deal. I too have the column shift in my 91 and replaced the "idiot light" cluster w. the full gauge cluster, and lost the A/T shift indicator. Thought about moving to a floor shifter, but liked the column shift better. So for the shift indicator I used one of the kits from Ididit, pictured below, only the 3-speed version. Simple, easy, and worked well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasManche Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 On 4/13/2007 at 7:18 PM, HOrnbrod said: I just picked up a 92 Comanche Automatic. Love the look and what you have done. What year should I look for to replace the idiot light cluster with the full gauges. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. I too have the column shift in my 91 and replaced the "idiot light" cluster w. the full gauge cluster, and lost the A/T shift indicator. Thought about moving to a floor shifter, but liked the column shift better. So for the shift indicator I used one of the kits from Ididit, pictured below, only the 3-speed version. Simple, easy, and worked well. /uploads/archive/224b2d29a79b4c682d939879761b878f/556e362212e3d3597f668965af221671.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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