You can swap the two, they interchange, the only difference is the overall physical length.
I've had 3 sets of L-rods in my '88 CSC, first one was an NOS 3-speed setup from the original owner of the car.
I sold that set because I had plans for a 4-speed trans in the future and then installed a 3-speed set and swapped the rods out for shorter 4 speed from an NOS shifter I had.
Now I have an NOS 4-speed set in there, because I redid the interior and didn't want to wind up taking the console apart again when I swap out the trans, but lose the function of the first lever since I still have the TH-400... but that will be a built TH2004R come next summer when my 496 is finished.
I don't care not having the use of the first lever, it's only temporary and I rarely drive the car.
Heck I wouldn't mind installing a 3 speed set, or swapping in a 3 speed Cam and Chassis, into my daily driver with a TH-2004R... that way you actually get more use out of the first lever with 2-3 shifts, screw 1-2 shifts in a driver, especially if you have a shift kit.
I don't like the fact that the 4-speed shifter uses the main lever to shift from 3-4, would rather sacrifice 1-2 to get more use out of the shifter as a whole... hmm, now that has me thinking that these 3-speed shifters could be more desirable than previously though.
Perhaps I've should've kept one of the 12 sets of three speed L-rods I've owned and rebuilt over the years... :lol:
Anyone have a garbage 3-speed shifter?
I want to try this out in my '85 442, going to start driving that daily again in a couple weeks.
