We have a column shift in our 68 Coronet RT bench seat car, we cruise and race, so we want to keep it as is. We installed a Cheetah Reverse Pattern Manual Valve Body a few weeks ago and immediately cut 3 tenths off our ET. No mush in those shifts now, and shifting the car manually is not a problem at all.
Driving in the city we use first and second in the neighbourhoods, and shift into 3 for major roads. It slows and cruises to a stop sign nicely in third, and after stopping we put it into first. Very drivable. Big thing to remember, though, is not to shift into Reverse until the car is actually stopped, or big $$ damage we've been warned.
The only actual problem we have had is mental: looking at the D on the column shift indicator and trying to think 1. I'm hoping we can find a reverse pattern sticker on the 'net somewhere, or decal. If anyone has seen one advertised please let me know! For now we'll stick something on ourselves to help us learn to shift backwards.
