Noob Alert, hope someone can help me out anyway.

Alot of people put rachet shifters, such as the B&M Megashifter on their automatics. The advantage being they can rachet the gears. I'm a little confused as to what this means. Do they mean you can select what gear you are in, from 1st to 4th, just like a manual lets you select a gear? Could you really select your own gears with a automatic?

That seems worthwhile if thats how it works. If i'm wrong (probably), can someone explain the concept for me?

 

All the Ratchet shifters do is allow you to shift manually from first through 4th without accidentally shifting more than one gear at a time. You can't start out in 2nd gear for instance. The trans will always start in 1st. It also allows you to ratchet down a gear in the same manner.

Hope that helps somewhat.

 

So, for example, when you put it in the rachet position, you could stay in first as long as you want, until you shift it, correct?

Edit: Does anyone make a console shifter that fits our cars besides the B/M one?

 

Correct. In "ratchet mode" you start out in first gear. The trans will stay in first gear until you shift to 2nd, the stay in 2nd until you shift to 3rd, 3rd to 4th. The ratchet mechanism ensures you don't over shift, say from 1st to 3rd or 4th.

The B&M MegaShifter also allows you to down shift in a similar manner.

I think Hurst may also make an F-body console model.