OK... I have a problem here I'm hoping people can shed a light on for me. (54 Chevy 3100, 235 engine, standard transmission)
The gear shifter gizmo on the top of the steering column (inside the cab) had worn, and the gearshift was jumping all around. I found a way to fix that (more on that in a minute). Once I did, I realigned the entire shifting linkage. Tried to do it to specs, however with everything meeting specs I couldn't adequately shift into 2nd and 3rd gears 'cuz the shift lever was pointing too high. So I moved the gear shifter box (clamped to the steering column behind the firewall) around until the shift lever was perpendicular to the dash, and realigned everything again, replaced worn bushings, etc.
Now when I drive, 2nd gear does not engage properly, clatters, tries to jump out of gear, and when I depress the clutch I can feel something like the edge of the teeth missing their contact, about midway through the pedal movement.
I tried adjusting the clutch pedal travel thinking that maybe there wasn't enough contact being allowed for some reason. That didn't help.
This all started with the shifter housing thing. Coincidence? Or is something still out of alignment? I had the engine and the transmission rebuilt between 2000 and 2002, and in the 9.5 years I've owned this truck I have never had this problem come up. Anybody have any suggestions as to what's going on and how to remedy it?
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Oh, and as for the upper gearshift housing repair, I found that removing the whole gearshift arm and wrapping the threaded section with about 5 windings of teflon tape, then threading the housing back on seems to have done the trick. I found remnants of old teflon tape in the threads from a previous repair of mine which must have been done when I had the engine out for rebuilding... lasted about 7 years before needing to be redone.
