The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Shift linkage rod puzzle.

Ok here's what I am doing.

I have a '52 3100 that didn't have the engine, bell housing, cross member, transmission or any shifting hardware (shifter, shifter box or linkage rods). So I found a '58 3100 and snatched the engine (235) and bell housing out of it (failed to grab the shifting mechanics) and set them in the '52 by using the cross member from a '54 3100. Then I put in the sm319.

I have been trying to find the correct linkage rods that go from the shifter box right down to the trans shift levers. Seems that everything I find is '57 and earlier because they all require a bell crank to operate the linkage rods.

The bell housing I got from the '58 is not drilled or tapped for the bell crank there for I "assume" the parts I need are '58/'59 only? I can't seem to even run down any pictures of these parts so I know what I am looking for.

Is there anyone here that has a stock '58/'59 truck with a three on the tree that can post some pictures and clear up this puzzle I've gotten into?

Tim

You can use a bell housing from a '48 or later 216.
Carl

I don't have one of those and if I did I would then have to find the correct cross member.

Tim

I over-looked the detail about your addition of the later cross member. Now you do have a conundrum. You may have to look for a bell housing with both, the bell crank stud and the later style, slanted motor mount arangement.

Boy I hope I can find the shift linkage so I dont have to start from square one again. I have everything but the linkage finally, now I'll wait for a fellow bolter to take some pics to aid in my search.

Tim

Tim...............See your PM. I can help with photos of my 59 linkage.

Tim;

The culprit is probably the transmission. I have a 58 Suburban that had the stock 3 speed on the column. I replaced the stock tranny with an SM319 from a 67 C10 that I found on eBay. The placement of the shifting arms on the side of the tranny that the ends of the shift rods attach to are different. I had the exact same issue. Put the new trans and went to hook up the linkage and the shift rods for 4-5 inches too short.

I ended up going to Ace hardware and picking up some 3/8" aluminum rod and some matching cable clamps. I cut the aluminum rod into two 6 inch sections and clamped the pieces onto the ends of the shift rods to bridge the gap to the shift box on the steering column. It looks pretty country and is only a temporary fix, but it works. Eventually I will get someone to weld steel extensions on the ends of the shift rods.

Unfortunately, I am in Kuwait and my truck is in Missouri so I can't send any pictures.

Change the side cover on the transmission, the original would have been a 318. The 319 is the overdrive version, swap the two side covers and the original linkage should work.

I don't have the original trans nor the linkage

I've got the stock 3 spd out of my 58 gmc. You're welcome to the side plate of it. I don't have the other linkages though.Larry

The reason the ADs had the bell crank is because there is not a straight shot from the column arms to the trans arms. The '55.2 arms are a straight shot. Good luck finding something to work without a bell crank.

Thank you cletis I did not know this. Time for some R&D on this then. I'll keep the info coming.

Tim