The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 53 , three on the tree

So, many threads are showing on my three on the tree shifter, is this supposed to be like this? Or what is the fix or remedies? Thanks. 51 truck , 3 speed.

I believe that's OK. There may be an adjustment in the service manual, but there should be a couple showing because it has to move. If it was too tight it would bind up.

On mine, the threads on the socket were stripped, so it needed to be replaced. That's a possibility on yours as well.

Thanks

Where did you get a new socket at? They probably are stripped also.

In my opinion that's excessive.

I've never had one apart and I don't have any idea how many threads there are on the collar to secure the shift lever. Is yours literally hanging on by a thread? Who knows?

General Motors didn't design the shift lever to attach with a half inch of extra threads visible.

Here's a photo of mine that I just took. It's never been apart since new as far as I can tell. It shift's easily and smootly.

That being said, I'm a firm believer in the adage that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Unless yours is binding or wobbling or otherwise not working the way you think it should, I'd leave it alone unless you can't stand looking at the exposeed threads.

I think I got one from Jim Carter’s boneyard. But it turned out to be for a car (slightly different). I found a NOS one on eBay.

That 1/2" of space has to be showing up somewhere else. Either the steering column is a half inch out of the steering box or the shifter column is a half inch farther down in the engine bay. Or maybe the shift lever just needs to be turned farther down? I don't know.

I'd look around for other discrepancies. Maybe splines showing on the steering shaft at the steering gear, etc.

I'd take it apart and put it back together. Someone in the past probably already did, but didn't put it back together correctly. Those things are a little on the Rube Goldberg side as far as design complexity goes.

After a closer look the collar has to be stripped, threads move up and down pretty feely.

I have a shifter that came out of a 1953 3100. If you want to pay the shipping you can have it. I'll send you the the whole unit or top half. I have no need for it.

Maybe this crappy photo will help figure out what's going on. The distance from the bottom of the wheel to the top of the shifter is 1.5"

Thanks

Luray and AD3100,

Thanks to AD3100 for offering to help Luray out on a much needed part!

Just a note that if you gents wish to pursue a "deal" (even though it isn't really about selling or buying in this case), you should move that discussion to a PM please.

Per the forum "Guidelines", "deal making" is meant to be done in the Swap Meet, not in any of the other forums.

Thanks guys!

Roger that. My bad.

No worries, just a suggestion to keep from veering too far.

Looks like you got the help you need and sounds like a good deal. Im just chiming in. My 51 2dr sdn did something similar. The threads are stripped and there is not really a way to fix it except for for replacing whats worn out. Somewhat expected in a 70 plus year old part. Ha. Not much made nowadays that i think will come close to that.

Thanks for the help, great bunch of guys here!

Luray Go down and see if your coupling out under the hood (I think) has slipped. It has a bolt that goes thru a cut-out in the shaft.

Just rebuilt my three on the tree shifter. When you are reassembling, the correct dimension between the upper support (threaded part) and the shifter is 1/8 to 3/32 inches. You have to loosen the sleeve under the dash, then remove the two screws holding the upper support to the column. Then you can rotate it to adjust the clearance as long as the threads are not completely worn out as some have suggested. Once you have the 1/8 to 3/32 clearance between it and the shifter, re-attach it to the column with the two screws. Then adjust the distance between the shifter and the steeing wheel by by sliding the shifter shaft in or out on the sleeve under the dash, then tighten. Steve

SteveJ: Nice find. Is that a FAM? Or what book are you using as a reference?

Reproduction factory shop manual...