The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Transission shift lever slop

Hey gang,

Question, my 1947 gmc, has the 3 speed transmission, he shift lever is very loose and sloppy (reminds me of my first wife!!) but anyway, it shifts fine for me, but it gets kind of annoying when you turn corners and the shift lever swings back and forth.

Is there a kit you can put in the top, or am I lookinig at tearing the transmission apart to fix this one?

I have searched high and low for an answer to this, with no luck, so I thought you guys might have some answers!

Thanks in advance!!!

:confused: :confused:

Hi Brian,

I posted two articles on my website about the restoration of my three-on-the-tree shift linkage which may be of some help:

Shifty Behavior

and

Shifty Behavior Revisited

OOPS!

Sorry Brian, didn't see that your truck was an early '47, not an Advance Design. What a difference a couple of months can make.

It kind of sounds like you have a floor shifted transmission. Is this true? It's important because the procedure is different between floor and column mount shifters.

Hey guys,

Yup, it's a three speed on the floor. although it's a 47, it is the 46 art deco type truck.

Like I said, it shifts fine, but the lever, at the end of the rod, handle end, will swing nearly a foot in one gear!!

I'm hoping I can just tighten something up, rather than tear the transmission apart. It was actually rebuilt just before I bought it, so it has all new gears and sychros, but for some reason , the guy didn't take the slop out of the shifter,

maybe they are supposed to be that way??????????

Just looking at Laroke's pictures it looks like the assy is the same as my 56 Task Force. Any comments or suggestions guys? I am also having shift problems.
Brad

Brian , your gear lever is NOT supposed to float around in the breeze !
Take the top off the box and check the pivot inside the top part you have just removed .
On my 4spd there are two pins about 1/4" dia that fit into 2 slots in the shifter ball , I hope your 3 spd is the same . these parts work best when there is a minimum clearence for smooth operation . the pins can be replaced , and the slots welded up and filed to fit .
Also check the sliding selector that lays on top of the shafts in the box . just lift this bit out ( after noting its orientation ) the hole is often worn as is the bottom of the gear stick where it goes into the hole . this needs to fit nice too .
Sorry I can't remember the pin bit clearly , someone will surely put me right there .
nearly forgot , there is a spring in that top piece that needs to be intact too.

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: dusty ]

Thanks Dusty,

i'll pop it open and have look. it sounds like it should be relatively simple to fix.

it will by nice to fix it, i hate when i make those right hand turns, and the shift lever whacks me in the leg!!!

I thought so. Dusty has the right idea. Floor shifter transmissions have pivot pins on either side of the shift lever, right where it goes into the top case of the transmission. Just replace these pivot pins, most older parts stores can get them (parts chain store employees will just look stupid at you).

This problem is fairly common to any transmission that has been used a lot. As a last resort, go to the junkyard and sort through some old floor shift trans, you might find a few pivot pins in good enough shape to use.

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: Vaughn ]

Thanks guys!! I appreciate the help. I'll post what I find after I tear into it!

brian

I guess I should have told you how to get the top off. Doesn't look like anyone else mentioned it, so here goes. You have to put the trans in neutral (not strictly necessary, but helpful), then get a rag, wrap it over the top of where the shift lever meets the transmission (to protect your hand mostly), press down and turn. Its kind of like a turn signal bulb, press in, turn a little ways and pop out. Also like a Dzus fastener, if you've ever heard of those.