Well, after getting "between" gears in city traffic the other day and having to jiggle the shift arms to get back to neutral, I decided a fix was mandatory. I used 2 bronze bushings from Lowe's, a couple of copper fittings, and a pair of "O" rings, everything is nice, tight, and smooth. Took most of the afternoon to fix it. I mentioned this to a buddy and he said there was a post on the Stovebolt site about a easy / quick, "drop in" correction for worh shifter bushings. I sure missed it if it was here and can't find it in the archives. Anybody remember this post? Curious BW
Years ago, JC Whitney sold a clip that would fit over the housing to hold the levers in place. I haven't seen one for some 30 years. It kind of worked. Only fix that I know of that works is replacing the bushings.
I had to make up the bushings from various parts. The "Quick Fix" was supposed to come from a hardware store discovery. I took a well used, original rubber bushing to several auto parts and hardware stores - no substitute to be found. I fixed the problem - just wondering if there was an easier approach. A machinist friend could have made up the bushings in brass, but he charges minimum $20.00 an hour (he is worth it) for custom work. I got it done for $6.00 and my time and work. Not complaining - just wondering about the time / effort and if there was an easier way. BW
You can go to your local Ace hard ware and get just about any kind of bushing you need they have metal/Nylon /rubbber.if you need bushings in the arms on the tranny i use special hardened steel bushings available from Hurst you may need to enlarge the holes but they will never wear out.
Can you purchase the shifter lever arm with the bushing pressed in? Mine has become worn where it meets the lever arm and fork selector in the box. I cannot find that part anywhere. Does anyone have an exploded view of the shifter box, my shift lever arm was off the bushing and the column was free shifting. All of the links above take me to some Opera site, any advice, I am new to the Forum. Thanks.
The parts supplies for the shifter box have dried up long ago, not surprising for a vehicle that's probably 50 years old or more. Some used ones show up at swap meets and on Ebay occasionally, but they're usually pretty worn, also. The box itself is a poor quality of die cast aluminum which was never really intended to last as long as they have. If some machinist has more time on his hands than he knows what to do with, he could probably make new parts, but why bother? Most people are too cheap to make his time and effort worthwhile! I do a lot of things for my own projects with my lathe, mill, welder, and the other tools I've accumulated over the past 50+ years that I wouldn't even consider doing for anyone else. Jerry
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We tack a washer right in the bend of the rod where it fits in the shifter arm, grind a rubber hose (5/16 or 3/8??) till it fits the hole in the arm and cut the ground end off the hose, only about a 1/8" long. A second washer is slid up tight to the hose and cotter key inserted. As stated, they are extinct so fabbed ones are necessary.
Try Vintage Chevy Parts 7607235134. He had a selector lever bushing for my 53 PG.
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The box itself is a poor quality of die cast aluminum which was never really intended to last as long as they have. If some machinist has more time on his hands than he knows what to do with, he could probably make new parts, but why bother? Jerry
No need to make new...facing the split line and boring to spec is a half hour job.
