3 speed huge issue!

[d10s69c10]

alright first off i have searched the board but none of the other posts seemed to pin point my problem..

my whole tree is sloppy but i have worked around the issue in the past (3 years ago, trucks been parked) by jumping out and playing with linkage when truck was stuck in Second.

Now i am running into an issue all around, i have grinding as if the second gear Gear is riding on my main shaft the whole time .. in nuetral and even with clutch fully engaged when i come to a stop in first or reverse (still work) at 4mph sounds like a extra gear bouncing not meshed.

i have looked up and down and placed the linkage in every way i can think possible, but 90% of the time (10% it will stop till i put it in gear again) i crank up and let out on clutch to the same grinding.

seems like my outer link bar is only moving once down then back up but not any more.

so my question is?
a. it is done, get the auto
b. something broke inside?
c. spend the $$ on linkage (bushings) see if it works.

[Sammy]

New bushings worth a try. If after adjustment still problems then the shaft inside the column can be too worn to do any good.Check the linkages & bracket aren't bent or loose on the tranny too.

[lpaine]

Or you might want to consider converting to a floor shift 3 speed, and that'll end your pesky column shift problems. I would'nt think it would be too spendy or difficult to do the swap.

[caminokid]

Originally Posted by lpaine

Or you might want to consider converting to a floor shift 3 speed, and that'll end your pesky column shift problems. I would'nt think it would be too spendy or difficult to do the swap.

I spent 60.00 on the floor shifter I bought...and it sucked...the shifter. The handle kept coming loose the bolts that hold it to the shifter...I got mad and welded the shifter to the handle. If your going to get a floor shifter...get a good one. DONT goto any parts store and buy a cheap one like I did.

[Lated]

My tranny used to get stuck in third on occasion when it had a column shifter. From work to home was all highway except for the first and last half mile or so, neither of which had anywhere to pull over. Luckily I could get it rolling in third and would pull over right before my exit off the highway and pop it out. I couldn't find replacement bushings at that point (I think Chevy Duty or whatever they're called now sells them) so I bought a floor shifter. I got the Hurst Indy 3 speed shifter from summit http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku. It works pretty well other than the stick being a little short even with my monkey arms. Here's a pic of mine. I'd forgotten how expensive it was. If you are interested I might be convinced to part with it since my truck has been parked lately due to gas prices not mixing well with my 60 mile a day commute (it was cheaper to buy a Wrangler, make a payment on it and even with the higher insurance now it's still cheaper than driving my truck) although that wouldn't solve what sounds like possible internal problems with your tranny. Sorry for the long post

[Lated]

I forgot to mention that I have a V8 that I think is in the I6 spot so the shifter is a little farther back than it would be if the engine was in the correct spot, although I could be totally off.

[caminokid]

My 3 speed in my old 69 was giving me fits everyday. The synchros for 2nd and 3rd were bad so everytime I went to shift it grinded. Then the other problem was 2nd -3rd linkage bolt came loose every other day. My truck had been converted to floor shift. I even bought a new shifter and it still gave me problems. I dont know how many miles your truck has...but mine had 387,000 on it.

[samwise68]

Sounds like what happened to my tranny. It was a royal pain to shift to second, and even worse to down shift from third to second.

So, one night I pulled 'er out, tore it down, and found the synchro was shot.

Ordered one for 8.95, I beleive, from http://www.mrracingequipment.com/

They specialize in rebuilding 3 and 4 speed Saginaws and Muncies, especially for dirt trackers. So, I replaced the synchro, along with the front bearing, and voila, no more problems. The linkage could be adjusted more, but even so, if I try, it doesn't even sound like a manual transmission between shifts. Gotta love that "push upward" motion to hit second when bombing away from the lights.

Just my 2 cents, it was an easy fix, especially with a basic repair manual. The hardest part? Stabbing the transmission back in. But then again, thats always a pain.

-Sam.

[truckdude239]

i just ot the cheap shifter from advance auto parts store like 40 buxs have yet to have a problem

[Lated]

Don't mean to jack the thread, but does anyone know how much torque/hp the 3 speed can handle, and how to tell if it is a Saginaw or a Muncie?

[d10s69c10]

i know its still a reasonably new thread but so far the insight is very helpful i was pretty steamed at it earlier. tires today u joints the day before so i was pretty much ready to roll.. i had thought.

im gonna go get the junk shifter ( the discount hurst i think it is) tomarrow and toss it on i already got a hole in the floor for it (aside from being fiberglassed in.
i got the old mig and if i need to do something to make it sit right ill take some pictures so i can share my experience with other hammer throwers.

the trucks got a long way to go so it was gonna get a floor shifter anyways. ill see if my problem lays in the colomn for sure then. if not im just gonna say good bye to my 3 for a bit and go start searching comaros/ other 5-6 speeds and get myself into the monster i wanted to fight origionally.

Thanks again.

[northerngmc]

Have you tried adjusting the shifter?

In the FAQ there is a great write up on how to do this. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307

Read the above thread and see if it helps. It sure did on my 69 GMC.