column shift lever bushing - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**MikeB** · 02-23-2022, 06:08 PM

Looks like the bushing is too long to allow the ball to fit into the shift tube hole.
Is the idea to compress the bushing when pinning the shift handle into the shift bowl?

Internet photo:

My stuff:

**MikeB** · 02-27-2022, 12:14 PM

Bump

**LockDoc** · 02-27-2022, 01:13 PM

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I don't know if that is the original intent or not but if the bushing is fairly soft I think it would compress enough for the ball to engage in the hole without any problem, when you push the lever in and install the pin.

LockDoc

**MikeB** · 02-27-2022, 01:16 PM

It's actually pretty stiff. I hit it with a heat gun, but it still didn't want to go over the ball. I'll eventually get that done though, and I even have a spare.

**LockDoc** · 02-27-2022, 01:35 PM

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I'm not sure how far the ball actually goes into the socket in the shift tube but it must be a ways. You don't hear a lot of complaints about the ball slipping out of the socket, just about them breaking off. I don't think I have any levers with the bushing still on them, I will have to check.

LockDoc

**pjmoreland** · 02-27-2022, 07:08 PM

I'm interested to see if you're able to get one of those installed with a heat gun. I split two of them trying to install them, and I even enlarged the opening on one of them. I have only ever seen remnants of originals. I don't think it was a well thought out design. It doesn't seem to be an important component though. Softer material might have worked better.

**LockDoc** · 02-27-2022, 09:32 PM

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I don't have any that have enough material left to tell how long they were for sure.

LockDoc

**LockDoc** · 02-27-2022, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I'm interested to see if you're able to get one of those installed with a heat gun. I split two of them trying to install them, and I even enlarged the opening on one of them. I have only ever seen remnants of originals. I don't think it was a well thought out design. It doesn't seem to be an important component though. Softer material might have worked better.

I can't see where a split would actually hurt anything. It's a tight fit when it's in the shift collar. I don't think it could go anywhere.

LockDoc

**pjmoreland** · 02-27-2022, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I can't see where a split would actually hurt anything. It's a tight fit when it's in the shift collar. I don't think it could go anywhere.

LockDoc

That's a good point.

**MikeB** · 02-28-2022, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I'm interested to see if you're able to get one of those installed with a heat gun. I split two of them trying to install them, and I even enlarged the opening on one of them.

That's a good idea about enlarging the hole. I might try that on one of them. Gave up matching the factory paint on the column, so will probably go with black and start assembling things this week.

The "pot metal" shift bowl wobbles a little on the steel shift tube, but I just can't think of a way to tighten it up. Really don't want add weld to the side of the "guide" piece here and then grind/file to shape. Maybe a .002" piece of shim stock epoxied to the ID of the shift bowl? Second photo shows tapered ends which don't help.

02-23-2022, 06:08 PM	#1
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,570	column shift lever bushing Looks like the bushing is too long to allow the ball to fit into the shift tube hole. Is the idea to compress the bushing when pinning the shift handle into the shift bowl? Internet photo: My stuff: Attached Images __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

02-27-2022, 12:14 PM	#2
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,570	Re: column shift lever bushing Bump __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

02-27-2022, 01:13 PM	#3
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,649	Re: column shift lever bushing - I don't know if that is the original intent or not but if the bushing is fairly soft I think it would compress enough for the ball to engage in the hole without any problem, when you push the lever in and install the pin. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

02-27-2022, 01:16 PM	#4
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,570	Re: column shift lever bushing It's actually pretty stiff. I hit it with a heat gun, but it still didn't want to go over the ball. I'll eventually get that done though, and I even have a spare. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

02-27-2022, 01:35 PM	#5
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,649	Re: column shift lever bushing - I'm not sure how far the ball actually goes into the socket in the shift tube but it must be a ways. You don't hear a lot of complaints about the ball slipping out of the socket, just about them breaking off. I don't think I have any levers with the bushing still on them, I will have to check. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

02-27-2022, 07:08 PM	#6
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,791	Re: column shift lever bushing I'm interested to see if you're able to get one of those installed with a heat gun. I split two of them trying to install them, and I even enlarged the opening on one of them. I have only ever seen remnants of originals. I don't think it was a well thought out design. It doesn't seem to be an important component though. Softer material might have worked better.

02-27-2022, 09:32 PM	#7
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,649	Re: column shift lever bushing - I don't have any that have enough material left to tell how long they were for sure. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

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