Gear selector does not lock in place ...

[jondancer]

My 72 c10 350/350turbo gear selector moves freely from gear gear . I'm used to newer vehicle where you have to push the brake to select a gear. Is something broke or is this how a 72 works?
Thanks

[spatz]

this is how all vehicles where back then. its not broke.

[jondancer]

Well is there a way to change it?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by jondancer

My 72 c10 350/350turbo gear selector moves freely from gear gear . I'm used to newer vehicle where you have to push the brake to select a gear. Is something broke or is this how a 72 works?
Thanks

I'm not sure I understand the question.

New vehicles have a "park interlock" system so that you have to push the brake to move the shift lever from Park (vintage vehicles do not have this). That's the only gear that is captured in that way. We press the brake while shifting from reverse to drive or whatever just to keep the vehicle from moving while doing so, but you don't have to press the brake.

Now, if you are saying there is no "feel", or detent, between any of the gears: that is the result of the park pawl/gear selector inside the trans. It looks like a "rooster comb" with a bunch of notches in it. There is a roller that nests in the various notches to give you the "feel" that you have selected a particular gear. This is true even for vintage vehicles.

K

[jondancer]

Thanks, I was hoping for a park interlock

[Keith Seymore]

Ok; thanks for the clarification.

I believe my '74 Chevelle had a park interlock (it was removed long ago for header clearance). Trucks normally followed passenger cars by a bit so I suspect it would be a couple years after that before it was introduced to the C/K lineup.

K

[jondancer]

Back again! So when the vehicle is in park , the gear selector should be able to be moved into drive without applying brake or pulling back on gear sector?

Thanks guys

[Keith Seymore]

Yes- you should be able to move from park without hitting the brake.

No - you will still need to pull the handle towards you.

K

[jondancer]

Dang mine pulls down without any resistance from park. Like it's not locked into park. It goes from Park to reverse very easy, then I can feel all the other gears. What could be broken?

[too much stuff]

Can you feel any tension pulling the shifter towards you? It should move back and forth and that should lock it in park. You could try spraying some lube in the shifter handle and see if that loosens anything up.

[leftybass209]

Shifting through the gears without pulling the lever back means the mechanism is binding, or cruddy with old grease. In that instance a spray lubricant might work at the cost of making a huge mess. The best thing to do is rebuild the column, as the bearings probably need to be replaced anyways. Or, you can always convert to a tilt.

[jondancer]

Mine is tilt

[leftybass209]

Sounds like a rebuild is in order. Mine is rebuilt and it's smooth as silk, with a very positive forward pull motion out of park.