Column shift gear selector loose

[dmw319]

I put in a column shifter into my truck and the gear selector arm is kind of loose. Not the arm itself where it connects (that is solid), but the hole thing/assembly just kinda has a lot more wiggle room in it than you would expect so it doesnt perfectly stay aligned with the gear pointer on the top of the column. Anyone know how to tighten it up or adjust this? Thanks

[Square_78]

Mine is the same way. Sloppy and it always takes 2 tries to find reverse. I am also interested in an easy solution.
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[Mr Handy]

I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing, but mine was sloppy, and did not point at the correct spot... park was past park, reverse pointed at park... and so on... this made the indents not hit correctly...

this is fixed by going under the hood and locating the shift linkage. it should be very close to the brake master cylinder. There is a jam bolt. loosen the bolt and adjust the rod to the proper length, tighten jam bolt and your fixed... the bump between park and reverse seems to wear down quite a bit as well. this can be fixed by welding up the bump and grinding/filing it to the proper shape.
Hope that helps... This is how it worked for my 350th.

[Square_78]

I'm not concerned about the indicator lining up. The lever has a lot of slop and there are Basicly no bumps between gears or going into park.
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[dmw319]

My indicator lines up fine for the most part... all I am saying is that I have a lot of loose slop if I wiggle the arm back and forth (up and down motion). Its not the arm itself but the whole assembly that seems like it is loose. Im not sure if its something that can be tighetened or fixed or if its just because its old. Anyone?

[Mr Handy]

I went out and measured the play in my shift lever. I held a tape measure at the end of the shift knob and measured the up and down movement.
Park= 1.5" of movement
all other gears had 2.5" of movement. again measured from the end of the shift lever.

My guess is that this movement has increased over the past 40+ years due to wear of the indents in the shift linkage. I would guess to reduce the movement you would have to take apart the indent plate and linkage and weld up and resurface the worn areas. I don't think it would be that difficult.

[dmw319]

I think the play is not coming from that plate at the bottom, but more the upper part of the sleeve that goes around the column at the top. Ill take a video tonight and post it. I do not have as much play as you are talking about its only a little wiggle. Its not really a big deal but it bothers me! haha

[Mr Handy]

Aah ok. I think my truck is at about 180,000+ miles so I expect these kind of wiggles and play in certain parts.