What should shifter action "feel like" with column out of truck?

[vetnat]

Hi. I have a 1961 GMC that I am putting (what I think is) a '67 column in, so I can have the collapsible shaft. After rebuild, I have my column back together, but not in the truck, also the steering shaft is not in it either. And by back together, I mean I am going to have to take it apart again tomorrow, because I forgot the rubber ring and thrust washer between the shifter and turn signal housings. Anywho, I have no idea what the "shifter action" should feel like. I bought the column off ebay. It had no shift lever when I got it, had been used in a floor shift truck before I got it I think. The column I am replacing in my truck was installed by PO and never did shift the gears after he put it in. And I have actually never driven any vehicle with a 3OTT. So, I have no clue what this should feel/work like, especially out of the truck.

Should the shift lever return to "neutral position" on its own, when you stop pulling it towards you? Right now it stays wherever I leave it. Also, how much should the shift tube move when you pull shifter towards you? Mine seems to move 1/2" at the most, probably less than that. And finally, when I look through the hole where the reverse light switch goes, I can only see a portion of the tang moving into the hole, not the entire width of the tang. Oh, BTW, I kind of mangled the reverse light switch when I was disassembling the column. Does the switch part "click" into on or off positions? I am guessing it returns to off position by itself when shifted out of reverse? Mine feels gummy when returning??

I am suspecting I have some sort of problem with my column as I have assembled it? I do believe the lower bearings are different for floor or column shift, I might have the wrong lower bearing. Could this be my problem? Sorry for babbling on, kind of frustrated.

[vetnat]

Question for anyone who has rebuilt their steering column, or swapped steering columns. Anybody tried putting the shifter through the gears with the column not installed in the truck? Do all the linkages have to be hooked up from column to transmission before the shifter feels like it is going through the gears?

[Jason Banks]

It should move freely into all the gears with the transmission disconnected. It should stay wherever you place it. However gravity might tend to let it fall down from the upper positions, assuming it is well lubed.

1/2 inch travel seems low...but I'm not sure where you are measuring this.

[vetnat]

Thanks for the reply! The half inch of shift tube travel is by looking directly at the shift tube when pulling the shifter towards me. I will try posting a video.

[HO455]

The shift lever should return down on its own. I ened up having to completely disassemble my column (after I installed it). I found out that it was too stiff to shift and the lever stayed where you left it. It all seemed fine on the bench. The problem was the bushing on the bottom of the column was rusted and would not let the shift mechanism move freely. The mechanism has to rotate on the column and move up and down. Once I had removed the rust and greased everything the shifter moves very easily and the arm drops back down.

[vetnat]

Here's the video, hard to film holding the column between my knees. Shows how far the shift tube moves though. It seems to make the appropriate shift lever at the bottom of the column move when trying to select gears, so I am hopeful. I will also post a pic of the reverse light "tab". Thanks.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dilPotx2uSE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[vetnat]

Grr. Guess that didn't work. Try this link.https://youtu.be/dilPotx2uSE

[vetnat]

Didn't work.

[vetnat]

This is as far as column moves. Should more of this tang be visible when reverse is selected?