good and bad news

[TCLARK]

Find a fLoor shifter........3 on the tree SUCKS ! even when they work right. I switched mine to a 4 Speed after it exploded, a friend had a Saginaw that he sold cheap, but a shifter for a truck 4 speed is expensive.

[northerngmc]

Originally Posted by samwise68

Adjust it, and find out what style of shifting it likes.

On mine, sometimes I just just clunk it up to second, but usually I'll slide up to reverse a little, before crossing the "H" and hitting second. Mine used to hang up at the worst times - like in front of the main building when I drive to college. I just kept experimenting, and tinkering with it.

Found out what "style" of shifting it liked, replaced the "bushings" - which I made out of an old rubber air hose, and all in all, it's pretty tight and I can slap through them pretty quick.

Just my 2 cents.

-Sam.

How many 'bushings' are there and does anyone have a diagram or pictures of the tear down?


I agree with above, try adjusting it first.

[oldblue1968chevy]

wow tclark your close to me!

ok guys im trying to adjust it with no help ive read the thing in the faq over and over and cant get it..

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307

Now here is the biggest problem with these and the fix - shifter getting stuck betwen gears - at the very bottom of the column there are 2 small bolts that hold the lower bearing, and a clamp bolt, loosen but don't remove them. They are on a slanted slot/cam. Turn the sleeve counterclockwise to remove the slack between the lower shift levers, this will keep the selector between the shift levers from sliding past the levers causing it to be "stuck".

^that seems to be my problem, except i cant figure out which 2 bolts its talking about, in the cab or under the hood, i found 2 7/16 bolts loosened them and tried to spin the clamp looking thing counterclockwise and nothing

HELP please!!

[darush01]

im not sure how to do it Im not two familiar with 3 on the tree but my dad was telling me once that its an easy fix to get them to stop binding up

[oldblue1968chevy]

ok i think ive got step 2 done..didnt seem to move much AT ALL! but its all the way counterclockwise and tightened back up..gonna try 3 and hook everything back up and see if its any better, what exactly do i need to grease under the steering wheel area????!??!

[oldblue1968chevy]

got it back together and still nothing.

was i supposed to remove the slack with the shifter linkage on, or off, I did it off, bout to try it on.

Id rather have the column shift, its outa the way and diff. but floor shift would make the linkage go away lol

[57larry]

I'd like to go from an auto to a stick. anybody got the clutch stuff, Z bar, linkage ect that they want to get rid of? thanks

[oldblue1968chevy]

wanna trade? lol

[57larry]

my auto took a dump, but I'd like your clutch parts

[toddtheodd]

He's at least closer to you are than I am...

[oldblue1968chevy]

im bout fed up guys

it goes into all the gears now, doesnt hang up, but is VERY hard to shift sometimes..really gotta put your weight into shifting from 1st to 2nd, so much that i take off in 2nd :s

bout to go buy a floor shift from autozone im sick. (cab will be replaced anyway, this is just a temp. fix)

[67chevemall]

O Man keep the standard trany..............

[oldblue1968chevy]

Im going to floor shift.

I wanna decent floor shifter. Can I get one at autozone or parts store, or will they all be junk, i dont wanna wait to order one...i wanna get it done this weekend. wanna get driving again

WHAT BRAND SHOULD I BUY

thanks

[smn69]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Im going to floor shift.

I wanna decent floor shifter. Can I get one at autozone or parts store, or will they all be junk, i dont wanna wait to order one...i wanna get it done this weekend. wanna get driving again

WHAT BRAND SHOULD I BUY

thanks

I bought a Hurst conversion kit from Summit. I can't remember the price, but it was not to expensive and was real easy to install. Shifts pretty good too.

[67chevemall]

Hurst or b&m Should have the kit 4 ya

I would keep it stock and rebuild the three on the tree

[oldblue1968chevy]

im tireed of it and wanna project this weekend.

im goin floor shift, wanna 4 spd m22oneday anyway lol

id like to pick one up tonite or tomorow....which leaves out summit..but if i dont find one ima order one

anybody bought one from a autoparts store and been happy with it? was the shifter tall enough also?

[smn69]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

im tireed of it and wanna project this weekend.

im goin floor shift, wanna 4 spd m22oneday anyway lol

id like to pick one up tonite or tomorow....which leaves out summit..but if i dont find one ima order one

anybody bought one from a autoparts store and been happy with it? was the shifter tall enough also?

If you can find the Hurst the shifter is just the right height. My guess is the B&M would be the same.

[oldblue1968chevy]

so should i buy a hurst or just go to advance and get a mr. gasket?

[smn69]

There can't be a whole lot of difference. There is really not a lot to them - a bracket and a couple of rods.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Well, I was about to go into town and buy the mr. gasket shifter, but then I started reading and everybody liked the Hurst brand more..so should I wait (truck is my DD) and order the Hurst brand, or go get the Mr. Gasket brand?

help

[oldblue1968chevy]

okay, well old school ford lover (also runs an ATV/Motorcycle shop) is gonna look at it...he knows alot about it. If it doesnt change to my liking ima get a HURST shifter....the indy truck shifter 119.00$ from summit or jegs i forgot

[geezer#99]

I put a Mr. Gasket in my 67 GMC. I have the non synchro 3 gear. Couldn't find a hurst to fit. The Hurst truck 3 speed is made for the full synchro tranny with the mount on the tailshaft. Look on Hurst's website. Shorter stick too. Indy is shorter too. Mr. Gasket shifter #7667A I used has 18" tall shifter that clears my seat. Bought mine off ebay for 40 bucks. If you have a full synchro 3 gear which is longer than the non synchro tranny you might need bucket seats to have room for the shifter. 4 bolt side cover on mine verses 7 bolt on full synchro tranny. Mr. Gasket was my best choice and the wife can drive it too.

[northerngmc]

Well I must admit I am surprised and how much better my 3 speed manual column shifter works today.

I took the column out of the truck and poured varsol through it. After a good cleaning and blowing it out with air it moved easily. I then sprayed the moving surfaces with graphite lubrication, regreased the top and bottom bearing and reassembled.

Just back from a test drive and it shifts great.

I would highly recommend removing 40 years of grime, relubing and adjusting to make shifting a whole lot easier.........

[oldblue1968chevy]

Id try it...

but PO loved loctite

he loctited the door handles on instead of using clips...and id be the steering wheel nut is the same way, it wouldnt come off with lube and a puller! Havent tried sicne then....would the floor shift make it funner to drive (sportywise?)

[geezer#99]

JMHO but a floor shifter is always more fun to drive. The 3 gear has it's limitations though. Not a super strong tranny. No speed shifting or side steppin' the clutch. Good for a daily driver.