3 on the tree conversion?

[egglestallion]

Hello everyone,
I'm new to the group. I've had great luck with other forums in the past to help me figure some things out. I just bought a 1972 c-10 and I'm looking forward to making it mine... For starters, it was originally a 3 on the tree and one of the previous owners converted it to a floor shifter. It works ok, sometimes I have to wiggle it into 2nd, but the biggest issue is that the shift pattern is backwards.
r is right and down, 1st is right and up, 2nd is left and down, 3rd is left and up..
Not like any manual I have driven and sooner or later I'm going to end up throwing it into 1st instead of 3rd...
Anyone have any suggestions on how to correct this matter?
Thanks for any assistance.

[hamjet]

Hi, welcome to the forum. sounds like the linkage plates on the transmission are upside down, see if you can flip them and then readjust the linkage. that should take care of it...sounds like they have the wrong shift rod going to the wrong spot on the tranni also, just caught that....

[smoked68]

yep what he said, done this a few times by accident myself. slide under and figure out which one ( have some one put in R and 1st whilst youre under) then switch them and adj. Put something in the lock out hole so youre in neutral on the shifter then adjust to the trans. Easy and good luck

[mr48chev]

If you have it in neutral where does the spring move the handle? Towards the left or towards the right? I've never seen a shifter put in backwards but that doesn't mean it can't be done. The spring should push the handle to the right.

There should be a hole in the shift arms and housing to put a pin in to line up the arms so they are square with each other when you adjust the shifter. Then you do your adjustment by turning the piece on the shift rod so it slips smoothly into the correct shift arm.

The "universal" shifters like Hamjet showed are usually better at getting hung up and breaking gears than they are at shifting gears. I put one in my first car as a teenager and it hung up on me all the time.

[egglestallion]

Thanks guys! Hamjet, the picture is very helpful. I haven't crawled under the truck yet to even know what to expect. Mr48chev, I don't think there is a spring because its sloppy and doesn't push to one side or the other when in neutral. As far as the actual shifting goes, the 2 "up" gears (currently 1st and 3rd) go in perfectly. The 2 "down" gears, particularly 2nd go in rough, and have even popped out of gear on occasion. I'm hoping that can be fixed with an adjustment when I try to correct the pattern.

[egglestallion]

I just finished fixing the issues of a screwed up shift pattern. Thanks for your help fellas, it works pretty smooth now.

Next task... Brakes. Know of a good site to watch videos on righting crappy brakes? I've noticed my rear right tire skidding when I come to a stop.

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by egglestallion

I just finished fixing the issues of a screwed up shift pattern. Thanks for your help fellas, it works pretty smooth now.

Next task... Brakes. Know of a good site to watch videos on righting crappy brakes? I've noticed my rear right tire skidding when I come to a stop.

If one wheel is skidding, it could be a leaky wheel cylinder, which you should address ASAP!

When it comes to brakes on a newly purchased old ride, go through all 4 wheels and make it yours! I never trust other people's brake work when it comes to an old vehicle that someone else may have screwed up. I will usually do all 4 wheel cylinders and shoes/pads and bleed the crap out of it, flushing out all the old fluid. Do the master cylinder if there's any doubt as to whether it's good or not. At least you know it's your work and what's been done at that point.