73 - 87 Column shift linkage, shift levers

[TheOcho]

I'm looking for the front shift lever (I believe it's the 2nd, 3rd lever) off of a 1973 - 1987 three speed, column shift, transmission. I can't seem to find one anywhere. Most people switch over to floor shift, so there has to be thousands of these just lying around. If anybody has one or knows where I can get one please let me know. It's the "U" shaped one in the attached photograph. And please, don't tell me to convert to floor shift or four speed. Absolutely not an option. Thanks.

[MikeB]

I can't do it now, but I may be able to find the GM P/N. I have found several P/Ns by digging through (and it's not easy) http://www.gmpartswiki.com/query

Once you have the P/N, Google it. You may not be able to find the part for sale, but you never know. I found four rare 3-speed column shift parts on eBay, a Buick dealer, and a few other places.

If it were 3-4 months from now, you could have my shift lever. I'm replacing my 250 six & Saginaw with a 355/TH350 this Spring.

[old Rusty C10]

go look in the parts section search it there is a guy parting a 79 I believe also ebay has em from time to time

[TheOcho]

Originally Posted by MikeB

I can't do it now, but I may be able to find the GM P/N. I have found several P/Ns by digging through (and it's not easy) http://www.gmpartswiki.com/query

Once you have the P/N, Google it. You may not be able to find the part for sale, but you never know. I found four rare 3-speed column shift parts on eBay, a Buick dealer, and a few other places.

If it were 3-4 months from now, you could have my shift lever. I'm replacing my 250 six & Saginaw with a 355/TH350 this Spring.

I might take you up on that offer if I don't find one by then. I'm in no real hurry, the one I have works, but it was modified and I don't like it. Some years ago I designed and built a retrofit kit to tighten up the linkage for smoother shifting and make it adjustable for wear. It works well, but I had to modify the shift lever to make it work. Now I've come up with a new idea and it involves an unmodified lever.

[craig113]

Its called a,
LEVER, 1st & REV......GM PN# 6271385

[TheOcho]

Originally Posted by craig113

Its called a,
LEVER, 1st & REV......GM PN# 6271385

It's the other lever, 2nd & 3rd. The U-shaped one.

[craig113]

Gm pn# 1375434

[TheOcho]

Originally Posted by craig113

Gm pn# 1375434

That would be the one. Thank you very much.

[73kay]

Originally Posted by TheOcho

Absolutely not an option. Thanks.

Good for you. I love my 3 on the tree, but I did ditch the 250 for a crate.

[TheOcho]

Originally Posted by 73kay

Good for you. I love my 3 on the tree, but I did ditch the 250 for a crate.

When I was looking to buy a project truck, three-on-the-tree was a requirement.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by TheOcho

When I was looking to buy a project truck, three-on-the-tree was a requirement.

Wish I could get mine to work properly. I completely went through the steering column last year, which helped quite a bit, but some of the parts are simply worn out, and are not available anywhere. The main part I really need is the "shift bowl", which is where the shift handle is connected. Even though I shimmed the bores to minimize wobble on the mast, the boss where the shift handle attaches was broken and repaired with epoxy by some previous owner. I reinforced it, but am not 100% comfortable that it will hold up.

And since the 250 six will soon be replaced by a new 355, the old Saginaw with 3.50 first gear would not handle the torque. Guess I could always install the gearset used for 350-equipped trucks, but I already have a TH350 ready to go. Now if I could just find a nice auto trans steering column to fit my 82!

[TheOcho]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Wish I could get mine to work properly. I completely went through the steering column last year, which helped quite a bit, but some of the parts are simply worn out, and are not available anywhere. The main part I really need is the "shift bowl", which is where the shift handle is connected. Even though I shimmed the bores to minimize wobble on the mast, the boss where the shift handle attaches was broken and repaired with epoxy by some previous owner. I reinforced it, but am not 100% comfortable that it will hold up.

And since the 250 six will soon be replaced by a new 355, the old Saginaw with 3.50 first gear would not handle the torque. Guess I could always install the gearset used for 350-equipped trucks, but I already have a TH350 ready to go. Now if I could just find a nice auto trans steering column to fit my 82!

Luckily, the only problem I've had with mine is the bushings at the transmission levers. I redesigned them to make them adjustable for wear and machined new ones out of 4140 chromoly steel. They work excellent.

It's refreshing to see people still interested in the old column shifts. Most guys try to persuade you into switching to floor shift or automatic. I'm a little to nostalgic for all that custom stuff. My project hasn't been customized to death, but I have upgrading to things that were available in 1978 and I've been using parts that are true to the era. I went from idiot lights to gauges using a factory cluster I got off of eBay; I upgraded to power steering with GM bracketry and I upgraded from AM only to AM/FM with a stereo out of a 1978 Caprice and cab corner speakers out of an early 80s C10. My next upgrade is a 292 thats currently on the engine stand. The truck I bought was pretty much unmolested (other than some bad body work) so I didn't have to deal with someone else's "custom" crap, like a bagged suspension or a hacked up wire harness. My "Ol Blue" was owned by an old man who bought it brand new and never changed anything on it.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by TheOcho

My next upgrade is a 292 thats currently on the engine stand. The truck I bought was pretty much unmolested (other than some bad body work) so I didn't have to deal with someone else's "custom" crap, like a bagged suspension or a hacked up wire harness. My "Ol Blue" was owned by an old man who bought it brand new and never changed anything on it.

What is the truck's axle ratio? And does the trans have a 3.50 first gear? A 292 typically came with a 3.11 ratio, which handles more torque than the 3.50. At least that was the case in 82. And of course, that additional torque can easily pull the taller gear.

My 82 C10 was mostly stock when I bought it last year, except for 6.5" rally wheels that were used on vans. They have too much backspacing, so I'll replace them with something else, maybe 8" rallys, which cost 4/$100 around here. The truck also has an aftermarket radio that actually works pretty well. Other than that, it's unmolested. Axle ratio is 2.73 which is totally insane for a 250 six, but should be fine for a 355 with auto trans.

[Oregoon]

Originally Posted by TheOcho

When I was looking to buy a project truck, three-on-the-tree was a requirement.

Same here. Absolutely my favorite thing to drive.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled at wrecking yards and elsewhere for parts. My truck only has 91K on it, but when I do encounter 3OTT troubles, I want as little downtime as possible.

[TheOcho]

Originally Posted by MikeB

What is the truck's axle ratio? And does the trans have a 3.50 first gear? A 292 typically came with a 3.11 ratio, which handles more torque than the 3.50. At least that was the case in 82. And of course, that additional torque can easily pull the taller gear.

My 82 C10 was mostly stock when I bought it last year, except for 6.5" rally wheels that were used on vans. They have too much backspacing, so I'll replace them with something else, maybe 8" rallys, which cost 4/$100 around here. The truck also has an aftermarket radio that actually works pretty well. Other than that, it's unmolested. Axle ratio is 2.73 which is totally insane for a 250 six, but should be fine for a 355 with auto trans.

Not sure of the first gear ratio but my rear axle is a 3.07. I'm actually considering a 2.73 for the 292, but I want to see how it handles he 3.07 first.

I had an 81 C10 some years back (a parts truck that never saw the street after I bought it) and it had the 250 w/integrated head, a New Process (overdrive) 4 speed and a 2.56 rear. I'm assuming it was a slug.