65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

[Lawrence S.]

[Mike T.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Lawrence - For Midyears, GM had a few different designs for the reverse lockout handle, the T handle you raise up to access Reverse.
If by chance that rod in the handle has 'risen' a bit, it will allow the shifter to move further to the left than it should.
Remove the shifter ball and spring and take a look at the reverse lockout handle. If that rod is not all the way down and secured,
it could be causing your problems. Here's one I recently had that problem with.
IMG_0847.jpg

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Ahhh, that makes sense Mike will give it a shot. Seems it is something a little odd like that. I have a repro t handle in there now, but do have what I think is an original that has the rod bent over like your picture. The original chrome is a little beat up on the original.
Thanks Mike

[Mike T.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Lawrence - That pic I posted shows only one 'version' of the reverse lockout rod. On that one, the rod came up through the chromed cast T-handle and then they did a 90 degree bend but look a bit lower and you'll see the way they secured the rod. That pic isn't the best for it but on that version they used a set screw accessible from the backside to hold it firm. Mine started to rise up, gave the small set screw a little snugging and it seemed fine...for a while then when I had trouble with the shifter again, turns out the light snugging I did cracked the casting and the rod freely rose up, causing my shifting problems. I'll look for the other pics I have on T-handle lockout rods but one version had a rod with a thicker body that necked down at the very top, then it was inserted into the handle and they apparently 'pinched' the end of the rod to hold it in place, no set screw. When you pull the shifter ball off, hopefully you'll find there is a problem with the lockout handle that can be corrected.

[Mike T.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Okay, found the old pics that I took of the different Reverse Lockout Handles. That access hole for the set screw is shown on one of them. Even the rods are different, one that tapers down quite a bit, the other is full thickness...until it reaches the top of the T handle casting where it too necks down. On that type, there is no adjustment, it's really captivated and can't slide up out of the way so that style should not be causing your problems. DSCN3224.jpgDSCN3225.jpgDSCN3221.jpg

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Thanks Mike. Today after lunch (East Coast time) I will be working on the shifter so will report back then of what is going on.

[Joseph S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Lawrence, Has the shifter been worked on at all. Possibly a new handle or shaft. There's a set screw on those shifters to adjust the reverse lock out. It's adjusted and welded from the factory. Sometimes after the shifters are reconditioned, that weld needs to be removed and the set screw adjusted to stop the shifter from being caught up in the reverse lock out spacer.

Regards,

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Lawrence, Has the shifter been worked on at all. Possibly a new handle or shaft. There's a set screw on those shifters to adjust the reverse lock out. It's adjusted and welded from the factory. Sometimes after the shifters are reconditioned, that weld needs to be removed and the set screw adjusted to stop the shifter from being caught up in the reverse lock out spacer.

Regards,

Spoke the previous owner and he said it has not been reworked while he owned it. It seems something is not in place somewhere and causes the shifter to come to a firm stop. But smooth as silk as soon as I move it a very slight amount.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Thanks Mike. Today after lunch (East Coast time) I will be working on the shifter so will report back then of what is going on.

Mike, I tried all the t handles I had including with the bent over rod in the handle. That one when installed would not lockout reverse. I tried a third one that was slightly longer then the repro and same result. Perhaps the rod needs to be longer than the one that will not lock our reverse but shorter than the current problem t handle? Or, as I mentioned in the other post, perhaps something in the shifter. Will keep after it.

[Mike T.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Lawrence - as you saw from my pics, GM made more than one version of the Reverse Lockout Rod. Some use the set screw (not welded in place) and others had that rod crimped up top along with a thicker lower body to basically captivate the rod.
When I got my 66 NOM L72, the shifter had a very odd feel to it, similar to what you are experiencing. At the time, the rod (set screw type) seemed to be okay but shifting back down into first/second was a bit of a mystery, not smooth by any stretch. Got the shifter body out of the car, which is pretty easy when you have side exhaust, and found the pin in the shifter body was MIA. That pin is typically threaded into position and the factory added a bead of weld to hold it in place. Check out the pics and you'll see one pic showing the MIA detent stud while the other shifter body had it. The really odd thing is...on the body missing the detent stud, there was no sign of it ever having been welded on and I've done a lot of Muncie shifters and never saw something like this. So, on my 66 L72, I used the other body and the Reverse Lockout Handle worked fine, until the casting up top with the set screw cracked allowing the rod to raise up defeating the purpose of the rod. The neighbor across the road has a 66 L72 and happened to have some spare shifter parts and I got a Reverse Lockout Rod from him but it turns out his was a bit longer than the others I had so when it was raised while trying to access Reverse, it did not come up high enough to clear that stud so it needed a little t*******, like 1/8-inch and dressed down with a file afterwards. Still with me? As it stands, if you can get under your Vette and take a look, and have someone up top pull up on the Reverse Rod, maybe you can see why it's not working right.
The threaded/welded stud has to be in place and the reverse lockout rod takes up the space next to it...until you raise the rod up to access Reverse.
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[David M.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Sounds like a shifter gate and or rod adjustment to me by the description in the original post.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Sounds like a shifter gate and or rod adjustment to me by the description in the original post.

Mike, thanks for the pictures and reply. Will check this out and get back with an update.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Sounds like a shifter gate and or rod adjustment to me by the description in the original post.

Dave, the shifter gates, rods have been adjusted per the AIM along with the tool inserted into the gates. I think Mike is on to something with his post.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Mike, thanks a million for your post and pictures. You were exactly correct. My shifter had been rebuilt and when re-installed the adjusting screw was tack welded incorrectly. We removed the weld, adjusted the nut and all works as it should! Again many thanks!!

Lawrence

[Mike T.]

Re: 65 stock 4 speed shifter issue

Lawrence - A lot of years have passed since these cars were new and not too surprising to find someone has been 'in there' and done some modifications. Glad you got it corrected.