68 M-20 Transmission stuck third gear

[Charles F.]

I have a 68 Coupe, L-36, M-20 with a 3.70 rear. Transmission newly rebuilt and car just finished frame off pro restoration. Driving on Saturday, entering a rotary at low speed, and the transmission would not shift. Clutch depresses/work fine, transmission works OK but shift lever stuck in the "neutral" position (but actually in third gear). Can drive the car this way, but have to slip the clutch from a standing start.

Doesn't change even with double clutching or stopping the car and starting again. Being told that this "happens all the time" and is not a problem with the restoration; that there is a "gate" in the shifter (believed that the problem is the shifter, not the transmission) and that the gate is no longer aligned properly. Also being told that I may need to learn to live with it...not a satisfactory answer and I feel like I am being double-talked.

What say you ??

Chuck Faillace

[Jerry G.]

Re: 68 M-20 Transmission stuck third gear

Get as far away from the so called professional restorer as possible.Fire him and tell him to "live with that" Get the car up in the air , disconnect the levers from the transmission, use the service guide to help you neutral align the shifter to the transmission and your good to go. Use the service guide, it will help you through the sequence, not difficult at all.

[Michael B.]

Re: 68 M-20 Transmission stuck third gear

Muncie shifters can get sloppy. Some say they came sloppy. Your problem is in the shifter and not the transmission. Hurst became a household name because of shifters supplied by Detroit. If you are polite with them they work. If you want to slam a gear or two, and who doesn't, you risk your situation.

You will, at this point, need to climb under the car and move both forward gears shift levers to the neutral position. This will get you back to useable.

Try adjusting the shift arms as outlined in the service manual. The tighter the adjustment, the less chance of it slipping into 2 gears. Also make sure the lever/rod bushings are tight and the fancy spring retaining clips were used and not just cotter pins. These shifters can also be rebuilt and shimmed tighter.

[Charles F.]

Re: 68 M-20 Transmission stuck third gear

Thanks for the information. Just wondering: if there is mechanical damage to the shifter, is the 68 shifter the same as the 69 shifter (been told that 68 may be shorter and unique to 68) ?

Chuck Faillace

[William C.]

Re: 68 M-20 Transmission stuck third gear

The lower shifter parts are interchangable, regardless, but one thing to look for is a failure of the weld at the point where the "box" holding the levers is joined together. Easy to see if you remove the shifter from the car. the judicous use of a press on the outside of the box once the levers have been removed will also perform wonders in eliminating excess "slop" As mentioned, find a shop that knows the cars (not the one you have been using) and the fix should not be too difficult. BTW, many parts in the shifter lower section interchange with chevrolet and chevelle, so if you have a good "A" body shop in your area, they should be familiar with the factory shifter, assuming you can'd find a competent shop otherwise.