71 Shifter problem

[Tom H.]

Hey guys !

Thought I'd do a little re arranging the garage today and pull the old 71 out. Thought I'd just push it out of the garage and fire it up outside.

Well, it wouldn't push. Trans was stuck in gear. ( 350 4 speed) Shifter wouln't go into any gear position. Now,the car has been sitting for about two years and it was parked in reverse with no previous issues. I got under the car and got the linkage freed up, but don't know exactly what I did to get it freed up. Car runs and drives great now. Do you think a shifter rebuild is in order or should I not worry about it since all is well now and I can't get it to act up now ?

Now..... if it happens again,what exactly did I do to get it freed up?? Seems the reverse rod was the culprit.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

Tom,

I've had my 71 get into reverse and 2nd at the same time. You may have had the same issue. Only after it happened several times did I pull the trans and rebuild it.

For now I'd just watch it.

Patrick

[William C.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

First thing I'd look for is a broken spot weld on the "box" that the arms in the shifter reside in. Seen a couple of those over the years, and makes it real easy to have the trans in reverse and then slide it into second with out getting it out of reverse

[Jim T.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

Doubt it caused your problem, but removing the shifter and cleaning it and with new lubrication it should shift like when it was new.

[Tom H.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

Thanks guys !

[Vincent F.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

white grease baby, works wonders

[Charles F.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

I have a 68 with M20. My shifter was repeatedly getting stuck between gears, usually between first and second, but not exclusively. I don't know if my problem would apply to your situation (involving different gears).

The "blade" at the lower end of the shifter had thinned, likely the result of the stripping/re-chroming process the restorer undertook, allowing the blade to wedge between the control rods. No amount of adjustment would deal with the problem. It was easy to free from underneath the car with a long pry bar. The solution was to replace the entire shifter mechanism; I have not had the problem since.

Chuck

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

I have a 68 with M20. My shifter was repeatedly getting stuck between gears, usually between first and second, but not exclusively. I don't know if my problem would apply to your situation (involving different gears).

The "blade" at the lower end of the shifter had thinned, likely the result of the stripping/re-chroming process the restorer undertook, allowing the blade to wedge between the control rods. No amount of adjustment would deal with the problem. It was easy to free from underneath the car with a long pry bar. The solution was to replace the entire shifter mechanism; I have not had the problem since.

Chuck

Chuck-----


Wear on the blade of the shifter lever is one of the most common problems for 64-81 shifters. There's no way to fix it other than to replace the shifter lever or the complete shifter assembly. Very few folks recognize this shifter problem. Usually, they focus on the other parts of the shifter assembly and end up replacing parts with no resultant improvement in shifter functionality. For some reason, most folks think the shifter lever is "immortal" or not a wear part. Actually, it's the most "mortal" and wear-prone part of the entire shifter assembly.

[John H.]

Re: 71 Shifter problem

Photo below shows the "blade" at the bottom of the lever that selects the lower shift levers; when it wears enough, it can jam between two of them or grab two of them at a time, especially if the "stack" is loose laterally in the housing.