Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

[Donald H.]

I'm replacing the linkage in my 66. I have read the instructions in the Service Manual and have the car on my lift. The manual calls for a Locaing Gauge 1/8" thick by 41/64" wide by 3" long. I haven't fabricate it yet, but for the life of me, I can't see how the slot it goes into, or how to get it in a slot with the crossmember and tunnel.

Are you supposed to be able to insert this gauge with the tranny in the car?

Thanks,
Don

[William C.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

I'm replacing the linkage in my 66. I have read the instructions in the Service Manual and have the car on my lift. The manual calls for a Locaing Gauge 1/8" thick by 41/64" wide by 3" long. I haven't fabricate it yet, but for the life of me, I can't see how the slot it goes into, or how to get it in a slot with the crossmember and tunnel.

Are you supposed to be able to insert this gauge with the tranny in the car?


Thanks,
Don

Actually, the factory used the gauge and the trans was on the rolling chassis prior to Body drop. There is a slight chance you could get it into place from the top by removing the shifter boot, and its' hold-down bracket. The slot the gauge fits into is on the top of the shifter arms. An easier way to make the adjustment is to put the trans in neutral and adjust the linkage to visually align the slots on the top of the shifter arms.

[Donald H.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

OK, I'll have to look closer. From the picture in the Service Manual it looked like the slot was on the bottom of arms

[William C.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

OK, I'll have to look closer. From the picture in the Service Manual it looked like the slot was on the bottom of arms

Sorry, I was thinking T-10 solid axle car. You are correct, the slot is on the bottom on the housing of the muncie shifter. I think I can get a picture for you if needed,

[Richard T.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

Don,
I did this last year and your right it's a royal PIA. I wound up putting a 90 degree bend in the gauge and managed to fit it into the slot from the bottom with the car on the lift. It's much better to use it with a transmission on a workbench, the lock nuts will hold the adjustment while you install the shifter into the car. Maybe you or a friend has a spare muncie to use. Good luck Rich

[Chuck G.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

It's been awhile, but seems I recall using an Allen wrench in the slot to line up the gates.

Chuck

[Alan D.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

I'll second Chuck's method - works just fine.

[Gene M.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

The gauge size of 3" long is too long to fit with tranny in car. I made my gauge out of 1/16" sheet metal and only 1 3/4" long with a hole at one end to insert a key ring. Ring allows easy removal after setting. The shifter linkage should be loosened if the shifter positions are way off in order to get the gauge in. Shifter needs to be in neutral.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

You don't need a gage, just look at the rear of the shifter. You will see a half round slot that goes across the back of the shifter. You can lay a drill bit there and align the arms, or just eyeball it.

[Donald H.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

Thanks all. I did finally get something to sort of work for me. I bent a tight loop in a coat hanger and left a long "handle" with the rest of the coat hanger. Got it in the slot now and seems to be holding. Now if I had two extra hands!!! Going to try to convince my wife to help this evening. She does so like to work on these old cars .

This started out rather simple, the back up light switch, bracket, etc. were missing on the car when I bought it. So I was just trying to install that. Then I discovered at some point somone put what looks like maybe a passenger car reverse level on, it does not have the hole for the rod to the switch, also the 1st and 2nd lever doesn't look quite right compared to the replacement I got. All the rods were loose, so I though why not install new linkages.

Oh Well!!!!

[Donald H.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

Help again Please ----

I though I had everything line up, connected the rods to the tranny levers. Then I took a look inside the car and my shift lever is all the way back toward the rear of the console, and nothing works. If you look at picture one of the shifter, I have the groove in the shift levers lined up with the grooves in the shifter housing. I am assuming this is neutral for all positions. Is this correct?

However, with the levers lined up as I described above, the shifter in the car is all the way back to the rear of the console.

This has got to be simpler than I am making it.

.Shifter.jpg
Shift Lever.jpg

[James B.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

it looks like you used the wrong hole in the tail shaft housing to mount the shifter.
it's still not easy to do. John Z has a good pic of a guage made from a putty knife.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

Probably have the arm completely out of the slot.

[Donald H.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

The shifter was already installed and working. As I indicated earlier, all I have been trying to do is replace the linkage and transmission levers.

[Donald H.]

Re: Locating Gauge for installing and adjusting 4-speed linkage

Wayne,

I suspect you are right. Is there any trick to getting everything lined back up?

I had my wife in the car moving the stick around while I was underneath, but I still was not able to get everything to moving in sync.


Thanks,