C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

[Richard M.]

3 speed shifter when in neutral or 2nd or 3rd, is nearly hitting the opening in the tunnel on the right side.

When the shift lever is in Reverse or 1st it is somewhat centered in the opening. When in 3rd or 4th it's too far to the right and nearly hits the opening in the tunnel fiberglass. With the boot and trim plate installed it's worse. It binds up against the boot & trim plate. The shifter is the later 3-speed type and has been in the car over 35 years. We had the lever rechromed but did not disassemble the shifter.

The 3 speed transmission main case is 3743368 C179(March 17, 1959), Tailshaft is 3737450 A69(Jan 6, 1959). Car was built late March 1959. I believe the transmission is original.

You can see the tunnel opening was modified near 3rd & 4th in the past. I'm thinking the car always had this problem.

Any ideas why this is tight clearance is happening? Remedies?

Rich

edit:
1st pic = Reverse gear
2nd pic = Neutral (spring keeps it to the right side as expected)
3rd pic = 2nd gear
4th pic from underneath in Neutral

[John F.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

Is something bent or shimmed from the motormounts rearward?

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

No shims, frame is straight. All stock mounts and brackets. The driveshaft is centered in the tunnel as well. This was a body-off. Frame restored. No damage. I found an old photo before the car was disassembled. Shifter lever was similar to what it is now.......hugging the right side. Never noticed until now.

I've looked for other 3-speed cars with pictures and haven't seen any close up to help.


P9300002.jpg

Any other 58-62 3-speed owners out there? If you have any photos of the shifter that would be helpful.

Rich

[William C.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

Your rods are misadjusted at the trans. If you look at a service manual (ST-12) it shows how to lock the shifter in place using a small block and then adjusting the rods at the trans end to fit. You can juse see the start of the alignment notch in the far left side of the first picture.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

Bill,

First picture is in reverse. I should have noted that. I'll edit my 1st post.

I adjusted per ST-12 when I installed it. Car runs, shifts, and moves properly in all gears.

[William C.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

So if it is in neutral, all the slots line up even?

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

Yes the slots line up even. Linkage and shifter operation is perfectly smooth.

My problem is that the entire shifter seems to be too far to the right, so much so that the lever boot rubs against the hole and trim plate.

[Edward B.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

Try some washers between the shifter assembly and the transmission housing - that should move everything far enough to the left to eliminate the interference without affecting your smooth shifting. I seem to remember having to do the same thing with a four-speed that was hanging up on the rubber boot; the washer/spacers were a quick and easy fix.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

When the body went back on the frame the shifter wasn't installed. It must have been tight before the body was removed. The body must be shifted slightly to the left from it's original position now.

I'll add spacers to the shifter mount. I'm thinking there may have been washers there before. I now recall some extra washers were in the bag I had with the mount bolts. Now I'm thinking the problem was there before I took it apart.

I just have to make sure the opposite side of the shifter doesn't get too close to the tunnel.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 1959 3-Speed Shifter Lever Clearance Issue

I added three 1/2" spacers to the back of the shifter using longer bolts. It's much better now, properly centered in the opening, and good clearance underneath at the opposite end of the shifter next to the outer tunnel area.

Thanks for the replies and ideas.

I'm still convinced this car had some strange shifter "fitment" issues when it was built originally. Other oddities about this car were evident in the rebuild also.

Rich