shifter top problem
 

I have what I believe to be a '36 Ford transmission. I am using Van Pelt's book as a guide and have dated it accordingly. The corner of the shifter base plate was broken off so I replaced it with another one that appears to be the same. It was rusty so I cleaned it all up, sprayed the sliders with penetrating oil a couple of times every day for a couple of weeks. The reverse, first side slides well and shifts like it was new when I put the shifter back on. However I can't get the front fork shaft for 2nd and 3rd to mover. I tap everything with a hammer slightly when I apply the penetrating oil. But the damn thing won't move. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Re: shifter top problem
 

Disassemble the entire mechanism by removing the pins holding the forks to the rails and removing the threaded cap (heat with a torch) pull the rails and replace the internals, spring and both detent caps. You can use split pins to replace the original pins holding the forks to the rails. Mac VanPelt or Third Gen Auto have the parts & gaskets.

Re: shifter top problem
 

Have you thought about using the good parts off you old one? Seems like that would be fairly easy to do.

Re: shifter top problem
 

Make sure 1st/rev fork is in neutral before trying to move 2/3 fork.

Re: shifter top problem
 

The neutral position for the 2st/rev ford is when the hole for the shifter lever is in the center. And that both ends of the 1st/rev. shaft are equal. Correct?

Re: shifter top problem
 

look at the cover from the bottom, you will see 3 notches on each shift rail. the center notch when clicked into the detent, is neutral. both rails need to be in neutral, then line up the slots in the trans gears to the forks when installing. really should do as Terry said, and tear it down and fix it right

Re: shifter top problem
 

Yes. Good advice. Thank you. Van Pelt's book can make that happen.



John

Re: shifter top problem
 

John, some pictures posted here of both shifter tops would probably have helped sort this out quickly.

Re: shifter top problem
 

I agree. The early V8s started out with the shift tower that had the obvious angle back to the rear. In the 1936 time frame, the straight up vertical shift tower came into use but they only had a single detent set up. It wasn't till 1938 that the double detent set up came along. The double detent tower remained in production through 1952 at least.

It's too easy to mix and match parts on these old cog boxes so it's a good idea to ID what a person has so that answers to questions can be more accurate.