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Joe K · 01-07-2024, 05:09 PM

If you remove your lever from the transmission cover - do it carefully.

I recently did this using a screwdriver with a groove filed in the tang and a pair of needle nose pliers - it worked and I didn't pick the spring out of my forehead - but the possibility exists. Make or buy a tool to remove the hazard.

Once out, you can check the "cross key/pin" to see if the gearshift shaft has been bent to right or left. The key should be EXACTLY SQUARE with the bend.

As to the gearshift/potential replacement: there are varying reports on the "degree of bend" between the 1928/29 shift levers and the 30/31. One report put the bend at 15 degrees for earlier and 20 degrees for later. See https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/tra...hiftlevers.htm

And yet Vince's picture puts it more at the "other report" which is 20 degrees for early and 30 degrees for later? (Think 30-60-90 draftsman's triangle in your mind's eye.)

There doesn't seem to be a Service Bulletins WARNING about this change.

And - to further confuse the market - those repop shift levers available seem to be somewhere between these two extremes - maybe 22 degrees? One can anticipate that in order to achieve the highest sales possible one might follow Ford's modus and make all subsequent parts "back fit" previous production?

So - you pays your money and take what you can get?

I have a bona-fide original "AR" shift lever currently being repainted (yes - repainted as the original was down to pitted bare metal.) When I can at the next paint drying cycle, I'll measure this with my trusty draftsmans protractor.

Joe K

01-07-2024, 05:09 PM	#3
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,612	Re: seats and trans shift If you remove your lever from the transmission cover - do it carefully. I recently did this using a screwdriver with a groove filed in the tang and a pair of needle nose pliers - it worked and I didn't pick the spring out of my forehead - but the possibility exists. Make or buy a tool to remove the hazard. Once out, you can check the "cross key/pin" to see if the gearshift shaft has been bent to right or left. The key should be EXACTLY SQUARE with the bend. As to the gearshift/potential replacement: there are varying reports on the "degree of bend" between the 1928/29 shift levers and the 30/31. One report put the bend at 15 degrees for earlier and 20 degrees for later. See https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/tra...hiftlevers.htm And yet Vince's picture puts it more at the "other report" which is 20 degrees for early and 30 degrees for later? (Think 30-60-90 draftsman's triangle in your mind's eye.) There doesn't seem to be a Service Bulletins WARNING about this change. And - to further confuse the market - those repop shift levers available seem to be somewhere between these two extremes - maybe 22 degrees? One can anticipate that in order to achieve the highest sales possible one might follow Ford's modus and make all subsequent parts "back fit" previous production? So - you pays your money and take what you can get? I have a bona-fide original "AR" shift lever currently being repainted (yes - repainted as the original was down to pitted bare metal.) When I can at the next paint drying cycle, I'll measure this with my trusty draftsmans protractor. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse. Last edited by Joe K; 01-07-2024 at 05:16 PM.