Manual Column Shift Rebuild

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customsportsman

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New Baltimore MI
Hi again everyone!

Thanks for your assistance on the tailshaft leaks.
Now here's another one. The column shift for the three-on-the-tree is completely worn out. I made a couple of brass bushings that I could see that were completely oblong. I have tried cleaning and re-greasing the column gate. But...everything there is worn out. Two questions...
1) Has anybody found a rebuild kit, or piecemealed a rebuild kit together for the column shifter?
2) I cannot find a procedure to tighten up the column shifter gate. It LOOKS adjustable, but I don't want to make anything worse. I already did the linkage adjustment based on the service manual, but it looks like there is an adjustment to tighten up the column too.

Thanks,

Tim in Michigan
70 Dart (one of those ugly cars that I'd ruin if I re-stored it)
64 Dodge Custom Sportsman (all restored and pretty)
 
customsportsman said:
Sorry...
1970 Dart, slant six three on the tree car. A 903 transmission. I did do that procedure that you show. I am looking for some way to tighten up the steering column part of the shift linkage. Mainly the shift gate.
Click to expand...

I’m wrestling with worn out linkage on a 1969 Barracuda, slant six three on the tree as well. I might have some insight on tightening the steering column shift gate for you though. The plastic bushing closest to the firewall has a screw that rides in an angled slot. Loosen the screw and use it to twist the bushing inside the column. This takes up play in the column shift gate. Don’t over tighten the screw when you’re done, it’s self tapping and mine is stripped so it won’t hold the adjustment. The arrow in the photo points to the place in the pack where there should be a plastic spacer ring. It’s about 1/16” thick. If it’s missing, there won’t be enough adjustment in the bushing to get the shift pack tight enough.
F511A775-3D0C-4357-8A42-37BA70385032.jpeg
 
cn8dn said:
I’m wrestling with worn out linkage on a 1969 Barracuda, slant six three on the tree as well. I might have some insight on tightening the steering column shift gate for you though. The plastic bushing closest to the firewall has a screw that rides in an angled slot. Loosen the screw and use it to twist the bushing inside the column. This takes up play in the column shift gate. Don’t over tighten the screw when you’re done, it’s self tapping and mine is stripped so it won’t hold the adjustment. The arrow in the photo points to the place in the pack where there should be a plastic spacer ring. It’s about 1/16” thick. If it’s missing, there won’t be enough adjustment in the bushing to get the shift pack tight enough. View attachment 1715553110
Click to expand...
Any one know where I can find bushing for 3 speed manual column shift
 
Here are some some part numbers for the 3 speed manual column shift. 2781444 grommet,2781445 bushing and 2883543 bearing.These numbers show up occasionally on eBay.
 
cn8dn said:
I’m wrestling with worn out linkage on a 1969 Barracuda, slant six three on the tree as well. I might have some insight on tightening the steering column shift gate for you though. The plastic bushing closest to the firewall has a screw that rides in an angled slot. Loosen the screw and use it to twist the bushing inside the column. This takes up play in the column shift gate. Don’t over tighten the screw when you’re done, it’s self tapping and mine is stripped so it won’t hold the adjustment. The arrow in the photo points to the place in the pack where there should be a plastic spacer ring. It’s about 1/16” thick. If it’s missing, there won’t be enough adjustment in the bushing to get the shift pack tight enough. View attachment 1715553110
Click to expand...
The precision on that paint.jpg annotation isnt the best, is the plastic ring like a flat shim that we see the square end of, and it lies flat and is 1/16" thick and plenty wide, or is it super thin and basically you cant see it, hence the arrow?
 
PentaAggression said:
The precision on that paint.jpg annotation isnt the best, is the plastic ring like a flat shim that we see the square end of, and it lies flat and is 1/16" thick and plenty wide, or is it super thin and basically you cant see it, hence the arrow?
Click to expand...
It’s plenty wide. Wish I would’ve taken some video of sliding the components back on to the steering column. Here’s a couple more pictures and the pertinent pages from the service manual. There are actually 2 screws (one top, one on the bottom) to loosen to adjust the lever pack.

CBA93184-7E37-47E1-8D45-6E24CE1887BD.jpeg


50B3090C-C375-4573-AAA3-B058F0DA9D7D.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • STEERING-COLUMNS.pdf
    1.2 MB · Views: 136
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