Back to life after crash in 2011 problem 1972 C-20

[terry b]

After a crash in 2011 the truck is back together. Replaced radiator core support hood passenger fender and inner fender. Had some frame work. The problem is when I shift the truck 402 with a turbo 400. The shift lever moves with no detens until about half the travel is used up. Checked linkage no damage to the column or the rod. But the mounting point on the transmission is bent but intact. Shifted fine at first with a little slop but now it will not lock in to park and detents don't line up marks on indicator. Could I have broke something inside the Transmission?

[randy500]

The connection on the outside of the trans is a shaft which is threaded on the inside too, holding the detent plate. The nut inside could have come loose, or the detent spring came loose. Possibly bent by the impact. Its pretty easy to work on and not part of the valve body or anything else. Just drop the pan and wiggle the linkage around, you will find the problem.

[randy500]

I googled the parts for pictures, didn't quickly find anything I could show you. While your recuperating do the same to familiarize yourself with it.

There is a flat spring with a roller at the tip which is bolted to the valve body which gives the detent feel, that could be loose, its a single bolt. Or the lever inside the trans which is attached much like the outside one could be loose. The lever inside has cams on it for each gear which the roller spring plate detents on. Either could be loose. I have had both become loose in the past, very easy to fix.
That cam lever inside the transmission has a "S" shaped piece of wire which pushes and pulls a valve in the valve body which selects the gears.

Good luck on your procedure!

[randy500]

Pictures found. Hard to see but the spring plate is horizontal to the valvebody. You can clearly see the nut on the inside which may have come loose.

[terry b]

Thanks randy. I don't feel those detents at all when I move linkage rod up and down. Does the nut on the shaft inside have a locking washer on it? Can the shaft move side to side? Never had one apart trying to pick your brain. Thanks for your time terry.

[randy500]

I'm not an expert, only been inside there a couple time and that was a long time ago, but.
This picture shows a groove which I think a pin holds the shaft into the case of the trans, that pin is at the far end of the shaft inside the pan.

Another picture of the detent cam and shaft too.

[randy500]

Whatever it is with the linkage it should be an easy fix, not anything serious, something could be damaged but you will find a way of either fixing it or making a fix that will work. The parts in question are not the working internals of the transmission!

[terry b]

That's good news. It will give me something to research and think about while I recuperate.

[LockDoc]

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While you have the rod unhooked also try moving the shift lever. Pull it towards you and push it down toward the dash when sitting in the drivers seat. The knob should easily move up and down a couple of inches. If it feels stiff spray some penetrating oil into the opening where the shift lever goes into the column housing and try pulling and pushing again. Spray the bottom of the column in the engine compartment too. This will lube the shift tube and make it move easier....

LockDoc

[terry b]

Randy. Took the linkage apart and found the nut on the shaft on the outside of the transmission loose allowing the linkage to move over and come off the flats on the shaft. You were right on the money. EZ fix. Thanks for your time. Terry.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by terry b

Randy. Took the linkage apart and found the nut on the shaft on the outside of the transmission loose allowing the linkage to move over and come off the flats on the shaft. You were right on the money. EZ fix. Thanks for your time. Terry.

Happy I could be of help. So it was not the nut inside the pan? That was real simple.

[terry b]

Yea it was the one on the outside. Crawled under the truck when the wife went to work. If she finds out I was outside instead of in the lazy boy she won't be happy. Heart cath went good. Feel like a new man! Now I want to go for a ride!

[randy500]

Originally Posted by terry b

Yea it was the one on the outside. Crawled under the truck when the wife went to work. If she finds out I was outside instead of in the lazy boy she won't be happy. Heart cath went good. Feel like a new man! Now I want to go for a ride!

Happy your procedure went good!