Shift Linkage Adjustment ('72)

[Enginebuilder]

In the quest to finish working on this truck (for now) I am ready to adjust the shifter linkage. The gear indicator (column mounted) points FAR to the left of park, and all other gears are also far to the left. Shifting from gear to gear is tricky, as the detents are weak/worn- any fix for this?

Any advice or helpful hints before I go tinkering with this?

[Enginebuilder]

By using the search feature of this site, I was able to get the shifter lined up with Park and all subsequent gears.

I do have a followup question though-

The detent plate on the column is pretty badly worn, which makes shifting from Park to any other gear pretty sloppy, and lightly bumping the shifter will cause it to move from gear to gear.

A: where would one find a new plate,
and
B: does replacement require removal of the steering column?

[Markedz]

Could you please post the links to the posts that you got your answers from? I am having similar issues and cannot find answers. Also, let me know if you have any tips for tightening up that linkage... Mine is fine from the tranny up to the detents... The it gets a little sloppy. 1970 C20 Longhorn with 3speed automatic.

[Enginebuilder]

Sorry, I cannot seem to find the helpful posts that I found before.

I can tell you what procedure I used, to the best of my recollection:

First, I loosened the shift linkage (the part that goes to the transmission) from the steering column. I then manually put the truck into 1st, rotating the linkage manually at the transmission. Then, using the shifter in the truck, line up the gear indicator so that it is pointing at "1". Tighten down the locking bolt, securing the transmission side shift linkage to the linkage from the gear selector.

The detentes on the gear selector plate of my truck are worn to a high degree, and merely bumping the gear shifter is enough to allow the truck to shift from D to N. I have not yet been able to locate a replacement plate, without having to purchase a complete steering column...

[sjarrett71]

The detents are in the transmission, not the steering column.

[70STOVEBOLT]

There are detents built in to the transmission, but there is also a piece at the bottom of the column that has detents as well. Having said that, I don't know if all years had that piece. My column is out of a 67, and I have seen later years that don't have the piece at the bottom of the column.