1952-59 Ford 1954 Ford Customline Shifter(s) Stuck

I just bought two 1954 Fords. 239 y blocks with 3 speed manuals. On both of them, I can move the shifter up and down and get it into 2 unknown gears, but cannot pull it forward or backwards.

Any ideas what is binding? Or diagrams showing how it works? I did some reading and it sounds like I need to pull the pitman arm to pull the column out? Any ideas or photos would be appreciated. Working on getting a shop manual, but don't have one yet. I have pumped everything full of grease and spent several days trying to work it free with no luck

 

Those old 3sp column shifters when they got worn out would hang up when shifting from 1st to 2nd. To get going again after you coasted to a stop was pull up on lever closest to the steering box so the 2 levers would align with each other and you would be able to shift it again. Fix was to rebuild the shift linkage. Don't know if that's your problem, just thought I'd throw this out there.

 

Line them up under the hood on the column then it will work again. They were doing this by the early 60’s. You will need to shift slower and make it a “real” H. No sliding or speed shifting.

 

I have the linkage disconnected. Something has frozen inside the column

 

Everything is on top of the column. Remove the steering wheel to pull the shaft out of the shifter box, unbolt it, take it apart, clean it up, and regressed. I’ll bet it just needs some maintenance…