I bought this 39 buick sedan and the previous owner put a floor shift in it (this was the first year for column shift). He has no parts to bring it back. So , Here's my problem: When selecting gears here's what happens: 1st is where 2nd should be, reverse is where 3rd should be 2nd is where 1st should be and 3rd is where 2nd should be !!! This trans. has only 1 lever coming out of it. it has a cable to pull the lever out to shift to 2nd and third. Has anybody have any Idea's to fix this problem ? I already tried swapping cable and rod around
That is a Selector transmission, and many types of aftermarket and homemade shifters have been shown on hamb. the simple design type aftermarket shifters do have a backwards pattern. There will be two types of Buick trans in those years; one is a small one for the "Special", and a larger one for larger Buicks like the Roadmaster. Most shifters seen on hamb are for the large trans.
you need to change the lever on the side,,point it down,rather than up..that will put your gears back in normal position
Not to cause drama, but that won't work with a Selector. The gate is also reversed, which means flipping the shift lever will not move 2/3 over to the passenger side. Flipping only changes the gears in each gate, to be opposite...such as moving second to where third is. It will not move 2/3 gate to where 1/R is now. If you read his post, his first and reverse gate is over to the passenger side....that means the IN-OUT relationship is opposite, on the main lever. That's how the selector works; the main lever shifts whatever two gears are in the gate, depending on which gate is selected by moving the main lever inwards or outwards "at the transmission itself". QUOTE:"When selecting gears here's what happens: 1st is where 2nd should be, reverse is where 3rd should be " I think he has a simple shifter like the Drag Fast which is reversed position. The only one I know of for a normal pattern, is the Ansen. That is a very complicated shifter, because it changes the gates correctly. It's impossible to swap gates with a Drag Fast style. .
I have not seen an aftermarket shifter with a cable operated gate, so it might be a homemade shifter. However, International KB 1/2 Ton column shift pickups had a stock cable for the gate selection, that I saw once.. So, if you had enough room near the cable end to make a reversing bellcrank, that would switch the gate position back to normal. If you can do that, then also flip the position of the shift lever like Wrb32 says, to get the rest of the pattern fixed. But I think you will need to cut/flip/weld that shift lever, as I think it only fits onto the shaft in one position. .
An Ansen shifter specifically made for the "one armed bandit" transmissions allows the traditional three speed shift pattern. I installed one on someones 55 Buick, theres no cable involved. The problem is finding an Ansen shifter in this day and age.
I believe the '39 BOP models used a cable to operate the small selector lever, unlike later models that used rods for both levers. Ray
I have a stock 23 Buick and the shift pattern is reversed from what we now consider normal. that's the way they used to be from the factory at that time
Thanks for the education, I think I'm going to put a '38 top loader buick trans in it. Should be more reliable than breaking a cable 200 miles from home
I think that not will match, Buick has every year build two new differend Trannys, one for the big 320 and one for the lil' 248. If i remember right, the splines are differend. Myself have for long time (years) search arround for a 38 "small"-box only for spare. hard to get a useable one. m2c
Hi, Before I read your reply I purchased a '38 tranny and you are correct, it will not fit my '39. Back end totally different. Anyway I now have '38 tranny that the body measures 11 and 3/4 inches. If you can use this, let me know Frank 781 316 4945 or captguido@Comcast.net
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