Did Ford ever change the shifer linkages for the different 3 speed manual trannies they made? The tranny in my 55 Fairlane shit out a couple months back, and now there is a tranny from a 67 Ranchero in it. I got in today to see how well the shifter worked, and Reverse and First are there, I can't find 2nd and third is there but not easy to find, but it works. It doesn't shift smoothly at all. Does someone know why this won't work? Should I just get out the saw and start cutting for a floor shifter?
ALSO, is it possible that the shifter isn't cooperating because there is no oil in the tranny? I haven't actually driven it, obviously, just shifting in the driveway with the engine off.
Could it be the shift arms on the tranny are a bit different, and is it possible to switch with the old arms?
An update, just in case anyone is reading... I am able to move the rear shift lever from under the car, it turns out when I was trying before, I didn't have the front one in the proper position to allow it. I guess the front one needs to be in its rear positon for the rear one to move, or something like that. Anyway, the rear one moves, but not from inside the car. It doesn't feel like 2nd is even in that position (Up and away). It feels like if I play around with the shifter any more something will break. Any ideas, I'm thinking that either they changed the shifters from 1955 to 1967 or that the lever arms are on the wrong way.
Yes, put oil in the trans. Its a piece of machinery oil it! Next look at the shift arms coming off your column. are they adjusted properly? Make sure that they are threaded right not to much slop. When the arm on the trans is all the way forward make sure that the shift arm on the column is all the way up. also, what do you know about this trans? Is it out of a wrecking yard? A 67' trans would be far superior to your 55' if you can get it to work right. Let me know.
Start with basics. Are both shift levers in neutral. Where is the shift linkage under the hood on the column. theres a BIG chance you need to adjust the shift linkage here. Its also possible that the linkage was switched. We drove from New Orleans Mardi Gras to Corpus Christi with second/third where first/reverse should be. Think and observe, Grasshopper!
I think it is a linkage issue. Jerry showed me how to adjust it yesterday so if it isn't perfect, I'll keep playing with it.
jerry and I drove the same path from the dough nut run yesterday.... I stopped at earnhardt and looked at 2004 F-150 trucks. gawd damn sales reps do not seem to understand NO there!
The most basic linkage adjustment is so: put both trans levers in neutral, put column shifter in neutral, both linkage rods OFF. Adjust rods so they drop into their holes perfectly with all in neutral. Then, find out if your shifter is moving the trans arms all the way to their detents in each gear--you MIGHT have to play with lever ratios if movement isn't enough for the different trans.
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