I have a 1970's style cheby van column shifter for my 350 automatic transmission in my street rod, and I can't get the shifter to now go back in either reverse or park. I have taken the linkage off at the transmission and the the trans goes into reverse and park by moving the linkage by hand on the trans with no problem so it's not in the transmission. Took the shifting linkage off at the end of the coulmn and tried to put just the shifter lever in reverse or park and it just won't go. So there is something wrong within the column itself. Does anybody know what is wrong or how you fix such a problem? Is there a simple fix? Beezer
Hey Beezer, I have a friend who just went through the same thing. His upper column bearing was real dry, so tear it down and add some grease. good luck Marco
Marco, HRP, Thanks for the info I will try and grease that bearing and yes the neutral safety switch is on the lower portion of the column. I will check that as well. Thanks! Beezer
Seen shifters that have the end broken in the column. Won't let you pull back enough to go in to park.
Yes the shifter handle does pull back but you just can't get it to go higher up in the reverse or park position. It feels like when you go to pull the handle back and try to get it up into reverse or park, it feels like it is hitting something preventing it from getting in either reverse or park but there is nothing outward on the column to hit.
Changed the shifter handles to a different one but nothing broken on the end of the shifter handle. A different shifter handle does not solve the issue.
I had the same problem had 77 impala colume,I can,t remember what i did but think i put some type of spring to slip into park.It has to slip past the stop to get into park.
The only thing I can think of is the location of colume is not the same. Mine came out of a 77 impala and went into a 52 chevy car with a camaro clip. Same colume same trans.
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