Shifting Poblem

[carlofsumner]

I have a 1968 3 sp column shift and I cannot get it to go into 1st and 3rd. That's right, 1st and 3rd. It drives well and shifts well into reverse and 2nd, but not the others. Is it the clutch, throw out bearing or pressure plate or could it be something in the column. I can get it to grind a little (sometimes) in 1st and 3rd but it will never engage.

CDJ

[basketcase0302]

Hopefully someone will come along here that knows a little more soon. But I'd start by looking at the DS front cab mount as they do rust away and create issues with shifting, (by binding the steering column / shift levers). I'd also jack the rear of the truck off the ground, (jacking the wheels off the ground will take it out of a bind) remove the linkeage rods from the tranny and try to shift the tranny by hand. This should confirm if the issue is in the tranny or in the shift/linkeage rods.

[sargentrs]

Jeff's right about that. I had no idea how cab mounts could affect steering issues until I found this forum. I had a similar issue with mine and rebuilt the column which fixed my problem. Then a year later it came back and I got really frustrated. Finally, I crawled under the truck and had my step son shift for me while I watched the levers. Turned out the 1st-3rd lever's nut had backed off and the lever was floppy on the shaft. Snugged it up and all was fine. You can adjust the stroke on the linkage rods there, too although it's kinda trial and error.