C5 Selector Shaft

[67Doors]

I have a C5 that has just been rebuilt, noticed the trans was leaking at the selector shaft. Did some research and this seems to be a pretty common thing. Jumped under the truck to take a look and the first think I noticed was the selector linkage has a home made job. Straightened it out has much as possible but leak is still there. While under the truck I noticed there was a pretty good amount of play in the selector shaft itself. I could pull on the shaft enough and actually see the O-ring without even removing the nut. My first thought here is that something is missing, a washer or something because the O-ring has nothing to seal against. Decided to put in a washer, deal is though I can't tighten it down too much or the trans will not shift correctly. The washer seems to have slowed the leak some and removed a lot of the play but the leak is still there. So basically the selector shaft has a washer, linkage arm (square notched hole) and the retaining nut. Should there be some kind of linkage adapter to hold the O-ring inside the housing? Also, is there a lip seal on the inside of the pan? My guess would be that the O-ring is just to keep dirt and sand from getting in from the outside and there should be a some kind of lip seal holding the fluid on the inside. Did some research and it seems like a lot of shops fail to replace that lip seal which might be my biggest issue right now.

[mmerlinn]

It sounds to me that someone has installed the wrong shaft. What are the numbers on yours?

[67Doors]

Not sure but will check the numbers. Trans is out of an 84-85 Ranger. Think I will just drop the pan, take the valve body and shaft out replace the seal and O-ring. Could be the shaft is worn out and has to much play which I should be able to tell once I drop the pan.

The trans linkage was a home made deal so I order a new Lokar linkage kit. Trans jumped into reverse on me because the linkage has to much play. Not really a good thing when your under the hood.

[BobbyFord]

There should be a number on the outside flat part of the selector lever.
You could probably swap in a factory, C4 selector shaft and linkage and have a stock operating linkage.

[67Doors]

Thanks for the info, I will see if I can find a C4 selector shaft.

[67Doors]

I ended up going to the parts store and finding a thicker O-Ring which stopped the leak.