69 Ford 3 speed on the floor but it ain't movin'

[maxine]

I posted this in another area, but I'm thinking that was the wrong place, and this is a better spot that I overlooked.

I recently purchased a 1969 Ford F100, 3 speed on the floor. The notorious issue with the bolt/pin/doodad fell out(of the shifter) and now I'm sitting parked in the driveway. The missing piece is nowhere to be found, and from what I hear, this is a common problem. Finding just the missing piece is an issue and I don't have a diagram or a pic of where and how to put it back together. Should I spend the extra $ and get a whole new shifter and if so, what do I get that works with this truck and is reasonably priced?

Thanks

[Calfdemon]

What transmission does your truck have? It it a T-18 or NP435? And if so, then you are probably talking about the small metal pin that holds the shifter in place, correct?

If that somehow fell out, then it is more than likely down in your transmission in the oil. They cant fall OUT of the transmission if they are in the transmission. Now, if you had the shifter out and then lost the pin, that is another story. You can actually get a small piece of metal rod and cut another one that will fit in the location. It just acts as a stop to keep the shifter from spinning and give you leverage when you shift. We lost one when rebuilding a T-18 and just cut a small piece of rod and replaced the lost piece. Works fine. I actually used a piece of a broken screwdriver for a while as well. But I cannot tell you for the life of me what the proper diameter of metal to get for it. You will probably need to buy a few based off of sight and then cut to length the one that fits in the opening most snug.

[BlueovalFE]

When I converted mine to floor shift, I got a Hurst Truck shifter from Summit. Has a little longer shift lever. It's been in there for years and still feels firm and crisp.

[maxine]

I ended up purchasing a shifter. Not the Hurst, I didnt have the cash to buy that one at the time. Ive heard they are better, but I have also heard that the pin issue is common in most of them. Question is, how do I keep the pin from coming loose or falling out again? It's in and running but Im nervous that it will do the same thing to me again..

[maxine]

And I thank you for responding, I appreciate it.