New '68 F100 Owner

[EagleKeeper001]

I just got my hands on my grand-dads '68 F100, but it looks like its going to need some tranny work before I can put it on the road again. Before I start digging into manuals, IPBs, and the like, can anyone tell me what model the tranny is and an idea of what other vehicles & years I might look at to cannibalize from if I need to go parts scrounging? It's got the basic 6-240 2WD with the 3 speed 3-on-the-tree setup. It goes into 1st gear ( reluctantly) but won't quite get into R,2, or 3. The tranny looks real easy to pull, thankfully, 'cause I'm kinda new at this.

[jor]

Someone else will have to help you with the 3-speed transmission ID but I would recommend that you check out your linkage before you resort to pulling transmission. It sounds like it might be binding.

Almost all parts are interchangeable among the 67-72 models.
jor

[ToughOldFord]

That's what I was thinking.
When you say it reluctantly goes into 1st but not the other gears are you saying that the shifter itself won't move or is hard to move or that it easily goes into the other gears but the truck won't move?
The tranny is probably a C-6 unless the I6 was still using the C-4 in '68, I couldn't tell you, I'm sure someone else here can. You can also tell the difference between the two by counting the bolts on the tranny pan.
You can also use a lot of the drivetrain parts from the '73 to '79 series.
Congrats on the truck!

[HOWDY69]

I thought he was talking about a manual 3 on the tree since he said 3rd and not drive.

[EagleKeeper001]

I checked out the linkage, it doesn't seem to be binding or anything. When shifting into 1st, it just seems very stiff. And when I try to go into 2nd, the shifter doesn't want to go physically high enough to go into gear, and when I try to skip 2nd and go to 3rd, it won't go physically down far enough to go there either. Then on top of that, it won't slide back into 1st gear position, but it STAYS in 1st gear and won't come back out until I shut the truck down and pull on the rear tranny shift link rod. Again there doesn't seem to be any binding at all.

[EagleKeeper001]

Yes...it is the MANUAL 3-on-the-tree. Guess I shoulda specified that in the first place.

[spartman]

If you can look at the tag on your drivers door and tell us what the tranny code is.

[EagleKeeper001]

Tranny code is "C" (Ford 3-speed light duty)

[spartman]

So it is a three on the tree then.

The first thing to check is your linkage to the tranny, then check to see if your clutch needs to be adjusted, also check the linkage in the steering coulum to see if it okay there as well.

[qman]

Need new clutch maybe? I had an 81 F100 and the springs in the pressure plate were breaking little but little and I lost clutch slowly. The clutch disc didn't wear out. It was the darn pressure plate. On the drive home one day I was about 100 yards from parking it and I feel a final "plink" and no more clutch. Luckily I didn't have to shift anymore.

[ToughOldFord]

I thought he was talking about a manual 3 on the tree since he said 3rd and not drive.

Ah, you're right, I didn't catch that.
That makes it even easier, the shift forks on the column aren't lined up. There's a fork for 1 & R and a second one for 2 & 3. When in neutral these forks need to be lined up in order for the selector to slide back and forth between the two forks.
Should just be a matter of adjustment.

[steveheer]

Should be a Top-loader 3 speed shouldn't it? That's what my 300 had--

[EagleKeeper001]

Looks like the consensus is an adjustment of some kind. Is it THAT likely that the gearbox itself isn't bad? I ask because the clutch releases 1st gear with about half pedal. Also, when I disconnected the linkage rods from the tranny and moved the shifter, it moved very freely througout it's whole range (all the way to the stops in all 4 positions).

[Jake11]

The three on the tree linkage sounds like it's gone south.
You might look at putting in a floor shifter for it.

[mrung0wa]

Those "303" Tranny's were weak "girlie man" Transmissions.
I'll bet that the rubber bushings/grommets are worn, brittle, or deteriorated.
Order a new set from your local jobber parts store.
They should have a set in stock.

Lawrence