flat out stumped--3 speed shifting

[thebannister8]

hi all---please help---im stumped and or stupid....theres ALOT OF PLAY IN MY 3 SPEED column SHIFTER AND I CANT GET ALL THE GEARS MOST OF THE TIME..i decided i might like to convert to a floor shifter and i noticed assembling it that there is no plate that has the "H" pattern to move the shifter laterally to get 3rd and reverse-----wait a minute i pondered. do these not work like stock , standard 4 on the floors---though be it 3. question please---when i shift from 2nd to 3rd on the COLUMN shift do i push the lever forward to grab another lever---i ask this because i noticed the shifting lever itself---the part you hold in your hand---does not swivel.----should my new floor shifter move laterally----i think perhaps ive run into something that i have no experience with and though it worked a different way......i guess im asking please tell me how the 3 on the tree works and what fully syncronized means-----i would be extremely grateful---------extremely....thanks steve

[willowbilly3]

Your shifter should have fore and aft movement in the neutral position. This allows it to slide the shift tube to either enguage the R-1 lever or the 2-3 lever at the bottom of the steering column under the hood. A floor shifter works the same way basically. If you do not get the fore and aft movement you may need to adjust your linkage. Or the shift bowl may be broken ( the upper part of the column that moves with the shifter).
Fully sychronised means that you can down shift into first gear while the truck is moving without grinding gears. I think all of the non overdrive 3 speeds in these trucks should be fully synchronised (not reverse though)

[Freightrain]

The shift pattern for a three speed is as such"
R 2
-n-
1 3

The pattern is the same "on the column", just rotate slightly(to be in line with steering column) compared to the floor shifter. Pull the column shifter TOWARDS the steering wheel for R and 1st, the push towards dash for 2nd and 3rd. You need to be in the "n" gate to switch.
No doubt there is slop in the linkage after many years of use.

[NM5K]

Takes a magic touch to shift one thats half worn out...
Practice will help too, once you get used to it..
Shifting from 2nd to 3rd, no, you should not have to
push the shifter outwards to shift. It should just easily
drop from 2nd to 3rd with a single downwards motion.
No pressing in required, cuz it was pushed in when you
shifted from 1st to 2nd. You don't want to try to force
them into gear. I'd try to adjust it to work as well as
possible, but then you have to get used to it's quirks,
and adjust your method of shifting, if it's got wear.
IE: sometimes it's best to first go into neutral, and then
into 1st on some of them, rather than trying to go from
say 3rd straight to 1st without really stopping at neutral.
Sometimes my 74 doesn't like to go into 1st too easy.
I don't force it...I just go back to neutral, shake the shifter
within that neutral "window", and try again. Mine probably
needs a slight adjustment. It only does that every once in a
while.. Normally, 2nd to 3rd should be a piece of cake.
It's just a straight drop...With one working normally, you
could curl your pinky finger around the base of the shifter
and shift it going from 2nd to 3rd. It *should* be that easy
normally on those gears. With most, 1st is usually the first one
to bugger up and get hard to shift... And it will usually happen
at a light, with 15 cars behind you waiting to boogie...
You do have to pull the shifter in, when going to 1st.
It should easily drop from the 1st-R level, to the 2nd-3rd
level pretty easy with no binding, etc. You shouldn't have to
push hard to get it out to the 2nd-3rd range from the 1st-R
range. Less pressure than is required pulling it in for 1st...
This is one area where my 68 gets the nod over the 74, for
sure...The 68 has a floor shift 4 speed. The 74 has the 3 spd
column...Much prefer the toploader, and it's lack of shifter
hassles. The only advantage to the column is more floor space
for my radios...
I remember years ago I had a 60 falcon...The shifter
handle got metal fatique and actually broke off at the base. All
I had was a stub...But I drove it like that for quite a while longer,
before I got rid of it...I regret that now...That falcon would have
made a killer hot rod...Probably worth a few bucks too, being a 60
coupe in good shape bodywise. It had a mighty 144 CID six...
MK

[Faithful Old Road Dog]

I miss my 3 on the tree. I tried getting new grommets and adjusting linkages and even replaced that shift collar. That pin/rivet hole that holds the lever gets all elongated. I ended up installing a floor shift kit from Hurst. Bought the kit from Summit Racing. That was some years ago. If I could have saved it, I would have as that allowed so much more leg room for passengers. Before the seat belt laws (and laws of gravity, age and weight gain etc., etc., ) I would have 4-5 people total in the cab.

[NM5K]

Yea, I don't mind them as long as they are working right.
I've had some that would hang up between 1st and 2nd,
and usually in that case, you have to get out and actually
unhook them. Thats a real pain, and you usually get a bit
greasy...It's usually when you are wearing good clothes, etc..
Murphy never fails...They do leave a lot more floor space.
Overall, the one on my 74 is in pretty good shape. BTW,
chevies have the same shifter quirks...I've had some chevies
that would hang up too if you did things wrong..
Both my 66 and 72 chevy stepsides had 3 spd columns...Same for my
old 72 ventura II. "pontiac nova".. MK

[Faithful Old Road Dog]

NM5K - You mentioned the Ventura. What was the Omega? Back in High School, there were two dorks that had Omega's.

[FORDification]

The Omega was Oldsmobile's.

[Faithful Old Road Dog]

That's right, Mr. Oldsmobilty.

[NM5K]

Yea, I remember those "omega's"...Been a while
though...I'd forgot if they were nova sized, or chevelle
sized...I guess nova sized, if I remember right...
Pontiac made an original "Ventura" , but that was in the 60's.
And it was a full size catalina type coupe...
A friend of mine had a 67 Ventura coupe...Was pretty
nice.. The "Ventura II" came out in the early 70's, and
was the same platform as nova. Looked about the same,
except for the pontiac "beak" front end...The one I had
was plain jane, 250-6 banger, standard everything...Just about a
"dorkmobile" But they also made sportier V8 versions..
MK

[granitestate68]

Yep, the good old "Olds" Omega, my Dad bought my Mom a brand new one in 78 and it was the first car I drove when I got my license. Looked almost exactly like a Nova. Boy, was it unpleasant trying to explain the burn hole in the seat after the head of my cigarette fell between my legs while sneaking a smoke out cruisin by myself Guess it could have been worse though Don't think I drove that again for a while