Help with 71 Gear shift spring
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 4,186
Likes: 68
From: Iron Range MN
Help with 71 Gear shift spring
Disclaimer - In my defense I was left unsupervised.
So I wanted to change the bulbs to LED behind the instrument panel (Temp / Oil / Clock)
Found all the screws no problem. In my attempt to get the bottom nuts on the bezel I removed the center console trim.
In order to do that I had to unscrew the gear shift **** and remove the "reverse" T handle and spring (manual tranny)
When I went to put it back together I screwed something up and the spring fell down the gear shift shaft.
How do I retrieve this thing?
So I wanted to change the bulbs to LED behind the instrument panel (Temp / Oil / Clock)
Found all the screws no problem. In my attempt to get the bottom nuts on the bezel I removed the center console trim.
In order to do that I had to unscrew the gear shift **** and remove the "reverse" T handle and spring (manual tranny)
When I went to put it back together I screwed something up and the spring fell down the gear shift shaft.
How do I retrieve this thing?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 768
From: Waterford WI
Straighten a coat hanger and put a very short bend in the bottom and go fishing.
What you did was put the spring in too soon. The reverse lock-out goes in first, then the spring, then the shifter ball screws on.
What you did was put the spring in too soon. The reverse lock-out goes in first, then the spring, then the shifter ball screws on.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 4,186
Likes: 68
From: Iron Range MN
Tried that, too thick. Found some old solid t-stat cable.
Twisted the ends together and made a small hook and fished it out
Not if only I could get to the 2 bottom nuts of the bezel.............
