71' 4 speed shift alignment

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Mar 25, 2009 | 01:07 PM

wro87

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 857

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From: Morrisonville Illinios

71' 4 speed shift alignment

We have a 71" coupe with 350/4spd. When we bought the car the interior was out of it and the seat just setting in it, now its all back together. Well when we tried to put it in reverse it would not go we had to take the cover plate out of the center console so we could get it in reverse. Well I put it back up the hoist and found that most of the linkage was put togeter with cotter keys and not hair clips, replaced those and it made it shift a little better and then put the new rear tranny mount in and that helped some more. We still have to keep the center cover loose so we can get it in reverse it is not as bad as before. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR?

Thanks gang wro87

Mar 25, 2009 | 01:09 PM

spedaleden

Safety Car

Joined: Nov 2004

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From: Mundelein Illinois

How is neutral? Does the shifter move right to left with any obstruction?

Mar 25, 2009 | 01:20 PM

wro87

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 857

Likes: 1

From: Morrisonville Illinios

Neutral is fine, untill I changed the cotter keys out with the hair clips it was kinda hard to get in any gear (some of the washers/spacers where missing) and now it is a lot better until you try to get it to go in reverse still it keeps hitting the side of the console plate, we have to lift it up to make it go in gear.
wro87

Mar 25, 2009 | 03:11 PM

spedaleden

Safety Car

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 4,359

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From: Mundelein Illinois

First thing I would do is disconnect the linkage at the trans and make sure the trans shifts fine in all gears. This eliminates the problem to be the shifter.

In diagram B you will see guage pin / notch, you all three rods in neutral position so shifter flows right to left with NO binding or catching. Then you can adjust linkage. Most of time the shifter gate is not set right so the shifter can't move through the gears easily. Also check how your shifter mounts if that is loose that could be why your hitting the cover plate.

Mar 25, 2009 | 03:43 PM

71coupe454

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2009

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From: Clarksville Indiana

Hurst Competion Plus

Mar 25, 2009 | 04:20 PM

Alan 71

Team Owner

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 31,109

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From: Westminster Maryland

Hi WRO87,
The tool you need to insert in the notch that S mentions, that's in view 'B', can be made easily from a 1" flat plastic putty knife.
It helps you get a good start to adjusting the linkage.
Regards,
Alan

Mar 25, 2009 | 08:59 PM

wro87

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 857

Likes: 1

From: Morrisonville Illinios

Thanks guys.

Alan It looks like that the gauge pin is just to hold the levers in position? I will try that next also thanks for letting me know what I can use to make it.
Just got to wait to get my C4 of the lift so we can get the 71' up there, to see what we got. After this we might start on doing the TA's the drivers side is starting to lift and seperate from the rust. Like everybody else the never ending projects.

wro87

Mar 26, 2009 | 08:20 AM

jnb5101

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 8,117

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From: charlotte north carolina

the aim shows shims to be placed under the shifter bracket two front mounting bolts. these will tilt the shifter handle rearward. as long as you're in there consider using the short throw holes in the levers.