VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Transmission Question

Getting ready to put the transmission into the bell housing and then the engine back into my 1947 chevrolet. Engine swap 216 to a 235.

Question # 1 - Am able to shift with the large lever lever. However, am not able to move the smaller lever at all. Is this normal? Does the motion of first to second with the shift lever cause the car to go into the next gear?

Another VCCA member and I worked about three hours today trying to figure out how to make both levers work at our command ( moving the levers). Again, the large lever will shift but nothing from the small lever.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Is this the same transmission that was attached to the 216 ?

If the same transmission, was there a shifting problem before you removed the 216 ?

Did you do ANYTHING to the transmission, such as disassembly, etc. ?

Yes, it is the same transmission.

I took the shift side off because I had new gaskets and the one on that side was leaking.

I took the universal end off - not the universal joint - just the cover because it was really scarred up and I had one that was just like new.

Otherwise, nothing as been done to it. The slides inside move fine when pushed by hand or tapped with a hammer.

However, when put together as the manual instructs - it performs like what I described above.

You may not have the large lever in "true" neutral when trying to move the small lever. The large lever must be in the neutral position for the small lever to move. The small lever will not move much relative to the movement of the large lever. Unless you diaassembled the inside of the transmission cover and did not re-install the Guide Bar and Shifting Forks properly, you should not have changed anything that would affect the small lever movement.

That is what has us (Don and I) buffaloed. We placed the slides in the neutral position - placed the slotted bar on the spring = short side up - used the shifter latch to hold down the slotted bar - kept pressure on the large lever - and installed the cover. We watched the installing and both the gears - the shifter latch went where it was supposed to fit - and the slotted bar engaged both tabs on the slides.

Tightened the cover down - shifted the large lever and it moved forward from neutral and backward from neutral - back to neutral and the small lever would not move at all - even with quite a bit of help from a wrench.

We even called Dave Minor and he walked us through the procedure and what he told us what just what we were doing.

I am sure we are overlooking just something small. But what is it?

I have two transmissions - one out of my 216 and a back up transmission.

Both do the same thing. Take just the covers of both transmissions.

Put them together as the manual tells you to do. Shift the slides by hand - they work fine.

Put them both in a vise and the large lever will shift - the small lever with not move. This on both covers.

What are we missing?

Problem solved!

Problem solved ? ?

When questions are asked by you or whomever, every effort is made, to those asking, to give the person asking, a defined, accurate answer.

By the same token, when YOU discover what your solution is, it would be well accepted, if you would share with us, the answer to your problem.

Sorry - Basically stupidity on my part.

The small shift lever moves only about 1/4 of an inch to allow the larger lever to engage.

I was looking for or expecting that the small lever would need to move more than that.

Looking at the cover taken from the tranny I placed it in the vise to watch as I operated the levers. It did not take long for me to realize my mistake.

Sorry about not updating - I certainly am indebted to so many as this process continues.

Thank you!

Sounds like member, Mike Deeter was right on the money, with his reply to you.

When thoughts on repairs are given, so many times, we are shooting in the dark, because we are not there, with hands on, to experience what you are experiencing.

Your report back to us, with step by step descriptions, gives all of us the final chapter in the book.

We all learn from those final words.

Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for setting me straight.

You are right - I have learned so very much about VCCA and restoring a 1947 chevrolet.

The best part of this entire adventure with your 216 to 235 swap is you'll soon be driving that 235, with a big smile on your face.

Riding shotgun will be your friend, Don, from the VCCA, who has helped you through this adventure.

BUT..... the best part is this.

As you and Don are cruisin' the roads, you'll look in your inside rear view mirror and see, in your back seat, all the smilin' faces of the guys who were with you, online, with this conversion.

Have fun.