VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans '55 2nd Series Column Shift

My wife bought a '55 2nd Series 3100 with the 6-cylinder and column shift 3-speed. The previous owner had started an amateur restoration. The column shift was extremely stiff and difficult to shift. The seller said it was because he installed new bushings. Well, we soon discovered he did install new bushings but that nothing to do with the stiff shifter. We took the cover off the box at the end of the shifter where the levers come out and found 62 years worth of crud. We cleaned that out and repacked it with grease. That was better but it was still really stiff. Next to isolate the problem we disconnected the coupling on the inside of the firewall and found the problem was where that long rod on the column threaded into the "elbow" on the actual shifter. After adjusting that everything was smooth as silk and easy to shift with one finger. Now for the problem - On our way to our first cruise-in with the truck as the wife went to shift from 1st to 2nd gear the linkage stuck between gears. I raised the hood and moved the levers and all was good. When I was a kid I remember this happening to my mom's '50 Chevy all the time. I don't believe my dad ever got it fixed. Mom just put up with it. So what is the permanent fix.

The problem is in the little box with a cover. There is to much space between the forks. A shim will solve the problem.

When all else fails you can install a shift neutralizer kit. A spacer is inserted between the cover and box and had a devise that prevents it from slipping into to gears at once. It was an afermarket item that worked. Fits 1949-1954 passenger cars and 1948-1959 trucks. You can watch ebay for one or I can sell you a new one I have for $30 + shipping.

Thanks to both of you. I'll PM Chev Nut.

Most Holdens from about 1970 to 1984 (3 on column between 1 & 2 and 4 on floor between 2 & 3) had similar issue, had it happen several times in traffic with both boxes. I found that by adjusting the gates so that the selector was fully in nuetral before the lever was it all worked fine. I also learnt to move the lever to nuetral before moving the lever through nuetral, very square movement rather than a straight line helped.
Tony

Thanks Tony. Sounds like good advice.

Chev Nut, I sent you a private message. Did you receive it?

Yes, will get back to you later this evening.

Please check the PM I sent you. Thank you.

Ok, I still need help. We've added shims. I purchased the shift neutralizer kit. The shift neutralizer locked up the entire shifter so it won't move at all. Does anyone know a mechanic in SE Florida who is familiar with these shifter issues. I'd pay any reasonable price to get this fixed. It locks up almost every time it's driven.

You can look this up on Goggle. It explains the whole procedure. Maybe the shim is in the wrong place.

Thanks, chevy1937. I'm going to pull it all apart later this week and experiment a little. Maybe try a different thickness shim. I'll keep you guys post. I appreciate the help.

I can't believe this has been going on for almost a year and a half. Our truck has been sitting while I've frantically looked for a solution. I shimmed it. I installed the neutralizer kit. Nothing worked. Well, I think I've found it. OldChevyTrucks.com sells an entirety rebuilt transmission shift box. I ordered one today. I can't believe it took me this long to find this. I'm equally surprised no one on the chat knew about it or at least didn't pass on that info. I'm excited to get it and will post an update once I have it installed.

Well, surprise, surprise! I sent the shift box to Jim Carter Old Chevy Trucks to have it rebuilt. Today they called me and told me it's not a 2nd Series box. It's a 1st Series box. That explains why the repair kit I bought from a fellow forum member didn't fit. Now I'm looking for a 55 2nd series through 59 shift box. If anyone has one please let me know. I will also need the linkage to go with the 2nd series box. Thanks for any help.

Welcome to the world of "prior restorations"!

Glad you were able to determine the root cause of the problem. My unfortunate experience is that at least 50% of the time things are not what you expect and require more effort than planned to make it work. This applies to all makes and models, not just Chevy's.

I will be going to a local old junkyard saturday and can look.

As I understand 55 2nd series through 59 will work. I'll also need the linkage (rods) to go with it. Thanks. I understand a rebuildable box is worth about $60. With the linkage (rods) about $100 total. If you find one P.M. me. Thanks for the effort.

The plot thickens. Turns out my 2nd Series 55 has a 1st Series transmission, shift box and linkage. Jim Carter is sending my a rebuilt shift box and I should be good to go. I didn't know the difference. I've learned the 2nd and 3rd gear linkage on the 1st series pivots on the bellhousing. On the 2nd series the linkage goes directly from the shift box to the transmission.

A local old junkyard has a 55 to 57 Suburban that has everything you need if you want to put the correct parts back in,if you are ever in the Dayton Ohio area I can show you where it is and that same yard has a 1/2 ton panel that might have the parts too.

Thanks Jeff. I got the rebuilt shift box in the mail today. I plan to put it in tomorrow. If that fixes the truck I'm going to drive it. This is not a show truck. It's just a really nice driver. That's exactly what we are going to do with it. I appreciate the effort. I'll let you guys know when I get it put back together. Thanks again.

Ok. I installed the new shift box from Jim Carter Old Chevy Trucks. Works great. The truck set so long the carburetor was all lacquered up with old gas. Rebuilt the carburetor and drove the truck for the first time in over a year. Runs great, shifts great and drives like an old truck just like I want it.

Congratulations! Patience and perseverance go a,long way towards success in this hobby.