VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 3-speed manual transmissions

I have a 1969 C20 Chevrolet pickup that I am restoring and need help with deciding what to do with the transmission. When shifting from first to second gear the shift lever often jams. Looking at the steering column in the engine compartment I have notice there are what appear to be shift levers or arms on the column that jam when the shift lever is moved between first and second. What are these parts called and should they be replaced?

Hi,

The bushings in your shift linkage are worn. I would try your Chevrolet dealer first and if no luck there your next best bet is one of the vendors that specializes in parts for trucks.

The first thing you need is to get familar with how your truck's mechanical parts work, buy a shop repair manual for your truck and READ IT! If it seems too deep for your talents and experiance your best solution is to hire a professonial mechanic that does restorations of your truck year and model, other wise you may be getting into a deep hole, that the truck may not survive.

....Until you get the parts to repair your transmission shifting problem if you will shift in a good H pattern shift straight up to neutral, then laterally across the H and then straight up to 2nd there is less chance for a lockup.

On those trucks with the three speed on the column, it does kinda sorta happen from time to time for the shifting levers to jam between first and second. Even when the trucks were fairly new they still did it once in awhile. When that happens you have to pull up on one of the levers to make them parallel with each other and then it will shift fine. However, since you are restoring the truck, I would definitely replace the bushings and/or the levers. :eek: :eek:

Dave,
You may need a simple adjustment.There are two bolts on the very bottom of the mast jacket (outter steering column)...If you look closely you will see the mast jacket is slotted where the bolts go thru.The slots run at an angle.The inner part the bolts thread into is called an adjusting ring.Loosening these bolts and turning the ring will reduce the spcae between the levers (clamp them together tighter).Turn ring to tighten-setting is correct when you can insert a .004" to.009" feeler gauge between the ring and the lever next to it (1st and rev. lever).If tang on levers isn't too badly worn this should solve your problem.If not levers should be replaced.

WESTERN AUTO STORE use to sell a repair kit for this...some of these places that sell old stock parts may have one.. [on ebay etc..]
ever standard shift i owned did this hang up, intill i learn how to deal with it...and that was never move the gear shift intill the clutch is fully depressed... also remove the cover on the shift lever box..with it in neutal adj, the links so the slots are in line with each other..

You guys are thinking of the 1949-54 style that had the pot metal box on top of the column and levers sticking out.With this style you would have the lever in neutral all pull both levers in the neutral or horizontal) position to unlock.The 1955 and up have the levers coming out of the colunmn itself at the very bottom - very different.

....And GM thought that is an improvement over the 49 -54???? Is that why they quit making three on the tree? I never have bought a three speed since 1955, I do have a 5 speed manual overdrive floor shift, don't ever overhaul one of those aluminum 5 speed jobs at home kids!
GRRRRRR!

:(