[Keith Seymore]

Does anybody's car use a shifter like mine?



Mine is in a '74 Chevelle, but I think early 70's Pontiac A bodies also used the same shifter.

The presenting symptom it that I've lost the detent going from Park to Reverse and Neutral; In other words I can just grab the handle and move it through it's whole range without pushing the button down.

A secondary symptom is that the button has popped up too high.



The ratcheting feature, allowing manual shifts from L to 2, and then 2 to D, still works just fine.



I am focusing my investigation on this little pawl (photo is flipped as a result of using a mirror):



It looks like it is supposed to engage this series of ramps, which locks it in position until the button is pushed. You can see here it is too far outboard to engage the ramps, for whatever reason. That also allows the pawl, and therefore the whole rod and button, to pop up too high.



If I pry the pawl inboard, or push the lever to the right, then it engages.



But I am sure that is not how it was, because that places the shift handle to the right of the console top plate opening rather than centered as it used to be. (The shifter and the pawl move together, side to side).

Anyhow: I am wondering if anyone has experience with this or has one they can look at for me. I am wondering if I've lost a spring or broken the tip off of something, and I'd like to know how it is supposed to be before I start cobbling or designing my own fix.

Thanks in advance -

K

[Cammer-6]

the first step looks like a soak in penetrant and then thoroughly degrease
many times sticky old grease is the issue

[Keith Seymore]

Thanks Cammer for reading and responding.

I figured it out.

Apparently that "pawl" is supposed to be a T shape instead of just a hockey stick.

It looks like the point on the inboard side broke off such that it wouldn't engage and then rounded off just to make sure it gets pushed outboard.

I added some material via weld and then reshaped it and all is well now.

Thanks again -

K

[Cammer-6]

Many years ago I bought a 68 C-10 with V-8 and 3 speed column shift.
It was a company truck that had a ton of shifter use.
I know because I cussed it more than once for getting stuck inbetween gears.
Since it was now mine for the sum of $300,I decided to fix it.
A few well placed beads of weld on the ears to square off the rounded edges
and some grease and she was good as new again.
My swap of a 2 speed auto to 4 speed auto on another project left me grinding new detents
now looking for a new lens for my shift indicator. I think they repop one for Cheby Pickups