Toploader is in. Won't go into 1st-2nd

Goes into 3rd and 4th, and reverse. Has me puzzled. BUT, found something that might be causing this. The shift mechanism is rebuilt. The handle is retro new.

On the shifter, there is an indent. On both sides. Looks to be like something is missing. Seems to me that a spring or a ball should be in place there.

Would that part be missing (whatever it is called) be causing the unit not to go into 1st and 2nd?

I'm without pictures because the car is at the shop. The men at the shop are baffled. But they pointed out to me the part that is missing. When you are sitting in the drivers seat. Looking down at the mechanism, with the handle installed. You move the unit to the left (towards the driver), the outer rod moves, but not in inner rod.

Go into reverse, the middle rod moves. When we saw that there is an indent on the shifter we began to think maybe some part is missing.

I know I am vague but tomorrow I can get pictures.

Ideas? Picture of an identical shifter I bought,....see that indent? Is something missing that needs to be put in there? Or am I cracking up.

 

What is the shifter mechanism from? Do you have or need a shifter mounting plate? The 1970-71 Ford installed Hurst units needed a cavity in the mounting plate to allow the mechanism to fully engage the levers.

 

This is the shift mechanism I bought.... the 2nd picture is the shift handle. Notice the circular indent near the mounting bolts. What goes in there?

 

Here is shifter mounting plate mounted on a T-10 that was in my Falcon for a Hurst shifter. I used the same plate to bolt to the Toploader tailhousing when I swapped transmissions. Without the cavity in the plate the shifter want move to the left to engage 1st or 2nd

 

you have a factory Ford shifter/mechanism. I can check my Ford shop manual to see if I can find an exploded parts diagram.

 

David, save your time.

 

There should be a cap(sort of like a upside down freeze plug)on each side with a spring under them... I believe it'll work without the parts but there is excessive side play with out them... What I don't know is if the shifter and handle are compatible...

I had a handle like that on a '64 Galaxie T-10, but I don't really remember what the shifter mechanism looked like...

 

actually found a factory Ford 4 speed shifter! you are missing the Spring (7208) and Plunger (7B125) that goes into the holes on both sides of your shifter handle. I think you can get them at any Mustang shop that specializes in early 65-70 Mustangs. Also, if you are having hard time putting into 1/2 did you make sure to align all the shifter levers?? Have to install alignment pin (use allen key) through all the shifter arms/body, then with the tranny levers all in neutral, have to loosen the adjusting nut on the rods (enlongated hole) and retightened while tranny is still in neutral.........
David

 

Does the shifter go into the center neutral position - I know the Hurst shifters had a pin you put in through the levers to lock it in absolute neutral so you could adjust each rod

 

yes, same as on the Hurst, use something like a 3/16" pin or allen key........

 

Well....that was easily solved. Now the next step. Getting the caps with springs in it. We knew something was wrong. The shifters is all either brand new or rebuilt. So, it needs a cap/spring like RThomas breakdown....OK, so off to find that part.

There is a local Mustang store which might have this stuff. The problemo is Turlock. Turlock is the biggest baddest (so they say) auto swap meet...and everyone has packed up to sell there stuff this weekend.

So I might have to talk to someone out of the Bay Area or SoCal. Or wait until the party is over next week.

BTW, the shop installed Flowmaster 400's. I heard it running yesterday. NICE....very nice. Right on the border of obnoxiously loud but subtle enough to make that small block draw attention from the little boys with the 5.0 Mustangs.....

 

YUP!

Exactly what it is doing. Now I need to find the parts. Ebay was not help.

 

What's up with those slotted rods? Looks like you'd need to move the shifter handle 3 or 4 inches before the rod ever started moving...

 

I will take a picture of the correct factory plate that was used to attached the Ford 4 speed shifter to the tailshaft housing. Ford and Hurst used different shifter plates and are not interchangable, will post pic later in the day.
David

 

slots in the rods are for linkage adjustment, unlike the Hurst rods where they used thread nut.