Shift Lever

[RogG]

I bought a new shift lever for my 65 Bird and followed the instructions for removing the pin holding the old one in place. I got it started out of the hole but now it's stuck and won't move. Anyone got any ideas on how I can get the pin out so I can put the new lever in?
I'm doing this because I was told this would fix the sloppy shift action. When I start the car I have to hold the lever in a certain spot and I'm afraid it will fall out of park into rverese which I'm told can happen.

[Joe Vandatta]

A drift pin punch of the right size--then theres always the good old vise grips.

[T-Ray]

I am not very experienced with regards to
T-birds, howerver you might check and make sure that the pin used is not a tapered pin. I know that on quite a few transmissions they use tapered pins that are only removeable in one direction. might be a long shot, but worth checking out.

Terry

[CANNEDBAND]

ditto,the shifter on my dubl 6 is very sloppy i hafta hold it in Park,then push the swing away steering column over to keep it in Park.I think I'll try a new shift lever too.

[budaman]

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY '65. GOT A DRIFTPIN SET AT HOME DEPOT FOR ABOUT $10. GOT THE PIN ABOUT 2/3 WAY OUT AND WOULDN'T BUDGE ANY MORE. THIS WAS GOING FROM TOP DOWN AS PER INSTRUCTIONS. DECIDED TO TRY THE OTHER DIRECTION AND IT POPPED RIGHT OUT. IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER TRIED WITH WRONG SIZE DRIFT IT COULD HAVE SPREAD THE SPLIT PIN. ON THE DOWN SIDE, THIS STILL DID NOT STOP ME FROM HAVING TO HOLD THE SHIFT LEVER TO START THE CAR. THE PARK BRAKE DOESN'T DISENGAGE BY ITSELF ANYMORE THOUGH! GOOD LUCK.

[ironjohn]

Thanks for the tips, guys.

[t-bird-art]

budaman : Having to hold he shift lever in a certan position to start the car means: Your NEUTRAL SAFETY switch ( mounted on the steering column) needs a slight adjustment. A) Put car in PARK & Block Wheels B) Loosen two mounting screws on Neutral Safety Switch C) turn Ignition Key and hold at START position D) move Safety Switch until circuit is correct thru the switch and starter engages . E) Tighten two mounting screws

[RogG]

Thanks for the tip about the neutral safety switch. I've read a lot of things about that problem but nobody evr said how to deal with it. I've also seen a lot of ads for a new switch but if the fix is as easy as you describe, you probably saved me some cash. Thanks.

[RogG]

OK, now I've done it. I removed the drift pin with vise grips since it wouldn't come out by using the punch. In the process I bent the darn thing and now it won't fit back into the hole. Where can I find a replacement? Help!
Also, after putting the new shifter into the column it does not shift into gear when I move it. Is there some secret to aligning it properly? The gears were in the "low" position (all the way to the right) when I took the old one out and put the new one in. Now I can move it up to park, start the car, but nothing happens when I try to put it into gear. What did I screw up and how do I fix it?

[Joe Van Datta]

Can you get it into gear by moving the shift hub by hand--there is a screw that attaches the selector hub to the shift tube, you can access it through a hole in the hub. If it is missing the hub will free wheel. I drilled out the hole in the hub and shift lever and put in a larger pin on my 66 as they were both worn. I am assuming that the rest of the linkage to the tranny is okay.
Joe

[RogG]

Joe:
I cannot shift it by hand. I can turn the shift dial part of the shaft from Park over to low and back again, but it doesn't fall into gear. I'll check to see if the screw connecting the hub to the tube is missing. Thanks