The Ford Barn

jkflathead · 07-01-2020, 10:53 AM

I have what I believe to be a '36 Ford transmission. I am using Van Pelt's book as a guide and have dated it accordingly. The corner of the shifter base plate was broken off so I replaced it with another one that appears to be the same. It was rusty so I cleaned it all up, sprayed the sliders with penetrating oil a couple of times every day for a couple of weeks. The reverse, first side slides well and shifts like it was new when I put the shifter back on. However I can't get the front fork shaft for 2nd and 3rd to mover. I tap everything with a hammer slightly when I apply the penetrating oil. But the damn thing won't move. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Terry,OH · 07-01-2020, 02:13 PM

Disassemble the entire mechanism by removing the pins holding the forks to the rails and removing the threaded cap (heat with a torch) pull the rails and replace the internals, spring and both detent caps. You can use split pins to replace the original pins holding the forks to the rails. Mac VanPelt or Third Gen Auto have the parts & gaskets.

hotrodart · 07-01-2020, 02:21 PM

Have you thought about using the good parts off you old one? Seems like that would be fairly easy to do.

Hoop · 07-01-2020, 02:55 PM

Make sure 1st/rev fork is in neutral before trying to move 2/3 fork.

jkflathead · 07-01-2020, 03:16 PM

The neutral position for the 2st/rev ford is when the hole for the shifter lever is in the center. And that both ends of the 1st/rev. shaft are equal. Correct?

cas3 · 07-01-2020, 03:34 PM

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look at the cover from the bottom, you will see 3 notches on each shift rail. the center notch when clicked into the detent, is neutral. both rails need to be in neutral, then line up the slots in the trans gears to the forks when installing. really should do as Terry said, and tear it down and fix it right

jkflathead · 07-01-2020, 11:25 PM

Yes. Good advice. Thank you. Van Pelt's book can make that happen.

John

JM 35 Sedan · 07-02-2020, 07:19 AM

John, some pictures posted here of both shifter tops would probably have helped sort this out quickly.

rotorwrench · 07-02-2020, 09:41 AM

I agree. The early V8s started out with the shift tower that had the obvious angle back to the rear. In the 1936 time frame, the straight up vertical shift tower came into use but they only had a single detent set up. It wasn't till 1938 that the double detent set up came along. The double detent tower remained in production through 1952 at least.

It's too easy to mix and match parts on these old cog boxes so it's a good idea to ID what a person has so that answers to questions can be more accurate.

07-01-2020, 10:53 AM	#1
jkflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 679	shifter top problem I have what I believe to be a '36 Ford transmission. I am using Van Pelt's book as a guide and have dated it accordingly. The corner of the shifter base plate was broken off so I replaced it with another one that appears to be the same. It was rusty so I cleaned it all up, sprayed the sliders with penetrating oil a couple of times every day for a couple of weeks. The reverse, first side slides well and shifts like it was new when I put the shifter back on. However I can't get the front fork shaft for 2nd and 3rd to mover. I tap everything with a hammer slightly when I apply the penetrating oil. But the damn thing won't move. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

07-01-2020, 02:13 PM	#2
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,743	Re: shifter top problem Disassemble the entire mechanism by removing the pins holding the forks to the rails and removing the threaded cap (heat with a torch) pull the rails and replace the internals, spring and both detent caps. You can use split pins to replace the original pins holding the forks to the rails. Mac VanPelt or Third Gen Auto have the parts & gaskets.

07-01-2020, 02:21 PM	#3
hotrodart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shenandoah Valley Virginia Posts: 220	Re: shifter top problem Have you thought about using the good parts off you old one? Seems like that would be fairly easy to do.

07-01-2020, 02:55 PM	#4
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: shifter top problem Make sure 1st/rev fork is in neutral before trying to move 2/3 fork. __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."

07-01-2020, 03:16 PM	#5
jkflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 679	Re: shifter top problem The neutral position for the 2st/rev ford is when the hole for the shifter lever is in the center. And that both ends of the 1st/rev. shaft are equal. Correct?

07-01-2020, 03:34 PM	#6
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,567	Re: shifter top problem Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) look at the cover from the bottom, you will see 3 notches on each shift rail. the center notch when clicked into the detent, is neutral. both rails need to be in neutral, then line up the slots in the trans gears to the forks when installing. really should do as Terry said, and tear it down and fix it right

07-01-2020, 11:25 PM	#7
jkflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 679	Re: shifter top problem Yes. Good advice. Thank you. Van Pelt's book can make that happen. John

07-02-2020, 07:19 AM	#8
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: shifter top problem John, some pictures posted here of both shifter tops would probably have helped sort this out quickly. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

07-02-2020, 09:41 AM	#9
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: shifter top problem I agree. The early V8s started out with the shift tower that had the obvious angle back to the rear. In the 1936 time frame, the straight up vertical shift tower came into use but they only had a single detent set up. It wasn't till 1938 that the double detent set up came along. The double detent tower remained in production through 1952 at least. It's too easy to mix and match parts on these old cog boxes so it's a good idea to ID what a person has so that answers to questions can be more accurate.