Column shifter parts diagram and overhaul instructions

[mike d]

I am having a problem shifting into 1st and reverse and want to repair the shifter any help would be greatly appreciated mike

[tubman]

While I assume you are talking about a Ford, it would be nice to know what year.

[mike d]

46 coupe

[rotorwrench]

Try VanPelt's web-site. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...1940-48car.jpg

The rubber grommets in the transmission shift arms can wear out and cause a lot of play so check that too.

[mike d]

The problem i'm having is that the shifter handle is very sloppy when i try to pull it towards the steering wheel.

[mrtexas]

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Originally Posted by mike d

The problem i'm having is that the shifter handle is very sloppy when i try to pull it towards the steering wheel.

I just overhauled mine. The rubber parts would cause the slop and are easy to replace.

[flathead 53]

I had the same problem on my 40, bought the repair kits from mac,they were junk, found some NOS ones on e-bay,they worked out great ,no more problems. go on e-bay and put in column shifter bushings for 40 ford .these will fit 1940 up in to the fifties.

[38 coupe]

There is a very nice write up on rebuilding the column shifter in the F-1 pickups. I think you 46 shifter is functionally identical so the rebuild instructions should apply to your car too. http://www.flatheadv8.org/columnshift.pdf

[mike d]

how did you remove the shifter handle?

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by mike d

how did you remove the shifter handle?

If you look at where the handle fits into the shaft it has a rubber bushing . Notice the small pivot pin there. Take a small punch and push in. You'll have to do this on each side ,it's spring loaded. Once they're pushed in the handle will pull out.

[blucar]

The Ford column shift assembly is about the simplest, trouble free shifting assemblies ever invented.
The usual problem is the upper/lower grommets on the shift rods.. These are located on the steering column levers and on the side of the transmission..

[40 Deluxe]

According to his book "The Fords in My Past", Harold Brock (Ford engineer from 1929 to 1959) tells of trying to get Henry to approve a column shift for the '40 model to keep up with the competition. Henry finally agreed with the stipulation that cost be limited to no more than $1.75 more than the floor shift. Harold said he succeeded!

[mike d]

Thanks, that's what i was looking for. Mike

[tubman]

Originally Posted by flathead 53

I had the same problem on my 40, bought the repair kits from mac,they were junk, found some NOS ones on e-bay,they worked out great ,no more problems. go on e-bay and put in column shifter bushings for 40 ford .these will fit 1940 up in to the fifties.

It looks like the parts are no longer sold on eBay. I looked at the parts Mac's offers in their catalog, and they look pretty basic. So basic, I don't see how they could screw them up. Could you possibly elaborate on the problems you saw with them?

This is the part I'm referring to :

[flathead 53]

there are a couple of listings for nos ,ones on e-bay now just type in 1940 ford column shifter bushings ,the problem with macs is they are soft rubber , the nos ones are a hard material and they screw together ,better fit.

[tubman]

"53", Thanks, I finally found them. I had to remove "column" from the search parameters for some reason. Cheaper than Mac's as well.

[rotorwrench]

The new ones gave lathe turned brass grommet retainers. I've been successful at installing these but they are NOT like the originals. They can not be swaged easily and will crack if you try too hard to bend the edges around the washer. I made a tool to swage them but I had to trim them down a lot to fit correctly.

The originals were soft thin brass material and could be swaged just like a brass grommet for the edges of a tarpaulin. I've seen these OEM types on Flea-Pay but I've never purchased them for fear that the rubber material may be aged too much. I haven't seen the ones that screw together yet.

[flathead 53]

yes the nos type like on e-bay ,screw together,these are great,,look before you buy each pack has two bushings in it

[rotorwrench]

OK, I know what you are referring to now. Those were the old aftermarket Champ type bushing replacements that were aftermarket. FoMoCo only sold the O1A-7354-A clevises and replacement arms. The "screw together" ones were an aftermarket replacement part. They were either plastic or fiber with a steel threaded bushing and a wave washer. Here is a link for the ones made by Champ. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NEW-GEAR-S...pXNiDu&vxp=mtr
They would be NOS aftermarket parts to repair the original clevis & arm bushings. The brass ones are a bit easier on the shift rod ends and the pins on the transmission arms. They wont flex much either since they are of a harder material than rubber but they will work.