My latest project

[Infinite Monkeys]

Hello All,
Just got a '60 Thunderbird, it's been sitting for 20+ years. I got it running and driving. I'm now sorting though the issues.
Right now I'm trying to change out the shifter arm. I have the shifter tube off, but I can't remove the arm because the steering shaft goes through it. Looks like I need to pull the steering shaft, but can't seem to figure out how.

Any thoughts on this are much appreciated.

Thanks.

[YellowRose]

Hello and shifter arm question

iftikhar, call me or shoot me your phone number in a Private Message... I can help you...

[Infinite Monkeys]

iftikhar, call me or shoot me your phone number in a Private Message... I can help you...

Wow, it's OK to call you? I see your number in your post.

I haven't figured out how to send private messages yet. I'll be working on the car tomorrow. What will be a good time to call?

Thank you!!!!

[YellowRose]

Hello and shifter arm question

Right NOW! I am a night owl and am up. 210-674-5781. BTW, I DID receive your Thank You PM, so it worked... Call me!

[Infinite Monkeys]

My latest project

it's a 1960 Thunderbird with a 390 and COM. I picked it up about 2 months ago from a guy in Santa Fe, NM. He's had it since 1980. He had the engine and trany rebuilt in '90, drove it for about 9k miles and then parked it. So it sat since, (outside) till I just got it.
I've put a 100% new braking system in it, including hard and soft lines, pads, wheel cylinders, dual piston master cylinder and dual diaphragm booster.
New electronic ignition and the usual tune up, including a new carb.
I've also put in a new hard line from the tank to fuel pump. Fuel pump is also new.
I've driven it about 50 miles so far and it runs great. I've done several full throttle pulls and the engine and trany were perfect.

There are lot of issues still remaining and I'll be working on those in the time to come.
Just had a great talk with Ray, he pointed me the right direction to get things done.
Also, I do all my own work.

Well, I tried to add some pictures, but looks like I can't just attach them. Do I need to have photobucket account to post pics here?

Thanks.

[OX1]

Some pics that may or may not help..........

http://luxjo.supermotors.net/59%20T-BIRD/STEERING/STEERING%20COL%20SHIFTER%20TEARDOWN/SMALL/

You can't pull steering shaft, it is part of steering box.
You can pull entire tube and have everything off with steering
shaft still sitting there (how I rebuilt mine)

[Infinite Monkeys]

Some pics that may or may not help..........

http://luxjo.supermotors.net/59%20T-BIRD/STEERING/STEERING%20COL%20SHIFTER%20TEARDOWN/SMALL/

You can't pull steering shaft, it is part of steering box.
You can pull entire tube and have everything off with steering
shaft still sitting there (how I rebuilt mine)

That makes sense.

Thank you!

[OX1]

Just to let you know, the two pictures with the arrows are the
points that created the most play in the whole shifter "linkage" setup for me.
The detent plate has it's purpose, but even a new one probably won't cure the play in shift linkage.

I even bought a new lower shift arm, but I had to drop beads of weld
and file it down to meet raised boss on shift tube.

I should have done that on the upper end of shift tube,
welding on the edges of boss on the tube, so it fit perfect with shift collar.

I did not, but I think you can buy a new shift tube if you wanted.
Possibly, if you buy collar, tube, and lower arm, they
will all be to spec and not introduce play.

I think it is a lot cheaper and easier to drop small beads
of weld on lower shift arm and upper tube. Then file
down until they fit is perfect with old corresponding parts.

[Infinite Monkeys]

Just got done putting it together and test start and shift. I have the back tires raised to prevent an accidental moving. It's much better than before, not perfect, but much better. Previous owner had put in a new detent plate, but my shifter handle and collar are also really worn. I may get to that over winter. Right now it's better than before and shifts into Park more securely, which was one of my biggest concerns.

Thanks all.

[RustyNCa]

Did you pull the VC and check the umbrella seals? My 58 had a similar history and I did the same thing you have with yours, took a few weeks till a chunk of old umbrella seal worked it's way down into the pan and the oil pump. Seized the oil pump and broke the shaft going down the freeway.

Sounded like it killed at least one bearing by the time I got her pulled off the freeway. So I now keep an eye on those lil guys after putting another motor in the 58...

Cheers
RustyNCA

[Infinite Monkeys]

Did you pull the VC and check the umbrella seals? My 58 had a similar history and I did the same thing you have with yours, took a few weeks till a chunk of old umbrella seal worked it's way down into the pan and the oil pump. Seized the oil pump and broke the shaft going down the freeway.

Sounded like it killed at least one bearing by the time I got her pulled off the freeway. So I now keep an eye on those lil guys after putting another motor in the 58...

Cheers
RustyNCA

I pulled the covers, but only to make sure all the rockers were moving freely before first start.
I didn't check any seals. Looks like I better do that.
Thanks.

[Infinite Monkeys]

Well the shifter arm is much better, but now that I'm messing around with the trany linkage, I noticed the the trany doesn't want to "click" into Park. The trany shifter linkage drops down to reverse on it's own easily when not connected to the steering column shifter arm.

Any remedy for this?

Thanks again.

[jopizz]

There really isn't any remedy for it. It relies on the shift lever and detent plate to hold it firmly in the Park position. You can overadjust the linkage so it forces the arm to hold it in Park but you may lose the L gear position.

John

[Infinite Monkeys]

There really isn't any remedy for it. It relies on the shift lever and detent plate to hold it firmly in the Park position. You can overadjust the linkage so it forces the arm to hold it in Park but you may lose the L gear position.

John

Looks like that's where I'm at. This is exactly what's happening.
The new shift arm made it better, but I don't have "L". Why is that? Am I not adjusting it correctly?

So is this a trany issue or a shifter/linkage issue?

What would it take to convert to center console shift and would that make a noticeable difference?

Thanks.

[jopizz]

If you don't have L then it's probably a linkage issue. If you have the shop manual follow the adjustment procedure. If you don't have one I recommend getting one. You can download a digital version for less than $20. Certainly a floor shift will solve a lot of your issues if you don't mind hacking up your console. Others on here have done it but I haven't.

John