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Topic: 4-speed shifter alignment

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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4-speed shifter alignment (1/19)
 12/3/18 6:58pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
Posts: 319

I rebuilt the 4-speed shifter in my '75 using one of the rebuild kits.  It tightened it up nicely, and fixed the problem with it catching going into 2nd gear (the reverse lockout rod was worn way down).  My question is that there does not appear to be an alignment hole to set all the pawls to neutral. My concern is that when I get the transmission back in it will be a pain working in the confined space under the car to get all the shift rods set correctly.

What it the method to align the shift rods?

BTW -- I had a heck of a time getting the shifter out of the car even with the transmission out.  I read about one person who took it out with the transmission in place -- I can't imagine doing that!



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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (2/19)
 12/3/18 10:29pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

It shows you how in the factory service manual. Assuming your shifter is the same as in my 73, it takes a piece of flat thin stock that they'd used to align the shifters in the neutral position. Much more difficult than with the piece of drill rod on the previous versions. Especially if it's in the car because then you have to bend the piece of stock into a curve in order to get it up into the tunnel. If you don't have a FSM, I can post a picture of mine if I can find it. Or maybe a picture of the FSM page when I get home.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (3/19)
 12/3/18 10:46pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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The factory shifter could have two different alignment "slots". Depending on which one you have, it requires a pin, or square stock "gauge". Either way, you insert the pin or gauge into the slot/hole, lining the three levers up first, then adjust the linkages to fit the levers. If you did NOT loosen, or move any of the linkage adjustments before taking the shifter off, it should be dang close to start with.

This pic shows the two different alignment slot/holes.(A & B) The Service manual, if you have one, also has the adjustment procedure.




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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (4/19)
 12/4/18 12:51am
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
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I do have a FSM -- I'll check it in the morning.
Thanks!



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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (5/19)
 12/5/18 12:55am
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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I got my shifter out with the engine and transmission in place.  Wasn't easy and I cussed....a lot.

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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (6/19)
 12/6/18 4:25pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Here's a picture of the alignment tool. The narrow part that fits in the slots is 5/8" and the mat'l thickness is 0.015".


(large image modified to link-aapple)




|UPDATED|12/6/2018 1:25:07 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (7/19)
 12/6/18 10:14am
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


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Thanks.  Once I knew where the slot was, I made a tool to fit.  It'll be a few weeks before I get the engine & transmission together and be ready to install everything again.

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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (8/19)
 12/6/18 4:21pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Just curious to know if the one I pictured would fit your shifter. I couldn't remember if they switched transmissions in 75 or not.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (9/19)
 12/6/18 4:27pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


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73shark said: Just curious to know if the one I pictured would fit your shifter. I couldn't remember if they switched transmissions in 75 or not.

Yes, that looks correct.  I made mine straight (without the cutout), but it seems to fit fine.

I assume there will be room enough to pull it out once everything is installed. . .




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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (10/19)
 12/6/18 8:37pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I think the cut out was just to ensure that you got it inserted all the way to pick up all of the shifters. Are you planning on adjusting them before you put get back in the vehicle?

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (11/19)
 12/6/18 9:06pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


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73shark said: I think the cut out was just to ensure that you got it inserted all the way to pick up all of the shifters. Are you planning on adjusting them before you put get back in the vehicle?

I was planning on inserting the tool, then mount the shifter, then install the transmission,  then see that the rods line up correctly.
Since the shifter does not mount to the transmission itself, I don't see any other way of doing it.


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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (12/19)
 12/6/18 10:18pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

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1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


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On my 72' I put transmission in, then the shifter, then the brackets to attach it, then inserted my home made adjustment tool and adjusted the shift rods. It was a BEAR! Be interested to know how you accomplished the task. Exaust pipes go on last. No room to work in the tunnel.

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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (13/19)
 12/6/18 10:44pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
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manchestershark said: On my 72' I put transmission in, then the shifter, then the brackets to attach it, then inserted my home made adjustment tool and adjusted the shift rods. It was a BEAR! Be interested to know how you accomplished the task. Exaust pipes go on last. No room to work in the tunnel.

I had a bear of a time getting the shifter out when the transmission had already been removed.  I can't imagine working around it to put the shifter in.  I had a time just unhooking the shifter rods.
The exhaust pipes are in place.  They are welded in and in good shape, so I'll be working around them at least.  I'm not looking forward to this job!




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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (14/19)
 12/7/18 9:19am
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

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1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


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Posts: 2381

Do you have the single pipe with converter to deal with, or true duals? I have true duals, which makes for less space to work in.

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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (15/19)
 12/7/18 11:32am
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
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manchestershark said: Do you have the single pipe with converter to deal with, or true duals? I have true duals, which makes for less space to work in.

Mine has true duals.  No converter.



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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (16/19)
 12/8/18 5:48pm
BillHanna
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Cana, VA - USA

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1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box


Joined: 7/3/2016
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I was dreading putting the shifter back in since I had such a hard time getting it out.  But I just got it back in without an issue.  I have no idea now why I had such a time getting it out.

Next step is pulling the transmission apart and rebuilding it.  I read that Borg Warner transmissions have an issue with jumping out of 2nd gear, which is what mine does.  I may be hunting for a 2nd gear-set once I get it apart.

I was reading about C3 Corvettes, and the indication was they they usually had Muncie transmissions.  Anyone know if that is true?



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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (17/19)
 12/8/18 5:54pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

I think they changed to BorgWarner around 1975 or 76.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (18/19)
 12/9/18 7:45am
cinorLifetime Member
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1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1


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Bill I also have a 4 speed 75 and it has the alignment hole I just made a piece to stick in there.



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Re: 4-speed shifter alignment (19/19)
 12/9/18 10:59am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
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Corvettes have used both BW and Muncie transmissions over the years. Your '75 will have a BW Super T-10 unless it has been changed sometime in the past. I have never run into any specific design failures on either. One is not necessarily better than the other, other than the M-22 Muncie, which simply has wider, and straighter gear teeth. 
You can get dang near any part you need for a Muncie or BW from Kajun Jon .


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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