auto shift indicator

[alec22]

First, let me say that this is my first post! I've been doing alot of reading while trying to get that damn fuel gauge to work!! That's done though!

My '85 didn't have a shift indicator in it when I bought it last month. So, I picked one up but I don't see how it attaches to the steering column. It was easy to see where it attached to the gauge cluster but I don't see anything on the column. The indicator is all there even with that little cable and its clip. Any ideas? Also, pictures would really be great too!

Thanks guys! I look forward to many hours of reading all kinds of topics. Jeeps are my thing but I thought I'd devote some time to building up a real truck. Plus I can't haul mulch and other household stuff in my Rubicon!

[Malo83]

Welcome to the Board Alec , The indicator on my 83 broke a while back and now I shift by feel , where did you pick up you indicator? need to replace mine also.
John

[alec22]

Thanks for the welcome. I picked up my indicator on Ebay (yeah I know but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!) for $15.

Also, I figured out how it attaches, and I feel dumb now too!

Thanks!

[BowTieOgre]

Dont feel bad man, I just picked one up for my '73 and I sat there for a good 15 minutes trying to figure it out before I busted out the Dewalt and drilled a hole thru the clip and column...done! hehe Works like a champ now...I have a working indicator, lights in my dash, working dome lights and some tunes all in a days work! I love working on this thing, too bad its a money pit.

[piecesparts]

The indicator has a string with a metal clip on it RIGHT? If so the string runs over a little plastic post inside the dash and the metal clip simply slips onto the column tube just under the indicator. It is like fitting paperclip onto a sheet of heavy paper. You will have to move the clip around to get the indicator aligned with the right letter for what gear you are in. You might even see some small scratches on the tube where the old one was.

[killthewabbit]

I was working on my 78 stepside last month and had my dash bezel off. I wasn't working on the shift indicator, but I did get a few pics of that general area with the bezel off. Here you go:








Mine broke awhile back, but maybe the pictures will help you. I think I was the first person to ever take my bezel off...

Sometimes it helps me just to see how it was put together on someone else's truck.

If the pics are too big just let me know and I'll remove them. Here's the link to my original blog post:
http://www.atleastihavechicken.com/w...-my-truck.html

Will

[piecesparts]

If you look at the pictures above, you will see a small round post on the right hand side of the plastic shift indicator bracket (just below the green turn signal light). That is the post the string slides over. The string then extends down to the right hand side of the column and the clip connects to the tube at the bottom. That would be where the black tube ends and the lighter column tube starts like what you see in the second picture.

[Russell]

Looks like that one is busted though. You'll have to replace the bezel if you don't have the old peice...

[piecesparts]

It can be modified, though. I had one busted before and made a screw/plastic sleeve up and grafted them onto the plastic. It has been there for 4 years, now.

[crossy]

you can run a long interior finish screw, (the kind with a permanent washer under the head), Use a short piece of vaccum tube on HALF of the threaded portion, now screw it right into the metal dash in the right spot to act as a guide. the tubing will cushion the ride of the cable, and the washer will keep it from popping off. If you need a pic let me know. I'm not at home right now with file access, but i have sent the pic to a few members. crossy

[boatpuller]

that's pretty much what i did,just used next diameter up screw.worked good.it gets all covered up and you'll never see it.

[rfmaster]

This is a photo of my spare 1975 Cluster assembly. The double nylon thread slides across plastic slide/mounting boss - actually moves the shift indicator. I wonder if there are retrofit bezels for 700R4 that would fit in this 75 cluster? I hope this photo helps...

//RF

[piecesparts]

The shifter indicators are all the same in the way they mount. th difference is the number of gears indicated on the shifter pattern. The tranny has the detents in it and the column appears to work well with the new indicators, so I imagine the older trucks will work with the new tranny indicators.

I, however, got tired of trying to shift manually and getting into the wrong gears on the highway, so I moved mine to the floor with a B&M truck megashifter, solved all of my problems.

[crossy]

Originally Posted by rfmaster

This is a photo of my spare 1975 Cluster assembly. The double nylon thread slides across plastic slide/mounting boss - actually moves the shift indicator. I wonder if there are retrofit bezels for 700R4 that would fit in this 75 cluster? I hope this photo helps...

//RF

THERE IS NO RETTROFIT, SIMPLY INSTALL THE INDICATOR FROM A LATER 700r4 MODEL.

[Srubydo1986]

So crossy ur saying if i had a blazer or truck that had a 700r4 originally its bezel would go into my truck that didnt have a 700r4 but say a th350 instead. correct? If this is true this is good news cause im trying to put a 700r4 in a th350 truck (know if i could only tremember what i did with the bezel)

[crossy]

well it's not technically the whole bezel it's just that small indicator plate and yes it comes off with two screws and can be replaced. crossy

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by crossy

well it's not technically the whole bezel it's just that small indicator plate and yes it comes off with two screws and can be replaced. crossy

AGREE----The indicator part is a simple bolt on and the vehicle doesn't matter really as to what year. I put a 700 in my 84 and all I did was change out the indicator and adjusted the coumn shifter to match the tranny detents. Simple....

[Srubydo1986]

what if i dont have that colum cause i like the one i have cause arnt the tranny detents in the tranny. cause i thought all u had to do is just have to move the slider so the indicator works, right?

[crossy]

Originally Posted by Srubydo1986

what if i dont have that colum cause i like the one i have cause arnt the tranny detents in the tranny. cause i thought all u had to do is just have to move the slider so the indicator works, right?

it has nothing to do with the column. the detents are in the tranny.

[piecesparts]

Have you thought of a floor shifter as another option? Just a question? It made a definite difference in the three trucks that I put them in. A lot simpler in performance.

[Srubydo1986]

i would but it goin to be a 4x4 so it might get a little clutered from it plus it just seamed easy to use what what already there

[520CheyenneK10]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

If you look at the pictures above, you will see a small round post on the right hand side of the plastic shift indicator bracket (just below the green turn signal light). That is the post the string slides over. The string then extends down to the right hand side of the column and the clip connects to the tube at the bottom. That would be where the black tube ends and the lighter column tube starts like what you see in the second picture.

AH HA!!! This is helpful. If I'd read this first I'd have done the mod but my dumb ass always dives in and jerry rigs things my own way. Now I'll know what to do if it fails.