got a three on the tree, and cant find parts.

[cliffs78]

Crap! Columns galore won't sell me any parts seperately. They will only rebuild my column, I was hoping to be able to purchase the parts and rebuild this myself. I'm pretty sure I could come in well under the $575 price tag they quoted, before shipping

The search continues!

[hatzie]

I thought they didn't put the 292 I6 in the 10-30 Light Duty trucks.
I had a '73 307 & '74 350 with three on the tree.

[hatzie]

Look in the parts books. GM used these in the G & P vans too and other than shaft length I doubt there's much difference. You may be able to buy the parts direct from GM.
Some of the 60-66 guys claim that cleaning up the sloppy shift rod bushings with Hurst Pit Pack shift rod bushing and spring clip kit cleans up a lot of the slop. Amazon Hurst-3320001-Nylon-Bushing-Pack
You can get a better feel by cleaning and re-greasing the R/1 shaft and 2/3 tube along with the rest of the column moving parts. The claim is that the shifter still feels a little loose but it doesn't flop around as much.

[cedens]

was going to say good luck most of the old 3 speed tranny's ended up on the dirt tracks around here

[hatzie]

$575 plus is way too much for three on the tree or even a tilt column... These aren't a 63 Corvette or a Mercedes Benz SL450.

I bet the A & B bodies use many of the same bushings etc. Automatic columns used some of the same bushings as well. Ian posted many of the A & B body GM parts manuals on the GM parts WIKI...
There are other outfits that do columns. I don't typically patronize business in NY, NJ, CT, or MA. They have way too much artificial overhead and Eastern attitude.

I did a Google search for "Steering Column Parts"
Try these guys.
http://www.steeringcolumnservices.co...s-non-tilt.php
http://www.steeringcolumnservices.co...tilt-parts.php

[cliffs78]

Thanks again Hatzie! those links appear to have a couple things I could use to refurbish my old column. I finally located one used out of western MO, hope to have it here shortly so I can get this part of the mild resto/back from the dead project..

If I didn't love these old trucks so much I would have just cobbled something together and sent it down the road, BUT since I'm wanting to keep this truck I'd rather it was repaired to the best of my ability.

[Russ_the_truck79]

im a little bit late to comment on how the shift lever appeared to be bent but... on mine one of one side ran inline with the the lever while the other side was slanted. the best way i could describe it would be like the tip to a right triangle. some metal was missing on mine causing it not to engage the arms. Hopefully that helps

[MikeB]

Cliff, I just finished rebuilding my 82 pickup's 3-speed column. I put so much time in it, I could probably assemble it blindfolded, and that's not much of an exaggeration!

I didn't read all your posts above, but I can tell your the gearshift handle is not bent. And good luck finding a shifter bowl (the aluminum bowl that the shifter handle attaches to). I searched high and low and couldn't find one. I ended up enlarging the two worn-out holes and the gearshift handle hole to 6mm, and then used a 6mm bolt and locknut to replace the pin. That got rid of much of the slop. I also added sleeves (made with shim stock) to both the top and lower bores of the shifter bowl, so it wouldn't wobble on the shift tube. Picture below.

Also, the broken washer in one of your pictures is a wave washer that serves as a thrust washer (and tensioner) between the shifter bowl and the plastic bearing that snaps into the column below the bowl. The GM P/N is 7804447. If the plastic bearing looks OK but doesn't snap into the column securely, build up the 3 tabs on the bearing's OD using epoxy, and then file down until the bearing snaps in place and does not wobble. If you need a new one that WILL snap in, I have one that I'll sell you. It's GM P/N 7843457.

If you have a service manual, it shows you how to tighten up the slop in the shifter levers at the bottom of the column. It's a matter of rotating the cover sleeve (actually "retainer, bearing adapter"). You can also buy bronze bushings that fit in the rubber grommets on the levers, assuming the grommets are OK. I got mine from an online bearing supply house, and may have 2 extras.

I've got lots and lots of tips after spending probably 40-50 hours in the garage plus dozens of hours on the Internet. If I can be of any help, let me know.

Sleeves to remove slop between "bowls" and shifter tube:



What a job, but after 40-50 hours, I know the parts intimately!

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by cliffs78

Crap! Columns galore won't sell me any parts seperately. They will only rebuild my column, I was hoping to be able to purchase the parts and rebuild this myself. I'm pretty sure I could come in well under the $575 price tag they quoted, before shipping

The search continues!

They told me they may not have all the parts needed to rebuild my column. But they would let me use mine as a core on a rebuilt "floor shift" column. Still would have cost me $500 with shipping both ways.

[cliffs78]

Originally Posted by MikeB

They told me they may not have all the parts needed to rebuild my column. But they would let me use mine as a core on a rebuilt "floor shift" column. Still would have cost me $500 with shipping both ways.

Thanx for the help mike! I plan to get the other column I found on CL and rebuild mine for a spare or sell.

Good work you did there!

[MikeB]

Cool! I hope it's in better shape than yours.

[cliffs78]

Just thought I'd share an update. Dude with the column for sale flaked, dunno why.. But I did manage to (with a little creativity) get my old column cleaned, lubed, and back in the truck SHIFTING GEARS!! I need to adjust the neutral position a little more (not quite engaging 2nd gear all the time). But it is not hanging up and it feel it good.


Unfortunately I may have to be selling the ol' 78 here shortly. I have been offered a job in Oregon and don't think I can afford to do any more to it or take it with me.. The money just isn't there.

And I did locate another three on the tree column that I'm going to keep, ya know just in case lol

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by cliffs78

I need to adjust the neutral position a little more (not quite engaging 2nd gear all the time). But it is not hanging up and it feel it good.

I fine tuned mine this past weekend. The trick is to get the shift handle to move back (towards you) across the center of the H when both the R-1 and 2-3 levers on the trans are in neutral. If you have to move the handle up or down even a little bit before you can pull it back, the rod(s) need adjusting. Pretty easy to do actually. I ended up slipping one of the rods approx 1/8". (They adjust on the trans end.)

The H in my pattern is now straight across, not jagged, which makes it easier to downshift into first gear. For whatever reason the 1-2 shift was not a problem, just the 3-1 and 2-1 downshift.

Now, what I really need to do is get rid of the slack in the linkage between column and trans. Gotta be easier than the column rebuild job!

[hatzie]

The Hurst rod bushings and wave spring kit in post #28 should fix most of the slop in the rods.
If the rods are worn then braze them up with bronze and file back to size.
You'll have to re-adjust to get the 1-2 gate back to center.

If you've already fixed those then it's probably as good as she gets.

[MikeB]

Both of my rods are nice and tight at the column end because I replaced the small worn out plastic bushings with brass bushings. (Thank goodness the rubber bushings were still OK.) The bottom ends of the rods are locked in solid by the adjusting bolts. In my case, it's the intermediate bits and pieces and the levers on the trans that are a little loose. But, hey, you did give me some ideas!

[cliffs78]

FINALLY got the "new" one I ordered from eBay but it is out of an 83, the biggest difference is the mainshaf for the steering "rag joint" it is splined and fastened differently than my old one from the 78. My question to y'all is, would a rag joint from an auto be the same? As in length? Hoping to avoid tearing this one down to swap shafts in case some of the intenal peices decide to decentagrate

[ChevDog1]

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble with this, but I wish I were in your shoes. Th PO of my truck removed the TOTT, and replaced it with an auto. I learned to drive in a 56 chevy pickup with TOTT, and would love to have it again. Bee watching local CL, and checked at the swap meets, but no luck.

I even talked to a couple of local wrecking yards - one of them told me not to bother. He said that even if I find one, it will be need work, and parts are pretty much non-existant.

[cliffs78]

Thanks Chevdog, yeah it's been a struggle. Never would have thought trying to relive old glory days would be so tough! lol I'm gonna hit the yards in the morning after work and grab a rag joint from another pickup "actually going to take measurements from a coworker's truck tonight to verify whether or not I've got a chance at this) and hopefully get this part OVER WITH! so I can move onto some other part of the truck that need attention.

[cliffs78]

"new" shifter column. notice the box end with bolt hole through it.






here is the old style with a spline shaft and a groove for a pinch bolt(not seen)


and here's the rag joint, measuring 21 1/4'' long

[cliffs78]

Got the new column in and it shifts like a dream! Just like I remembered, shifting this old truck brought back some good memories of when I was learning to drive my 77 custom deluxe.

Gave it a tune up too and that 250 sounds so smooth!! God I can't express how happy this makes me!

I've just got diagnose and repair the fuel delivery problem from tank to fuel pump, it has a diverted valve that I believe is faulty.

Gonna get after it in the mornin. Might be posting a vid of it running down the road soon!

[ChevDog1]

Awesome!!!

Now I'm even more jealous...

[cliffs78]

Well one step forward and three steps back...

I am starting a new job at the end of May requiring us to move from Phoenix

Got the ol' truck up and running great! Absolutely love it! Unfortunately I will have to sell it because I just don't have the money to ship it or a way to haul it to Portland next month.. This sucks.

Unless I can win the lotto (dont need much, maybe 2 grand lol) Then I can keep it.

[cliffs78]

Got everything all back together in the cab, did some HAND buffing and polishing on the old dead paint.

















And the good news! I think we will be able to bring it with us!! Did some numbers crunching and if I figured it correctly I will be able to rent a tow dolly and drag it along. yeah, its a pretty good day!!

[tlawre87]

I sure hope you can grab it and take it with you. It looks to have much so much potential.

On a side note its I noticed it has a delay on the wipers, but no cruise control or power locks/windows. Shows back in those days you could really order them how you wanted.

[1774btcrew]

If anyone is still looking for parts for one of these in the Phoenix area there is currently one at Ecology auto parts