Manual Column Shift Linkage

Just starting a new project.  Bought a 1964 Chevy G10 Panel Van.  Just starting to evaluate things I need to do.  The three-on-the tree is pretty sloppy, and the shifter linkage next to the steering wheel has been poorly welded and bolted together.  Any suggestions as to parts availability? Slim pickins for old vans in the bone yard.  Any exchange with other Chevy cars/trucks?

Thanks,

DM

Welcome to VV!!! Go back and change your profile to where you live. Many times there a vanner close that can help you

Go to parts wanted and start a thread of what you need and there will be somebody that will
chime in with the parts you are looking for. there is always somebody taking out the 3 on the
tree and putting in an auto.

panelmanrd,

Thanks, I will do that.

Welcome to VV. When you get a chance post up a pic of your G10, Weed love to see what your working on.

Welcome, I only got my '64 back in August, been on the same path as you!  There are several aftermarket shifter bushings out there but bottom line is, none of them fit right.  You need to make them, or have a good mechanic make some from some universal bronze or nylon bushings that are cut down to fit.  My shifter was repaired this way and its fine now, but the Dormans that are supposed to fit were too small...what state are you in?  I have a few lines on some junkyard vans around the country to get parts, one guy in OK has four of them being parted out, what do you need? You may find the entire shifter or the parts you need from a yard or from plenty of guys here with parts for sale, post a parts wanted ad.  A lot of people have changed engines and put in auto trannys and saved the old shifters for people like us who need the parts...Another good resource is the Vintage Chevy Van Club forum, very good parts wanted section there too, most folks here are also there too....Post a pic or 2 of your van too!

dix wrote:Has any one tryed the old muscle car suppliers i'd have a hard time believing those bushings were made for a van only app,

I've searched and read every forum tale here and over at VCVC on this subject, tried everything I could find that was supposed to fit and didn't, but all seem to say the same thing, adapt or make them form other bushings from Summit Racing or the like. We used some bronze ones for some muscle car but they had to be shortened, but they work great now!

Those things are 50 cents each in my catalog,,,,,,,,somebody buy some and see if they work,,,,,,

This exactly what my guy did for me, we could not find anything to fit.  I think he used some mustang bushings that are available...The Dormans I bought, only $2.00 a pair were just too big to force into the lever rings and they were listed as the correct fit.  This is the way to go.  My rear weren't too bad, left the originals in there, just grease 'em up good.  Another thing to check is the shifter lever to trans.  I thought my popping out of gear and sloppy shifting was the bushings.  Turns out the lever was loose from the trans and the bolt and washer were chewed up from being loose, so was the keyway.  Had the shop weld over the key, re-cut it with Dremel and files and replace bolt and washer with a Grade 5 and now it shifts like a dream....check that lever bolt.  A new lever is hard to find too, the van was a special extra long length for the "reversed" set up with the trans behind the driver.  After trying two from junk yards from old GM pickups that were too short by an inch or more, ended up repairing mine. Also, as covered in another thread here with good pictures, make sure the rod guide by the E-brake pulley has some plastic liner and not bare steel, the original plastic ones are usually long gone. Easy to replace with some greased split wire mold and some cable ties. Really helped with the shifter play and keeps the weight of the rod from pulling out of gears.

Re: Manual Column Shift Linkage

New post by jbass62 on Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:13 pm
This exactly what my guy did for me, we could not find anything to fit. I think he used some mustang bushings that are available...The Dormans I bought, only $2.00 a pair were just too big to force into the lever rings and they were listed as the correct fit. This is the way to go. My rear weren't too bad, left the originals in there, just grease 'em up good. Another thing to check is the shifter lever to trans. I thought my popping out of gear and sloppy shifting was the bushings. Turns out the lever was loose from the trans and the bolt and washer were chewed up from being loose, so was the keyway. Had the shop weld over the key, re-cut it with Dremel and files and replace bolt and washer with a Grade 5 and now it shifts like a dream....check that lever bolt. A new lever is hard to find too, the van was a special extra long length for the "reversed" set up with the trans behind the driver. After trying two from junk yards from old GM pickups that were too short by an inch or more, ended up repairing mine. Also, as covered in another thread here with good pictures, make sure the rod guide by the E-brake pulley has some plastic liner and not bare steel, the original plastic ones are usually long gone. Easy to replace with some greased split wire mold and some cable ties. Really helped with the shifter play and keeps the weight of the rod from pulling out of gears.
Re: Manual Column Shift Linkage

New post by donivan65 on Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:23 pm
The 66 pick up grommets are too big for our vans,,,,,but those 67-72 are the little hat grommets that will work,,,,,,,the carb linkage uses some with a smaller steel hat inside them but the hot exhaust is rough on them,,,,,,I used a 45 degree air line brass fitting and cut off some and they make a good brass bushing if you want to get rid of the rubber ones,,,,,

The 66 pick up grommets are too big for our vans,,,,,but those 67-72 are the little hat grommets that will work,,,,,,,the carb linkage uses some with a smaller steel hat inside them but the hot exhaust is rough on them,,,,,,I used a 45 degree air line brass fitting and cut off some and they make a good brass bushing if you want to get rid of the rubber ones,,,,,

Cool, I'll see how long the rubber lasts, if not I'll make something in brass for the one by the manifold, thanks.