I have an 87' F150 with a C6 tranny. While changing out the shift linkage oil seal, a piece dropped out of the tranny. It connects to the shift linkage inside the tranny. It's about a foot long and is under the bolt that holds the linkage in place from the inside. It looks like the long rod end of it came out of a hole in the back of the case. Is there any special way it should go back in? The end that bolts onto the linkage has a hole with 2 flat sides that match the linkage shaft but they don't seem to line up right...any help there? Sorry for not being more specific, I don't know the names of these parts.

 

Thats the parking pawl engagement rod..If in won't slide all the way into the back of the case, then you need to turn the output shaft a small amount..The parking pawl gear detent has to be aligned with a "splineway" on the output shat gear before the "rod" will go all the way into the case..Be careful, you can push it to far into the rear of the case and It can give you a hard time getting it back out...

Metro2