I am trying to rebuild a column shifter for a 68 bronco. I have it mostly disassembled, but can not get the shift lever out of the shift tube. How does it come apart? Also how does the pin connect to the shift handle. does it press in- or screw in? mine is rusted, but I do not want to break the handle- it does not seem to be available aftermarket. Also I need a new shift collar- it is available, but seems like there is a difference between 66-68 and 69 and later- is this true?
any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

There is a pin that holds the handle into the collar. It drives from the bottom, up. Once you have the handle out of the collar, you should be able to separate it from the shift tube.

I don't think there is a new shift handle available, but you can still find good used ones. There's no difference in shift collars between years that I am aware of. There are different ones depending on manual and automatic columns though.

Jason

 

i may have all this.
gave up and went with floor shifter..
way more happy..

 

Thanks RCrawler for the info- that make sense, and Dodmort I will take what you have it you want to get ride of it.

 

u bet...pm me your address and ill round it up..
but
unless you are going original restore u will be happier with floor shift

 

If the column is rebuilt properly, the linkage is tight and the transmission is in good shape, the column shifters work really well.

When I still had the 3 speed (seems like ages ago), I took the floor shifter route too. Even they aren't trouble free. If the adjustment isn't perfect they can jam in gear, or get stuck in neutral. I used to have a '76 that my wife finally refused to drive after the third or fourth time that I came out and got it out of gear for her.
My biggest complaint is that the shifter is always in the way, even as short as I am.

If you swap over to a floor shifter, I always recommend going with the name brand Hurst over something like what Duff sells. They are cheap knockoffs and I have had numerous problems with them.

Jason

 

yes
mine is a hurst
been worry free even with 5 labs climbing over it and me getting to the water.

 

You have some of those too? My old dog used to go everywhere with me in the Bronco. When it was in the back yard with the doors off, she used to climb up and sleep in the back seat waiting to go. The dogs I've had since she's been gone could care less.

Jason

 

they all love it cause they know if that truck is running it is going someplace cool.

have had people ask me how i get 5 from the truck to the boat all in one piece by myself,
about 480 lbs of dog...