I didn't get to the second engine job because the junk yard had a guy call in sick so he couldn't pull my engine. (apparently, there's only ONE guy that can do it there. )

Anyway, I got to bring the dent over for a general un-funking. The first thing I noticed was the shifter about came off in my hand when I went to put it in gear. The pin must've gotten loose or missing and instead of replacing/repairing it, they just shoved a small screw in the hole.

You guessed it, after a decade or so of the screw wallowing out the hole, the column was just about toast.

I only took one after picture because I was too involved with fixing the column.

Step one: Remove screw holding shifter in place. (required no tools. only gravity was holding it in.)

Step two: Drill what was left of column so the hole was at least round. (In this case, it was drilled to 3/8". [yeah, I told you it was bad])

Step three: Tap the hole with 7/16" tap

Step four: Fabricate discs that will thread into drilled and tapped holes approx. 3/16" thick.

Step five: Install discs in to column and adjust so they are snug against the shifter handle.

Step six: Drill 1/8" hole through discs for the new roll pin to hold the shifter in place.

Step seven: Install shifter handle and secure with new roll pin.

The roll pin through the shifter handle will keep the discs from turning as well as keep the shifter handle from flopping around. So basically, I made two steel bushings that threaded into the column so the shifter would not be in danger of falling out while going down a bumpy road.

Here's how it looks done.......

 

Looks good. Not a good thing having the shifter fall out.

 

Looks good but do not be to surprised if that pot/cast metal goes ahead and cracks with any kind of hard shifting into and outa park.

Its the inside that gets worn out first (more pot metal) and then the trouble gets transferred to the shift handle get treated pretty hard.

Nice rims......BTW

 

I'm hoping my engineering gets a few more years out of it. I did place a little more load on the column, but took some off of the shift linkage and strengthened up the boss for the shifter by tying both sides together with steel. Hopefully it works. It shifts pretty easy, so if the kid isn't a complete idiot, it should last. ....but I know what you're saying. I was trying to make it as strong as I could with what I had to work with. (which wasn't much)

 

I agree was not much there to work with by design, and you made the most of it and it still works, so good on you.

At least it was a screw, I had a 10 penny nail in one once......PO......

 

Sure, sure...blame the previous owner...

Looks good. Nice to see a quality repair.

 

No for real, I am not kidding, I swear. I know no pics, no proof. I at least would of cut the nail off or made it shorter, in stead of bending it 45.

It was in a 79 parts truck long gone to heaven.........(insert taps sound) dah dah da....

 

That's a BIG plus about my current automobile situation. I bought the Focus used, but less than one year old...the Escape was less than three years old when we bought it...haven't discovered ANY "PO issues" on either of them.

(My truck, however, has been a bit "Frankensteined" several times...)