Hi, I have a 76 Trailer Special with 460 and C6 Trans. When I went in to change the turn signal switch, I decided to try and fix the slop in the shifting.

Basically, it is not tight, and the indicator does not line up with PRND23, doesn't snap back always when moving forward the lever to shift, and is generally sloppy.

So, someone has been in there before, because the indicator is a piece of red 14 gauge auto wire inserted into a piece of vacuum hose, so maybe some parts are missing.

what is the problem, is that when putting it all together, there are two bolts that fit into the flange, then are tightened with a nut before putting the snap ring back on. the head of the bolt is supposed to fit into the slot on the steering column sleeve (correct me if I got this term wrong), then you put the flange in, and tighten it up. I cannot figure out how to get these things to stay in the slot. I've considered super glue , but maybe a clip is missing? I've also put them loosely in the flange while pressing down, but can't get them both to engage in the slot.

pics here :

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/m...fter+pics.html

Suggestions? I am sure many have gone here before me, but the 76 service manual is lame in dealing with this (but better than chilton or haynes), and I don't see any posts on this in FTE

 

It's been quite a while since I had the column in my '76 apart, but if I recall, those two bolts can be a real pain to install. You have to just start the nuts on the bolts, then get everything lined up to tighten them.

If you have that much slop in the shifter, you might consider replacing the shift collar while you have it apart. It's hard to tell in the photos, but you probably have a bit of wear in the socket of the collar. Collars don't cost much and replacing it will probably save you a headache later on.

 

My indicator did not like up either. What I did was put the transmission in park then loosen the adjuster nut on the shift linkage by the tranny and pushed on the shifter rod till the indicator lined up with P. A friend comes in handy here. Then tighten the nut. Now all the gears are as they should be and the pull the shift lever to get out of park also works.