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I bought a 79 f150, rwd, 460 w/c6 trans. Trans is stuck in drive, yet gearshift feels like it shifts through all gears, but doesn't.
Anyway, he supplied a used trans, and am in the process of swapping them out. Original trans has some sort of three wire switch on the shifter mechanism, that turns with shifting. Shaft has groove for switch. Wires run up to a connector at firewall, near heater box. I never thought to see where the harness runs from there before writing this.
New trans doesn't have the groove in the shaft, and not a tight enough fit to turn switch.
My question is, what is this switch for? And I suspect swapping out shifter shaft is a big job.
It's the neutral safety switch. Keeps truck from starting while in gear and toggles the backup lights.
Any idea what year the replacement tranny is? Prior to 78, the neutral safety switch was up on the steering column. Whole different set up.
I don't think the swap out of the shaft is that difficult, but It's been too long since I was into the guts of one to say for sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
Homer Simpson moment. DUH!!!!!!
No idea what trans came out of. Guess I will look into seeing how hard it is to change shift shafts. Or, look for another trans. Or, hotwire switch until the major restoration.
That is the neutral start switch. It controls both the neutral safety start and the back-up lights. 73-77 the switch was mounted on the steering column, in 78 Ford moved it to the side of the transmission.
Swapping the shafts isn't that big of a deal, especially with both trans on the bench. You need to drop the pan, remove the valve body, remove the nut that retains the shaft (7/8" box wrench). Because the kickdown shaft won't come all the way out (It hits the clutch drum), you need to "snake" the wrench over the shaft arm to get the wrench on the nut.
It may sound complicated but is actually pretty simple.
