Big Red, with help from a friend, remove the outer shift lever linkage rod on the left side of the trans, place the lever in park, forward and parallel to the pan 5-8 degrees pointing down. Work the column shift lever to get starter power. With the engine running and "BRAKE ON" and emergency brake have your helper rotate the lever down 2 clicks (detents) for Reverse or 3 clicks (detents) Drive. "CAUTION" keep the brakes on and not run over your helper under the truck! This way you can get in your driveway (good neighbor thing). Please use caution. Sounds like the metal keyway broke off the shifter tube. Block the tires both front and rear as you will be working on the linkage and truck will be out of park. Rob, beg, or make a wheel puller. Add anti-sieze to the spline for easy future removal. "Caution" on the person under the truck.
Hope this helps. Check the photos, Merry Christmas, Carl...o&o>......

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Alameda...mas-Photos.jpg

 

Carl,

Thanks for the response. Sounds tricky...I do have a friend or two that might be willing to risk life or limb. :-)

I'm heading out right now to get going on this. I'm hoping to track down a puller along the way. Thanks again. I'll post back to let you know how it went.

Happy Holidays!

Also, nice pictures. Of course, the truck is especially nice under the glow of Christmas lights. :-)

Les

 

OK, There seems to be more than one truck that is needing help. There is not an easy cure for this problem, but there is one.

The question about the angle of the selector at the tranny is for a reason. Ford used different setups for cars and trucks. The truck selector runs (both forward) level along the pan, and a car hangs down below the tranny pan. I have a car tranny in my truck and the shifter is binding. I can't get mine in L and if I do I can hardly get it out.

I have been told that the arm can be exchanged but it runs across the whole tranny and the pan has to be pulled to make this swap.

Carl I disagree about needing the truck running to do this work. You should be able to make the adjustments while leaving it in park and shut down. I would also advocate chocking wheels anytime you are going under a vehicle is a grand idea.

Les sounds like the nut on the selector arm has become loose. This is the above mentioned adjuster for making the selector at the tranny and the steering wheel match up. After using one for a while you should be able to move the selector by feel. I have a new to me 92 F150 5.0L & AOD, I aint used to a small motor and OD, so I shift it to direct drive while in town sometimes. I go to back up and find the truck aint moving because I bumped it up two, but need to go one more to make up for the OD.

John

 

jowilker, the arm on mine runs alongside the pan, and from the tranny pointing the the front of the rig, the lever points down slightly.

 

jowilker, shifting with the motor running was just to get the truck off the street not while adjusting. All linkage adjustments should be done with the motor off. The location of the shaft flats on the lever will be different on a passenger vs truck trans as you stated. Get a truck lever and it will shift.
Carl.....=o&o>........

 

I wanted to drop a quick reply to let y'all know what I did with my truck. Carl, you're amazing. It actually worked!

Since the shift lever was pretty much useless, I had my buddy in the truck with his foot on the brake. (I did chock the tires). I had to start the truck at the solenoid as I was unable to get the shift lever back to Park. I had a heck of a time finding where the Park/Neutral start switch was hidden. I eventually gave up and went the solenoid route.

Once the truck was running I fiddled around under the hood with the transmission arm. It wasn't too hard to find Park. Once I was there, we let the truck get good and warm--I knew stalling on the way home would be a mess. :-)

After the truck was warmed up, I got back under the hood and shifted her into Drive and away we went. Fortunately, we didn't have to back up anywhere on the way home. The truck is now back in my own driveway awaiting steering column work.

Thanks much, Carl.

Les

 

Les be sure you chock your wheels when adjusting the linkage. Been there, foot under a roll away truck, "OUCH". Carl....=o&o>....

 

Just incase you guys didn't figure it out, I just fixed the exact same problem. My symptoms were exactly the same. When trying to shift I had to guess what gear it was in and could not get it into park. It wasn't bad to fix. Get under the steering wheel and move the shifter around. Once you figure out what part it is look for loose bolts. There are two gold star type bolts holding the linkage together. One of mine was completely gone and the other was half way out. Get it in park with the engine off. You can tell by trying to start it. If it starts its in park. Then turn off the engine. Mess with the shifter so the shift position lines up with the P for park without actually making it shift. Once its lined up you can make sure its still in park by starting it again. Once you get to this point its just a matter of getting the bolts in. Gently jiggle the shifter while pushing the bolt back in. Tighten them up and wala, it shifts like new. Hope this helps someone. Sorry I don't know part names.

 

I'd take it back to the professional who rebuilt it and have him fix it.

 

since it is unlikely to be the rebuilt trans that is the problem I am not sure the cost of having a professional fix a steering column or linkage problem is reasonable. To have a column done can cost an arm and a leg and yet is something an average hobbyist can easily handle. Hawkrod

 

I'd take it back to the professional who rebuilt it and have him fix it.