I never got any info in the 80-86 trucks section, so i'll ask over incase someone with a bronco knows. My SROD works very well, but I can't allways find 3rd gear. I am convinced that it is an issue with the linkage. I removed the shifter, and noticed that the plastic bushing inside the shift turret is facing the pass-side instead of the driver-side like it is supposed to. This bushing is discontinued, and nearlly impossible to replace. Can someone tell me how to remove the bushing, and face it the other way without destroying it? I tried grabbing it with needle-nose plyers, but it didn't want to come out.

 

How do you know it's supposed to face the driver's side?
I remember removing mine, and didn't have to do anything special to do it. Maybe it's jammed, which is causing the problem?
Definitely don't break the bushing, SRODs are a bear to find parts for. I think my transmission ship was able to track one of those bushings down for me though.

(Also, if your camera has a Macro setting (the symbol is usually a flower), use that when taking close up pictures. Even with having an SROD, I'm having a hard time making out your picture.)

 

Sorry about the picture quality. I saw pictures in other post, and it was always facing the driverside. This pic is straight down from inside the cab, the "D" of the bushing is towards the passanger side. In order for the forks at the bottom of the shifter to pass through the "D", the shifter gets too close to that block of aluminum on the right side of the shift turret. I'm thinking this is limiting the travel of the shifter in that direction, and preventing it from getting into 3rd. Do you know if that bushing "wraps" around the shift rail, or pops on or what?

 

If I remember right, the bushing just popped on. My only concern with trying to pop it off would be brittleness from age. I don't think there were any clips

Do you have a reputable trans shop nearby? If you have your boot and trans cover off, and go in there, it's quick and easy to take the shifter out. One of the tech guys could probably just look at it for free and tell you.

 

I allready had it looked at by a respectable trans shop. He said it was in perfect condition. It is actualy a rebuilt unit with only a few hundred miles on it. We had it put in a few years ago, but the truck sat until now, waiting for other repairs. It doesn't grind or make any noises in 3rd, you just can't allways find it. At the bottom of the shifter, there is a notch on one side that slips underneath that aluminum block inside the shift turret. With the bushing installed backwards, I think it is hitting that on its way to 3rd.

 

I hope that's the case since that was the reason I took my shifter off and saw the plastic clip inside. My second was hit and miss and I thought there was just something jamming it from going in. No grinding, and when it would go in, it would work.
A C-clip inside the transmission had broken and it was causing the second gear gear to move around, so sometimes it was in place, sometimes it wasn't. I just had the transmission rebuilt after that.
If you've already had yours rebuilt, hopefully that's not the case and something is just physically jamming the shifter.

Did the shop that looked at it say whether or not the clip was in backwards or getting in the way? Or did they just inspect it and say it looked like it was in good shape? I was wondering if they may be able to tell you how to remove it and turn it around.

 

I took it to him with the top cover off, and he spent about 20 minutes shifting it in and out of each gear, and checking the play in everything. I did notice when it was out of the truck, that sometimes It took a try or two to get it into 3rd, but I just though it was because it was dry. With it out of the truck, you have a little more movement with the shifter, so you can get it in 3rd abit easier. I guess i'll just have to be careful and make sure I don't break that bushing.

 

I switched that bushing around, and it seems to work now. I missed it once or twice during the test drive, but got it in eventually. It shifts a bit differently since the shifter moved to the left about an inch.

 

Awesome! Glad to hear it.
Those transmissions are really rare, so it's good to keep one running.

 

Hey guys does anyone know where I can find the turret housing? I desperately can't find one and the mounting surface for the shifter on mine has rotten away. Thanks you so much for any help you can provide.

 

Something like that is going to be a junkyard item where you can strip one off of an old one. It wouldn't be made new.