Setting up my shifter... Are things normal?

[jenkins71]

Hey guys. Today I put my shifter on to my four speed.
Car is a 71 Charger with a 440. Buckets. Was a console automatic, but am gonna ditch the console.
Okay, so I got my linkage set up! I did everything on the cheap, including buying a used original shifter and a set of rods and levers from a guy her on FBBO. They are a kinda shoddy repro but do the job!


Ok, my question. In neutral, the shifter rests in the 3-4 gate. In other words, if you push the shifter directly forward from being in Neutral, you are in 3rd. If you want to get into 1st gear, you move the shifter to the LEFT from its resting Neutral position. Seems kind of weird, like at "rest" the shifter should be below 1st gear. Is this normal, or weird?

Also, it is kind of hard to get the shifter over to the Reverse gate. Then when you do shift it into reverse, it kind of clicks twice to get it into reverse. Is that normal??

Thanks guys! I just rebuilt this tranny and want everything to work fine with the swap from the 727!!!!!

 

[cudajunction]

That's how all of mine work both E and B body cars. Also that looks to be a E body shifter handle just fyi. Maybe that was used in 71 on a B body.

 

[jenkins71]

Thanks man! So, if you push the shifter forward from Neutral, its in 3rd?
Its my first 4 speed mopar!

 

[cudajunction]

Yes was driving my 70 cuda today and that's how it is. Have a 71 super bee also haven't driven it since last fall but is the same as I remember.

 

[jenkins71]

Thanks!

 

[benno440]

that all sounds normal man

 

[kiwigtx]

Normal - the spring tension holds the shift lever to the right at rest - so 3rd & 4th gear are just forward and reverse of the neutral position. To select 1st & 2nd, you need to hold the shift lever to the left as you change gear. :icon_thumright:

It's probably a safety feature, otherwise you would get people hooking 1st gear at high speeds, when trying to shift down to 3rd.

 

[jenkins71]

Thanks guys. Yeah, it also seems to make the 2-3 shift easier, as it automatically snaps over and makes hat diagonal transition much quicker.

Is it stupid to drop the motor in with the trans already in the car?

 

[slepr1]

Also, it is kind of hard to get the shifter over to the Reverse gate. Then when you do shift it into reverse, it kind of clicks twice to get it into reverse. Is that normal??

Thanks guys! I just rebuilt this tranny and want everything to work fine with the swap from the 727!!!!!

I just rebuilt mine too and the reverse does the same thing as well as getting it into 1st gear is a bit hard. The other gears are fine. I'm still trying to get the clutch freeplay adjustment right and see if that corrects anything. If not, its back to the drawing board.

I've never heard of putting an engine in while the tranny is already installed. Lining up the front shaft may be challenging.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Do mine that way all the time.