Column shift position question

[47heaven]

I've been told by some people that the position of my column shift when it's in first gear is too low...kind of in the 4-5 'o clock position. Again, I've been told that it's too low. So, hearing this, I would like to know what is the correct position (clockwise) and how fix it so it is.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Just how long have you been driving this car like that..4-5 does not sound out of the ordinary...question is, is neutral at 3??? but in all reality..don't fix anything that works..

[Fireball]

but in all reality..don't fix anything that works..

Sooooooo true. There should be an worldwide law to force each and every old car enthusiast to tattoo that sentence in their palms! When I'm the President of the universe, I'll make that law happen. Among with that "all women has to wear skirts" law;)

[Norm's Coupe]

Darin,

Sounds like your shifter is in about the right place to me..... Are the people telling you this the same people who were trying to do the electrical work and didn't know how?

Keep in mind that a lot of people today are use to modern car shifters which are higher. Most never saw a column 3 speed before. If it's not on the floor, some don't even know where the gears are.

Like Tim said, leave it alone if it's working ok.

[Norm's Coupe]

Sooooooo true. There should be an worldwide law to force each and every old car enthusiast to tattoo that sentence in their palms! When I'm the President of the universe, I'll make that law happen. Among with that "all women has to wear skirts" law;)

My woman wears a skirt sometimes.

Other times she wears nothing below the waist.

[47heaven]

Just how long have you been driving this car like that..4-5 does not sound out of the ordinary...question is, is neutral at 3??? but in all reality..don't fix anything that works..

Third is between 1 and 2 o' clock. Neutral kind of is at 3 'o clock with a little slop.The column shift has been like this since I've had it. It doesn't bother me, but always hearing people tell me that it shouldn't be too low and knowing that is kind of like a throrn in the side.

[Norm's Coupe]

Third is between 1 and 2 o' clock. Neutral kind of is at 3 'o clock with a little slop.The column shift has been like this since I've had it. It doesn't bother me' date=' but always hearing people tell me that it shouldn't be too low and knowing that is kind of like a throrn in the side.[/quote']

Darin,

Now I'm confused?? If third gear is at 2 o'clock, how can neutral be at 3 o'clock? First and Third gear is always below neutral. Second and reverse above neutral. So, if your neutral is at 3 O'clock, third has to be at least 4 or 5 o'clock. Second and Reverse would then be about 2 o'clock. And that would sound about right.

[47heaven]

Darin' date='

Sounds like your shifter is in about the right place to me..... Are the people telling you this the same people who were trying to do the electrical work and didn't know how?

Keep in mind that a lot of people today are use to modern car shifters which are higher. Most never saw a column 3 speed before. If it's not on the floor, some don't even know where the gears are.

Like Tim said, leave it alone if it's working ok.[/quote']

Okay...sounds like everything is on the norm. It does shift well, but it does have a little slop in it. How much looseness needs to be in neutral? There are times I don't know if I'm in gear or in neutral and while waiting at a light I'll pop the clutch sometimes or catch it before it happens.

[47heaven]

Darin' date='

Now I'm confused?? If third gear is at 2 o'clock, how can neutral be at 3 o'clock? First and Third gear is always below neutral. Second and reverse above neutral. So, if your neutral is at 3 O'clock, third has to be at least 4 or 5 o'clock. Second and Reverse would then be about 2 o'clock. And that would sound about right.[/quote']

Sorry....I had a student talking to me while I was typing. I meant, that reverse and 2nd are at 1-2 o' clock, neutral is at 3 and first and 3rd are at 4-5 o' clock

[Norm's Coupe]

There is usually a lot more slop in neutral and that's normal. It's a way of telling you your not in any gear. When you shift you are moving from neutral (with the slop there), then you may feel a slight little bump (resistance) when you hit the driving gear, if you really pay attention. However, if the shifter is all the way up or down, the car is in gear. That's the easiest way to know the car is in gear.

[Norm's Coupe]

Sorry....I had a student talking to me while I was typing. I meant' date=' that reverse and 2nd are at 1-2 o' clock, neutral is at 3 and first and 3rd are at 4-5 o' clock[/quote']

Based on this, your shifter is in the right place. Those people telling you otherwise don't know what they are talking about.

[BobT-47P15]

Probably in reverse (might be second), but this is where it's at....

Low or high......about 4 o'clock .....

[47heaven]

Actually, the people that told me that it didn't look right are older guys that remember the cars from that era. Of course, this one neighbor that mentioned this to me also told me that my Plymouth originally wasn't 6v...so I tend to take what he says with a grain of salt.

I'll post a pic of how mine is and let you guys judge it from there. It seems to me that when the shifter knob tends to come pretty close to my leg.

[Norm's Coupe]

Darin,

Maybe your neighbor was having a senior moment when he told you those things. Actually, I'm one of those older guys who grew up and learned how to drive in these old buggies. With that I remember where the old shifter was when you shifted. Back in the day with the girl friend sitting close to you, you got an extra treat whenever you shifted gears (if you get the drift here). So.......with that in mind we always use to like to shift gears a lot, sometimes when it really wasn't needed. ;)

The shifter would be close to your leg if the car is in third or first gear, depending on how close you have the seat pulled up and how tall you are. Bob's and Shel's look in about the right place.

[AJ Johnson]

Sorry....I had a student talking to me while I was typing. I meant' date=' that reverse and 2nd are at 1-2 o' clock, neutral is at 3 and first and 3rd are at 4-5 o' clock[/quote']

Sounds like you are working about as hard as I am this time of the school year.

AJ

[greg g]

These are probably the same people. who when at the movies, seem to think it OK for the shifter to be in park, while the character saws at the wheel and the scenery flashes by outside the window. I have always preferred the MOPAR shifter compared to the ones in the lesser brands. In my coupe if the shift lever is in neutral, I pull toward me and down for first gear, just like a ford or chevy. Then if you notice, when you let go of the lever it will travel toward the dashboard on its own accord. So unlike the lesser brands, you do not have to make the clunky action with the lever to go through the neutral gate. Just a little pressure toward the dash and up and seond gear is selected, then straight down finds third. I think this is far superior to the sifter action on those other cars. My lever postions if very similar to Shel's pictures. Unless the lever is diggin in you leg and first and or hitting the windshield in second, I'd leave it alone.

[Lee Exline]

You guys have me all confused!

I thought it was more like 10 O'clock and 7:30

[Plymouthy Adams]

10-2-4

[BobT-47P15]

OK, Tim......just cool it and drink your Dr. Pepper.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Used to love the stuff...I am off dark soda now for over 3.5 years..have never felt better..my joints were killing me till read the reason why...it only took about 30 days to start improving...really have to overdo to get any joint/muscle pain...

[Don Coatney]

Thanks anyway Tim;

But I am NOT going to feel you:D

[greg g]

So what is the insideous ingredient, phosporic acid or carmel coloring? Or the propylene glycol?

[Guest jjmorrse]

Mine is about 6 inches above my head....sorry, I was having that rat fink daydream again

[BobT-47P15]

Lee, they are only at thos positions if you are "down under".......

Or have switched your shift lever to the other side of the column.....

[Plymouthy Adams]

So what is the insideous ingredient, phosporic acid or carmel coloring? Or the propylene glycol?

I had the scare of a lifetime...thought I had Rhemutoid Arthrytis..(couple in family suffer from this)..I would hobble to work..this affected my work in a bad way..after getting all the test done and such..coming back negative etc...I started reading all I could on my symptons etc...finally read an article on how some people have a negative reaction to the acid. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain..quit the dark sodas...(root beer okay) I had been putting down a lot of cola over my life time. I even retired sooner than I wanted from the reserves as this was how much impact it had on my body...afraid they was going to kick me out without benefits after all the years I had in..If any of you have similar symtoms and such...highly recommend you give this a try..results in as early as 30 days..steadily getting better...my knee used to ache for no real known reason at least twice a month lasting 3-7 days of pure torture..it has been almost 3 years since then and no knee pain like before.