[FC] shifter problems

[James Davis]

There a couple of reasons for the ring clip coming off the shaft.  Most 
common is a worn bushing in the support arm assembly.  It is the same 
diameter as the steering box bushing but the steering box bushings length 
is longer.  Sometimes the washer is changed out and that adds to 
wear.  Remember GM used a directional ring clip not a snap ring to hold the 
shaft in the support assembly.  GM's part number for the special washer is 
3786267 and for the ring clip is 3786268.
Jim Davis


At 10:52 PM 2/13/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>My early manual shifter came apart again (while getting ready to pull out at
>a stop light).  The snap ring that holds the shift lever on the shift
>support popped off.  This left the whole stick shift floating in
>nothingness.  It was not hard to fix (four bolts, snap ring plyers/snap
>ring) all of which I carry with me.  It was not fun on the highway, however.
>I am thinking of having the back of the cylinder drilled and tapped and
>placing an oversized washer on there with a 1/4" bolt and thread lock.  That
>would eliminate the snap ring blues effectively.
>
>Has this ever happened to anyone else, or am I special?  This is at least
>three times for me.  It seems as if the groove for the snap ring is not deep
>enough.
>
>Thanks for your ideas...Ben