1969-74 GM Dana 20 question

[7387chevynut]

Hi all,

I recently picked up a 3spd hooked to a Dana 20 out of a 71 blazer. I am familiar with when it was used by GM and its odd ball J style shift pattern.

But after i got it home, and I was messing around with it and noticed that I can rotate the lever assembly 360% while its still mounted inside its ball socket type housing.


Is this normal, or is there somthing worn out inside the ball socket housing?

Also I wanted to separate the 3spd from the T-case adaptor............and the trans came loose about an inch, and then I noticed some of the internal gears were coming loose...........what gives???..........is there a C-clip holding something on?.................I've taken apart SM465/NP205's before, with no problem.....................but this 3spd/Dana 20 is a wild little animal I've never delt with before.

 

[76zimmer]

I got one on my Jeepster, and it doesn't rotate, but is a pos shifter....If I ever do anything with it, i'll twin stick it.
I have the T-86 trans, so mine is different than your application....so I don't know about the trans coming apart.

 

[7387chevynut]

I got one on my Jeepster, and it doesn't rotate, but is a pos shifter....If I ever do anything with it, i'll twin stick it.
I have the T-86 trans, so mine is different than your application....so I don't know about the trans coming apart.

I never understood why GM used such a complicated shift linkage for its dana 20 application, the J10/J20 jeep trucks used this ( J ) shift dana 20 also, but the CJ Jeeps used the straight shift pattern Dana 20's.

 

[76zimmer]

Yeah, its so sloppy, you have to hold it in 2WH when you take off with it.