GMT400 gear selector help

[mrk5]

To start I know very little about GMT400 trucks. I bought a 98 C3500 parts truck. I'm hoping to use the engine and trans. I'd like to test drive them but the gear selector is broke off. I've never been into one but it looks like some of the cast metal pieces in the column are broken. I think it's probably beyond repair short of replacing the column.

There seems to be a cable between the column and the trans. Is there a place I could disconnect the cable in the cab and then use a couple of pliers to operate the gear selector on the trans from the cab?

How is the cable routed?

 

[6872xtc]

This isn't the preferred idea, but how about disconnecting at the transmission lever, then get help to put it in drive? Not the safest method, I know, you have to trust your driver to hold the brakes. Let it warm up to bring the idle down before putting it in gear.

I think that the cable goes through the floor under the driver's feet like a GMT800. Follow it up towards the column.

 

[mrk5]

I wondered if the cable went out the firewall or the floor. I haven't been able to crawl around the truck much.

I have thought about just putting it in gear by hand. It will move with the cable connected to the transmission lever so it must be disconnected further upstream near the column.

The downside is the brakes are nearly nonexistent. It is hydroboost so I'm guessing the nitrogen canister has no pressure. To top it off power steering fluid was blasting out of the gear box for the few minutes the engine runs. So even if the engine is running, the brakes may be questionable.

Luckily the parking brake works at least.

 

[Capt Ron]

I'm pretty sure I have one of these column out of the vehicle at work.
I will shoot you some pics of the cable/column attachment in the morning.
Let's not shift it from underneath ok? I have done that way too many times, being careful, and have still had some close calls.

 

[sweetk30]

95 - newer got shifter cable over mech linkage . So treat it as such for a test drive .

 

[6872xtc]

I wondered if the cable went out the firewall or the floor. I haven't been able to crawl around the truck much.

I have thought about just putting it in gear by hand. It will move with the cable connected to the transmission lever so it must be disconnected further upstream near the column.

The downside is the brakes are nearly nonexistent. It is hydroboost so I'm guessing the nitrogen canister has no pressure. To top it off power steering fluid was blasting out of the gear box for the few minutes the engine runs. So even if the engine is running, the brakes may be questionable.

Luckily the parking brake works at least.

Yeah, if the brakes aren't good, follow @Capt Ron advice, find a different method.

 

[Capt Ron]

OK, the cable is super accessible. Remove the panel below the column and the cable is right below the column.
Should pop off the ball stud with a screwstick.
There is still an interlock with the brake pedal if I remember you might still have to push the brake pedal to shift.

 

[mrk5]

OK, the cable is super accessible. Remove the panel below the column and the cable is right below the column.
Should pop off the ball stud with a screwstick.
There is still an interlock with the brake pedal if I remember you might still have to push the brake pedal to shift.

Yep, it's easy to see with the plastic covers off. Thanks for checking on that.

This is what it looks like:



Broken pieces fell out when I took the covers off. I wonder if someone was trying to force it out of gear.

With the plastic covers off, I can move the lever connected to the cable to shift it.



I figured out it will only crank with the "key" if the trans mission is in park, not neutral. I cranked it a couple of times to be sure. Poured some gas in the tank and then it wouldn't crank. I think the old, cheap battery that was in the truck isn't holding a charge. So I've gotta solve that issue before I can see if it will run.