New Column, cant lock into 1st

[CherryK5]

So my column was losing all the electronics. no windshield wipers, blinkers, high beams, etc.
So i put in a column out of another 84 and now i cant shift all the way to first. But if i adjut the linkage i cant get it into park! What the heck? Any one had this problem?

 

[jeff in co]

Mine wouldn't go into first gear either. I had the dealer look at it for adjustment. Turns out it definitely needed the linkage adjusted but they also said the cable was twisted a little bit too. Now it works great!

 

[CherryK5]

Mine wouldn't go into first gear either. I had the dealer look at it for adjustment. Turns out it definitely needed the linkage adjusted but they also said the cable was twisted a little bit too. Now it works great!

What cable was twisted?

 

[K85 Octane]

1) column is for a 350/400
2) inside the column is a plate with notches in it, might be wrong plate for your trans
3) above are just guesses
4) sleepy
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[ryoken]

i would venture to guess that the new column is for a 3 spd, while the truck has a 700r4.... probably doesn't have enough throw... disconnect at the trans.. check throw of shift linkage compared to throw of trans lever...


real answer.... get a floor shifter.....

one of the best mods i've ever done.. tossing that always failing, overly complicated tilt column and going with a non-tilt, blinker only column...

 

[jeff in co]

What cable was twisted?

I'm not sure....that's all they really said (the dealer).

Mine did not go down far enough to get it into 1st and I kinda thought I had a 3 speed tranny. Once I verified on the forum that I actually had the OD tranny, I asked the dealer if they could just adjust the linkage so I could get all the gears.

They said it took a little longer than expected because the cable (or linkage) was bound up a little. Maybe they said linkage rather than cable. Regardless, now it works!

Maybe worth running it by a tranny shop and ask for their opinion.....

 

[CherryK5]

i would venture to guess that the new column is for a 3 spd, while the truck has a 700r4.... probably doesn't have enough throw... disconnect at the trans.. check throw of shift linkage compared to throw of trans lever...


real answer.... get a floor shifter.....

one of the best mods i've ever done.. tossing that always failing, overly complicated tilt column and going with a non-tilt, blinker only column...

[/quote]

how hard was running a floor shifter? Don't you have to do some custom bracketry and stuff? Or is that only for the tcase?

And how hard is it to find a manual column? I've never seen one without the shifter. And I have to have the tilt column, I'm a shorty. (5' 6")

 

[K85 Octane]

pfff I have to have the tilt cause I like it
6'1"

 

[ryoken]

how hard was running a floor shifter? Don't you have to do some custom bracketry and stuff? Or is that only for the tcase?

And how hard is it to find a manual column? I've never seen one without the shifter. And I have to have the tilt column, I'm a shorty. (5' 6")

hella easier than jerking around with column shifters.... at the trans, nothing... shifters come with a small bracket that bolts to 2 pan bolts... hook up cable... shifter needs to be bolted to tunnel, or wherever you choose to mount it... drill hole in tunnel for cable... done...

manual columns turn up... got mine in here.. not as common as auto's, but they are around.... heck you can just run the old column (you can just remove the arm so it looks better) for awhile till ya find a manual... i did....

tilt or non wasn't so much the issue for me (tho i much prefer non for durability) as was getting rid of the stupid wiper and hi-beam cr*p on the column that ALWAYS breaks... oldschool simple and foolproof...

obviously changing the wiper controls and hi-beams out of the column wasn't a "bolt in" deal, some mods and custom wiring where in order...

 

[CherryK5]

hella easier than jerking around with column shifters.... at the trans, nothing... shifters come with a small bracket that bolts to 2 pan bolts... hook up cable... shifter needs to be bolted to tunnel, or wherever you choose to mount it... drill hole in tunnel for cable... done...

manual columns turn up... got mine in here.. not as common as auto's, but they are around.... heck you can just run the old column (you can just remove the arm so it looks better) for awhile till ya find a manual... i did....

tilt or non wasn't so much the issue for me (tho i much prefer non for durability) as was getting rid of the stupid wiper and hi-beam cr*p on the column that ALWAYS breaks... oldschool simple and foolproof...

obviously changing the wiper controls and hi-beams out of the column wasn't a "bolt in" deal, some mods and custom wiring where in order...

Wiring is easy, what did you do for the variable speed on the wipers? I read your entire thread but don't remember what you did for that. (it was over the course of a couple weeks) I couldn't find the page either, it's like trying to find hay in a needle stack.

 

[ryoken]

i just run a 3 position Contura switch, off, low and high...... old school foot switch for beams...