Okay, I don't knwo if I have the wrong info, I'm doing it wrong, or something is worn out, but I can't get the linkage in my truck to feel right.

The truck is an '81 D150, Slant Six/727 auto/1 barrel. The problem is that the detents don't feel very defined. When you shift down into a gear, the shifter doesn't "snap" into a detent, you kind of have to "feel" it into a gear. Nothing in the column is loose or worn (the shifter itself feels nice and tight, as does the column), but it feels like the linkage just flops into gear. It's not in the trans itself, either, because when I get under the truck and manually shift the linkage, the shifter snaps into each gear very tightly.

I thought I had read that you should adjust the linkage with the tranny in neutral, and line up the needle on the selector and lock it down, and that was your adjustment. Is there another way? I don't have a FSM for this truck yet. The way it's adjusted now, though, you can't get all the way down to Low gear (shifter runs out of travel before the linkage moves that far)

What is the factory procedure for doing this? Can someone post it from an FSM if they have one?

I have a feeling that it might be one of those nylon bushing that the shift shaft rides on. Is there a source for these new? Does Chrysler still offer them?

Thanks guys, any pictures or diagrams would be greatly appreciated!!

Nick

_________________
1981 Dodge D150--225/727/8.25 w/ 3.21s

Going TBI fuel injection SOON!

Mopar or NO CAR!!
www.Moparsoflasvegas.us

Check the plastic bushings in the bell crank. They are probable worn out. Also check the sheet metal under the battery tray, the cab mounts and the floor pans. If that is all rusted out, then the cab starts to sag. When that starts to happen, then the linkage becomes all fouled up.

The battery tray has surface rust, but otherwise there's no rust at all on the cab.

It must be those bushings. I heard that they are still available from the dealer; does anyone have part numbers for them?

Nick

_________________
1981 Dodge D150--225/727/8.25 w/ 3.21s

Going TBI fuel injection SOON!

Mopar or NO CAR!!
www.Moparsoflasvegas.us

Isn´t the detents in the transmission???

My 67 valiant has the manual steering column, and shifter, and it still has the "detents feeling"

Linkage cannot be adjusted in 'Neutral'.

Loosen the lock screw on the adjustable rod. Put truck in Park, then move trans shifting lever [down on the transmission] all the way to the rear Park position and tighten set screw. Once this is done check that detents are there again while moving lever. You may have to fine tune a bit to get it dialed in perfectly.

The plastic bushings are certainly nice to have, in good shape, but most Dodge trucks will shift okay with some pretty hammered bushings in them.

JimmieDart