How to Fix the Slack in a 65 Thunderbird Gear Shifter

Excessive slack in the gear shift of your 1965 Ford Thunderbird means that the bushings on your shifter assembly could be worn out. Replacing the bushings as soon as possible will remove the slack from the shifter and prevent the shifter arm from becoming worn, damaged or binding in the shifter housing during operation. A loose shifter could also make the linkage to come out of alignment with the neutral safety switch and cause a starting problem.

Instructions

Remove the shifter assembly

1

Engage the parking brake. Raise the Thunderbird with a floor jack and support it with jack stands on a solid flat surface. Under the vehicle, remove the cotter pin holding the shifter linkage to the shifter using needle nose pliers and slide the linkage off. The next steps will be performed inside the vehicle.

2

Loosen the allen screw on the shifter handle with an allen wrench. Remove the handle from the shifter lever. Remove the screws from the cover using a phillips head screwdriver. Lift the cover off the shifter. Remove the screws from the cover plate. Lift the plate off the shifter.

3

Remove the four bolts from the shifter housing assembly using a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket. Remove the shifter housing assembly from the car.

4

Remove the nut holding the shifter lever to the shaft. Pull the lever off the shaft. Remove the shaft from the housing. Remove the old bushings and any remnants from the shaft and the housing. Wipe all parts clean with a rag.

Install the shifter assembly

5

Apply grease to the replacement bushings. Install the inner and outer bushings in the shifter housing. Apply grease to the shaft and slide it through the bushings in the housing. Install the shifter lever on the shaft. Install and tighten the retaining nut using a ratchet and socket.

6

Line the shifter assembly up with the bolt holes. Replace the four bolts and tighten using a ratchet and socket.

7

Put the cover plate over the shifter and tighten it in place with the screws. Replace the shifter cover and secure it with the screws. Replace the handle on the lever and tighten the allen screw.

8

Slide the linkage over the shifter underneath the Thunderbird and replace the cotter pin. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground.