Vintage Oldsmobiles Curved Dash, Limited Touring, Models 40, 53, 66; Series 60, 70, 90

'55 trans in a '50-shift range limited

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Old September 4th, 2022, 10:37 PM
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'55 trans in a '50-shift range limited

I have a 1950 coupe with a 1955 engine and transmission. The problem is the shift lever travel doesn't allow a good neutral selection and a good reverse selection at the same time. If I adjust the rod for a good neutral(car starts without lurching forward), then the reverse selection is not fully engaged and it pops out of reverse when backing up. If the rod is adjusted for a solid reverse, the car lurches forward when starting even with the emergency brake on.
I have adjusted the lever coming out of the steering column as far out as I can to increase the throw, but it still isn't enough to fully remedy the problem.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Old September 9th, 2022, 05:33 AM
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What kind of trans do you have?
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Old September 9th, 2022, 06:00 AM
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The trans is out of a 55 Olds and has three selectable forward positions on the gear shift lever, low and two drive positions. The two end positions, neutral and reverse are what I'm having trouble with. I can adjust the shift rod to get either one, but not both. It seems that the shift lever does not quite have the range needed.
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Old September 9th, 2022, 04:11 PM
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Is it the shift lever or the rod? Since its been transplanted from another year could it be they didn't get all the 1955 parts?
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Old September 9th, 2022, 07:40 PM
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Like what 2blu442 said, the 50 era had a different size 2bbl carb originally. Somewhere you have lost some distance or never had it between the bell crank farthest and shortest adjustments. You may need to extend or make an extension for this adjustment. You can't make do with what was never there to begin with....Tedd
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Old September 10th, 2022, 12:24 PM
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Your other thread from back in February, Charlie Jones posted a pic of the 49 column.

The 49 picture doesn't clearly show the HydraMatic shift detent gate, but I'd bet you could transfer one from a 52-55 column into yours and would go a ways toward solving this issue without having to pull out the whole column and steering box.
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Old September 10th, 2022, 01:02 PM
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I've got a 1955 parts column/steering box. And I'm here in Medford. If you want to see if it has what you need your welcome to swing by.

John
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Old September 10th, 2022, 01:23 PM
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Tedd, here are some photos of my linkage. I assume the arm protruding from the steering column is original for a 1950. Also, I alsopresume that the the lever attached to the '55 transmission is also original. The lever on the transmission requires a little more rotation than the lever on the steering column can provide. I'd guess that I have about 95% of the motion required.



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