Hi I was wondering if anyone might have any thoughts on why my manual trans stick shift has excess play in it ? When shifting up into 1st I have to slap the dashboard with the stick, same goes for 3rd. Is there a simple remedy for this ?
I'm considering swapping the shifter and linkage out of a working 93 F150.
thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

Have you lifted the boot & tightened the clamp bolt?

 

Hi Steve I should confess I dont know much about these things... when I lift up the boot I see the shifter housing that appears to be secured with 4 bolts with star sahped heads. Where the stick goes into this housing there is a couple of washer type things that is obviously bent and loose as if everything was worn or crushed... I just bought the truck so i dont know if the ring/washers is loose from having to shift up so far to find the gears or the opposite, the loose washer thing is causing the sloppyness. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Is it a complicated process to swap shifter housings from 2 identical trucks/trannies ? Or do you think that might not make a difference.... and better yet is there an easy fix for it so that I dont have to swap parts at all ?
thanks
Joe