Making a T18 top end nice and tight: canes and top covers.

[robroy]

Hey 70_F100 thanks for replying!

That's interesting that those are shift fork inserts--I would have never guessed!

Thanks again,
Robroy

[Alvin in AZ]

The "right way" is to build it exactly like it came from the factory.

Holy crap! :(
We will get along fine if you -never- say that to me again, ever. LOL :)

The spring was engineered to provide the proper tension on the lever and top cover.

Well, if it belongs to me and I take it apart...
It prob'ly isn't going to be "factory" or "proper" neither one, ever again. LOL :)

Remember, we're talking about a truck, not a new Lexus...

Good thing, because I don't like cars and especially "new" ones. Cars, ick. :(
I don't know what a Lexus looks like or who the hell even makes it.
...and if you give me one, I'd sell it! :/
...or trade it for a bump. LOL :)

Alvin in AZ
ps- Right in the middle of fixing an intake manifold water leak on my '91 F150.
pps- I'll pull the lever on the T18 as soon as I can get to it.
ppps- Neighbor's got another trip to Mexico planned and I just got home from Checker's.
pppps- I'm going as fast as I can, with what I've got to work with.

[Alvin in AZ]

The "B" parts are inserts for the shift forks.
Some used them, some didn't.
Yours doesn't.

Cool, didn't know that. :)
My two T18's (both made last week of Jan '75) have 'em. :)
I actually knowed that one! LOL :)
And I knowed "C" was a spring too. ;)

Alvin in AZ

[robroy]

I'm getting very close now!

The reverse gate all buttoned up:



Installing the reverse shifter shaft. I used a cotter pin in the opposite end of the hole I was driving a roll pin in to to keep the gate from getting "lost" on the shaft.



And now I'll fast-forward to the completed top plate! Everything went together well and I finally have a basic mental picture of how the thing works.

The only significant challenge was getting the spring-loaded balls over the shifter shafts from SHOOTING the balls sky high while trying to get the shafts in place! Several times the shaft would slip out of the way, and my reflexes would kick in just in time for it to avoid hitting me in the eye. And the ball flew up so hard it hit the garage ceiling two times! Towards the end (my third shaft) I started to get the technique down.

The links under the images go to full sized editions.


http://www.robroygregg.com/Number50/IMG_3546s.JPG http://www.robroygregg.com/Number50/IMG_3547s.JPG

I cleaned the gasket material off of the gear box and prepared for the much anticipated reunion.


http://www.robroygregg.com/Number50/IMG_3549s.JPG




http://www.robroygregg.com/Number50/IMG_3553s.JPG

I wish I could try this out, but my new cane with its 3 and 1/16" fork is still straight and hits the dash! Tomorrow I'll have it bent up and see if all this trouble was really worth it or not!

Thanks very much for the most excellent and patient advice!
Robroy

[Alvin in AZ]

Read somewhere a guy added a switch and brighter backup lights and how
cool it was to flash them at people behind 'im with their stinkin' brights on. :)

Alvin in AZ

[70_F100]

What happens when that guy with the brights on turns out to be a cop????!!!

[Alvin in AZ]

What happens when that guy with the brights on turns out to be a cop????!!!

He let's you go because it'd look bad on his record me being in court complaining about his driving habits.
BTDT. Only his partner/trainer was smart enough to tell 'im to let me go without even a written warning.

I drove over the double yellow line.
I said...
"So you were the one that came around the curve blinding my stupid ass with your brights, huh? :/"
They talked.
He came back and let me go with a "verbal warning".
He knew what he could do with that "verbal warning" too. ;)
LOL :)

Alvin in AZ

[Skifu]

Why couldnt we just drill the hole out ever so slightly,and then slide in the pin????
since im doing a auto to T-18 swap,this post has been very usefull,now I know where the pin goes
and I can reinstall it correctly.

[robroy]

Why couldnt we just drill the hole out ever so slightly,and then slide in the pin????
since im doing a auto to T-18 swap,this post has been very usefull,now I know where the pin goes
and I can reinstall it correctly.

Hey Skifu thanks for replying!

Are you referring to the pin that keeps the "ball" on the cane from twisting while changing between gears?

If this is the pin you're referring to, it actually goes in a slot in the side of the cane "ball," not in a hole that could be drilled out. And I actually did use a flat file to widen that slot a little bit--then the pin slid right in (although I left it a snug fit)!

I'll update this thread with current photos soon. I actually did get it 100% back together and the shifting action is WONDERFUL. I'm sure it's very close to how these things shifted when brand new! There's very little play on the cane when in gear, and when in neutral, the cane slides to the right and left, as designed, with zero twisting or wandering action. I'm really glad I went to all this bother!

Thanks again to everybody (especially 70_F100) for the detailed help on re-doing this top end!!!
Robroy

[Skifu]

Im all for having our Fords driving and shifting good,but since I just paid $250$ for a T-18, juice clutch bell housing,d-shaft,and all the small parts,ect,Id say $250$is a lot for a top cover,but If your going to be driving the truck for a while,just think about the monthly payment you WONT be making.

[robroy]

Hey Skifu thanks for replying!

Im all for having our Fords driving and shifting good,but since I just paid $250$ for a T-18, juice clutch bell housing,d-shaft,and all the small parts,ect,Id say $250$is a lot for a top cover,

I know what you mean! $250 seemed like a lot to me too. Yet on the other hand, it's a brand new part--it wasn't used. And since the top cover does have wear points, there can be a big difference between new and used!

This said, I wouldn't have bothered to spend the money and invest the time in to learning how to do this if it weren't for the constant supply of 70_F100's generous and super experienced help. It was like taking a class! All this considered, the $250 didn't seem as significant anymore.

but If your going to be driving the truck for a while,just think about the monthly payment you WONT be making.

Indeed! Not to mention the fun and experience I gained by doing the work.

Thanks Skifu!!!
Robroy

[bluebolt]

How's your shift cover project going? I am interested becasue I have a T19 I am putting in my truck. It has the loose shifter problem too. Your new cover without a reverse backup hole is probably because it was originally for the earlier T98 trans. You said it had the T98 casting number. Good luck and keep us updated.

[robroy]

Good day BlueBolt, thanks for replying!

How's your shift cover project going?

It's coming along very well! In fact it's basically done. I just haven't posted a photo yet because I'm going to paint the top cover, and I haven't gotten around to that.

The shifting action is now fantastic though. It has very little play. The tiny amount that it does have is probably "by design" at this point.

I am interested becasue I have a T19 I am putting in my truck. It has the loose shifter problem too.

Ah-ha! Well, maybe my photos will give you a good idea of what you'll be getting in to.

Your new cover without a reverse backup hole is probably because it was originally for the earlier T98 trans. You said it had the T98 casting number. Good luck and keep us updated.

Yes I think you could be right about that! I'm happy with the cover and don't mind loosing the automatic backup light switch. But that's just my funny preference and I can imagine a lot of folks wanting to retain it.

I'll post the final photos in this thread when I have the top cover all painted!

Thanks again for writing BlueBolt,
Robroy

[Skifu]

Good morning!I just installed mine,it had a roll pin in it,but I found the pin as shown in your photo in the bottom of my trans.when I cleaned it out for re-installation,I removed the roll pin,and installed the factory pin with red locktight,and its holding up very well.theres no slop in my shifter anymore,at all,theres a large magnet in the bottom of a T-18 case,I guess to pick up stray particles.

After having my T18 rebuilt, the builder and I noticed that the shift cane still had some noticeable play, especially while in neutral. Instead of sliding only to the left and right, it also twisted significantly. It felt pretty loose.

The builder assured me that he'd replaced the worn forks, and that the play was caused by wear in the shift cane itself (and probably also in the T18 case where the "ball" on the shift cane rides, although that's not as easy to address as the cane).

I ordered a new shift cane from Novak. It came straight (not bent), as expected, so I hired Glen at Valley Fabrication in Salinas, California to bend it to match my original. Glen had a machine that did a cold bend--he didn't heat it! And it came out beautiful. His charge for this was $15.

Here's my old cane and the new one. As you can see, the new cane is a little longer! I did a test fit and it'll still work, although it's a little clownish looking (not that I mind "clownish" at all).



I suspect that most of the play was caused by a worn out slot in the "ball" on the old cane. The pin that pokes in to that slot fit very loosely in there (tons of play). In this photo, the old cane's on the left. This said, the pin fits VERY tightly in the slot on the new cane's "ball." It actually fits TOO tightly, I think (more on this later).



The ends of the canes didn't seem all that different, although I could see some wear on the old cane in this area.



And the canes have different threads on them, meaning I'll need a new shifter knob (no big deal). The new cane has a 3/8 24 tpi thread on it.



Here's the pin that keeps the cane from twisting in the top of the transmission.



And here's the pin partially inserted in to the top plate. The pin fits pretty well in the hole in the top plate. There's a tiny amount of play, but I doubt it added much to the significant play I felt in the cane when mated to the transmission.



Here are my specific questions:

1. The pin doesn't really fit the slot on the new cane--it's too tight. Should I lube it up and tap it in, or should I slightly enlarge the slot on the new cane with a file? I think it would tap in with a little effort, but I'm not sure if it should really be THAT tight in there! It would probably make it hard to lift the cane out!
2. Should the ball be coated with a film of white lithium grease before being re-assembled, or should it be left "dry?"
3. What's the official name of that type of pin? Notice that the ends are rounded like a hot dog. Are those pins commonly available, if I wanted a new one for any reason? And where would I find one of those? If I could buy one slightly fatter, to make up for the slight play in the top plate, I would.
4. Does anybody know of a great place to find shifter knobs for a 3/8", 24 tpi thread?

Thanks very much for the truly excellent words of wisdom!
Robroy

[Alvin in AZ]

[*] Does anybody know of a great place to find shifter knobs for a 3/8", 24 tpi thread?[/list]
Robroy

Depends on what you want. ;)
A red or black round ball by any chance?

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/gearshift1.jpg
(without the filth, I mean :/)

Alvin in AZ