anyone got a source for this obscure part?  looked in all the usual places and cannot find one for our model (63 Mercury full-size car); probably the same as a Galaxie...

symptoms: sloppy movement of the shifter, won't stay in Park (yikes... no fun!)

Squarebirds site has em for late 50's T-birds, but don't know if its a fit...

anybody... anybody?

thanks, Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

Mark:

Is it possible that over the years the body has shifted a little, so that when you try to put it in park the transmission reaches its stop before the lever gets all the way in park?  Lengthening the linkage rod a tad may work.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

thanks for the suggestion... will look into it

all the symptoms seem to point to a worn detent plate, based on my review of the info at the Squarebirds site, pictures shown there and descriptions of the symptoms and comments offered once the plate is replaced with a new one.  will pull the wheel soon to check ours out and hopefully at least confirm this is where the problem is...

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

Mark, I am using the steering gear from the old 63 that I had in my 57 Custom, I thought that I might use the colume also, but now I'm thinking I may use a colume from a pickup. If I find one like I'm looking for, you can have this complete setup. I'll let you know after New Year.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Glen, thanks for the offer; I'll stand by here.

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

well, apparently we've got a combination of worn detent plate, missing pin attaching the shifter to the column (currently replaced with a nail) and loose linkage from the steering column all the way to the tranny...; and like a good dad I "let" Daniel figure out where the problem was... I was too busy looking for my magnifying glasses!

reckon that's why the shifter feels sloppy and it won't stay in Park??!!

at least we have a target to shoot at now!

may post some pretty pics in our little story under "this and that" when we figure out how to fix.

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX