Column Gear Shift Detent

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Jacksonrobinson

Jacksonrobinson

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2022
Posts
6
Reaction score
2
Location
Cleveland, TN
First Name
Jackson
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
305
Hey guys. I'm sure I can't be the first person to come across this issue, but surprisingly I haven't been able to find much on it. I have a 1980 Chevy C10. It had a T350 transmission, but I'm doing a complete restore on it and have put in a new 700r4 trans. I have got the shifting linkage set up, but the metal gear position detent that is in my steering column is still set up for a Turbo 350 and only has P, N, D, 2, 1, but my new 700r4 needs P, R, N, OD, D, 2, 1. Because of this, the detent points in my steering column don't match my new 7004R shifting. Does anyone sell aftermarket dentent plates or can I just hand file the extra two detents?

I've included a pic of my current gear shift detent for context. Thanks for any help.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2024-10-31 at 8.19.02 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2024-10-31 at 8.19.02 PM.png
    797.9 KB · Views: 29
Goldie Driver

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,042
Reaction score
6,634
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Don't know anything about them but this place and diagram shows it as number 65.

They also say 76 and up so you will have to call.

Good luck !

Tilt Parts For Steering Columns | Steering Column Services

Tilt Parts For steering columns for Corvette from steeringcolumnservices.com!
www.steeringcolumnservices.com
 
squaredeal91

squaredeal91

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Posts
2,534
Reaction score
4,579
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
Cool thread. I did the same thing and just subconsciously count to know where I'm at lol. Changing the detent sounds simple enough?
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,438
Reaction score
28,337
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Iirc, @yevgenievich had a thread several years ago that covered the differences in those shift gates.
 
Camar068

Camar068

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Posts
4,293
Reaction score
3,339
Location
Kentucky
First Name
David
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
Engine Size
10 yrs Air Force
Y

yevgenievich

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Posts
4,819
Reaction score
3,400
Location
Place
First Name
Name
Truck Year
Year
Truck Model
Model
Engine Size
Size
I used to swap parts between steering columns, but looks like some of those are available separately
 
AuroraGirl

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Jacksonrobinson said:
Hey guys. I'm sure I can't be the first person to come across this issue, but surprisingly I haven't been able to find much on it. I have a 1980 Chevy C10. It had a T350 transmission, but I'm doing a complete restore on it and have put in a new 700r4 trans. I have got the shifting linkage set up, but the metal gear position detent that is in my steering column is still set up for a Turbo 350 and only has P, N, D, 2, 1, but my new 700r4 needs P, R, N, OD, D, 2, 1. Because of this, the detent points in my steering column don't match my new 7004R shifting. Does anyone sell aftermarket dentent plates or can I just hand file the extra two detents?

I've included a pic of my current gear shift detent for context. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
youll also want an indicator since the 3 speed indicator cant go all the way over youll probably ruin the spring if you ever use manual 1
 
ChuckN

ChuckN

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2022
Posts
1,309
Reaction score
3,987
Location
Bellinham, WA
First Name
Chad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
This is interesting- I thought the detents themselves came from the transmission? And that would just need an indicator for the transmission extra gear? Just going by what I saw in my 350 trans when I did the Transgo shift kit, I’m definitely not a guru.
 
TotalyHucked

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,669
Reaction score
11,853
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
ChuckN said:
This is interesting- I thought the detents themselves came from the transmission? And that would just need an indicator for the transmission extra gear? Just going by what I saw in my 350 trans when I did the Transgo shift kit, I’m definitely not a guru.
Click to expand...
I did too. When I swapped my T350 for a 4L60, my indicator obviously didn't line up but I could feel all the detents for PRND321. When the drivetrain was out with nothing hooked to the shift rod, my shifter just flopped around on the column, I don't think there are any detents in my '85 column
 
AuroraGirl

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
ChuckN said:
This is interesting- I thought the detents themselves came from the transmission? And that would just need an indicator for the transmission extra gear? Just going by what I saw in my 350 trans when I did the Transgo shift kit, I’m definitely not a guru.
Click to expand...
if you put your shifter all the way down into the most "right" gear, then push the gear shifter forward, you can walk the shifter one at a time through the individual gear range options, having to let up to move to the next one. the transmission has detents but they are not strong/apparent when you divorce yourself from the lever by like 15 feet of cable (or linkage in these old trucks, shorter, but more slop points), and have mechanical advantage with a shifter lever. the gate allows the exact movement to be the exact needed movement on the transmission lever
 
AuroraGirl

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
TotalyHucked said:
I did too. When I swapped my T350 for a 4L60, my indicator obviously didn't line up but I could feel all the detents for PRND321. When the drivetrain was out with nothing hooked to the shift rod, my shifter just flopped around on the column, I don't think there are any detents in my '85 column
Click to expand...
push the shifter lever forward while playing with it youll find them
 
AuroraGirl

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
TotalyHucked said:
I did too. When I swapped my T350 for a 4L60, my indicator obviously didn't line up but I could feel all the detents for PRND321. When the drivetrain was out with nothing hooked to the shift rod, my shifter just flopped around on the column, I don't think there are any detents in my '85 column
Click to expand...
you probably cant use manual 1 without the gate change
 
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,875
Reaction score
9,138
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
That's my recollection, too. The column has Park and Neutral, and then any forward drive gear. All the drive gears are differentiated by the rooster comb in the transmission.

In the assembly plant we would set the column and trans in N and then tighten down the "barrel" on the shift rod. That way any error in the adjustment that would manifest itself at the end of travel was split in half.

K
 
TotalyHucked

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,669
Reaction score
11,853
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
AuroraGirl said:
you probably cant use manual 1 without the gate change
Click to expand...
Yep, I could. I manipulated the lever all sorts of ways doing various things in the cab and never once felt detents
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Column Shift Linkage Bushings
Replies
4
Views
986
Rick76
R
C
4L80E W.O.T. 2nd gear up shift
Replies
1
Views
379
NickTransmissions
NickTransmissions
R
Removing 3OTT Column Shift Lever Following Floor Shift Conversion
Replies
0
Views
141
Rick76
R
S
Steering column
Replies
1
Views
789
saltdog
S
hardylane23
Steering Column Advice
Replies
9
Views
2K
Goldie Driver
Goldie Driver

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,152
Posts
950,452
Members
36,268
Latest member
JUKA
Top