'67 Bronco "3-on-the-tree" Not shifting Gears

[MerganserMaster]

I finally have gotten around to getting my '67 up and running (i6 170) and I have now found out that the shifter lever does not control the gears. However, the transfer case and clutch work just fine and I am able to "shift" gears by physically moving the gear levers by hand and have gotten it to move around (albeit only in 1st or R due to not being able to shift with the lever). My question is what part should I look at replacing first? I understand some people recommend jumping right to a floor shifter but I have that in my '75 Bronco and want to learn how to drive a "three-on-the-tree" Bronco before ditching it entirely. I am assuming a bushing or something is worn out but it also looks like a plastic piece is missing from the column (as seen in the photos below). I also have access to a '78 F100 with a column shifter so if needbe i can "steal" some parts off of that (family farm has lots of "treasures" lol). Any help is appreciated.

https://flic.kr/p/2s1uhjY
https://flic.kr/p/2s1zK7m
https://flic.kr/p/2s1uhjN

 

[Sendero]

Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for but I grew up driving my dads bronco which was 3 on the tree with worn out bushings and it would often get hung up in the middle of the H pattern between gears. When shifting between 1st and 2nd, you would have to wiggle it in the middle of the H at the neutral position and kind of let it fall into the place before moving on to 2nd. If it you just tried to quickly shift between 1st and 2nd, it would get hung up. Then you would have to turn it off, get out of the bronco, open the hood, and realign the gears on the column back to neutral, then try again. My thoughts are to get some lubricant and spray all connections from the column to the transmission and see if you can get it working.

 

[MerganserMaster]

Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for but I grew up driving my dads bronco which was 3 on the tree with worn out bushings and it would often get hung up in the middle of the H pattern between gears. When shifting between 1st and 2nd, you would have to wiggle it in the middle of the H at the neutral position and kind of let it fall into the place before moving on to 2nd. If it you just tried to quickly shift between 1st and 2nd, it would get hung up. Then you would have to turn it off, get out of the bronco, open the hood, and realign the gears on the column back to neutral, then try again. My thoughts are to get some lubricant and spray all connections from the column to the transmission and see if you can get it working.

This could be it, I suppose soaking the column with PB blaster wouldn't hurt. As to my knowledge it was running/driving mostly ok before it was "parked" for 25+ years.

 

[Speedrdr]

Don’t forget to check the linkage at the transmission also. Had a 72 that was terrible about the shift linkage binding. Turns out that after I rebuilt the column end, the problem was the linkage at the transmission needed new bushings. Who’d have guessed there were TWO places to check.

 

[thegreatjustino]

The missing plastic piece is the backup light switch the controls the backup lights. Doesn't have anything to do with the transmission going into gear.

 

[NJBronk]

Put the transmission into neutral using the transmission shift arms directly on the transmission, then loosen the shift rod connections on the transmission arms, then use the little tunnel/cylinder on the side of the column and run a drill bit through that and the two shift arms (have alignment holes), then reconnect at the transmission. This makes sure neutral on the column is neutral on the trans.

Rebuilding the whole column really isn't that hard and made a world of difference in mine.

 

[73azbronco]

I'd use some rubber friendly spray lube like lithium or graphite, coat those linkages. Dry links, stiff shifts. Honestly I don't think I've ever seen one that clean and dry, I always see them coated on black gunk.

 

[NGABronco]

You may want to get a helper to shift or watch while you shift and see if the shift lever is moving the rods under the hood, The inside shift lever has an up/down motion as well as the
shift function. In the neutral position it should move up & down. I know all that sounds basic but you got to start somewhere???