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Slips From Park to Reverse

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bigcalhoun View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigcalhoun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Slips From Park to Reverse
    Posted: 19-June-2022 at 2:14AM
Gents,
I recently inherited my father's '68 Torino.  It was the first new car he ever owned and the car that brought me home from the hospital when I was born.

It's entirely original, has been garaged kept and well maintained its entire life until my dad got where the couldn't work on it much any more.

When you crank it the automatic transmission column shift lever is slipping from P to R so I crank it in N.  Similarly, if you are in P and the vehicle is running, it will jump to R if you rev it at all.  My first thought is the point of the shift lever inside the column is worn but I would welcome advice or good ideas on that.

I've done some initial looking around for a new shift lever and '68 Torino ones aren't easy to find.  If anyone is aware of one from another model I should look for that would be helpful too.  

I'm sure it's appropriate I'm posting this on Father's Day.  Working on that car helps me feel closer to my father.

Ali
'68 Torino, 302
'70 F-100, 302
Mt. Pleasant, SC
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Eliteman76 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eliteman76 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22-June-2022 at 12:27PM
Parking pawl is worn out. For decades, Ford had warnings to *ALWAYS* set the parking brake on any automatics. Not uncommon on older cars for it to just pop into reverse with little to no warning.

The issue is it's internal to the transmission.

Not to say after 50+ years you do not have slop in the linkage off the column, but odds are, it's the parking pawl in the transmission itself. The guy doing the video is a Ford Master Tech that runs a shop. Very good guy to watch on youtube.
https://youtu.be/eh988eSAPc8






 
Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
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Steve M. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve M. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22-June-2022 at 1:21PM
Definitely address that issue.  It almost cost me a car.
Steve M.
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bigcalhoun View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigcalhoun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22-June-2022 at 11:47PM
Much appreciated.  I’ll check it out.  Definitely need to resolve this issue.
Ali
'68 Torino, 302
'70 F-100, 302
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green 72 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote green 72 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-June-2022 at 4:41AM
also check motor mounts and transmission mount. They can shift around when when reving the motor causing the linkage to pull out of park

Dan                             1972 GTS Formal       
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72 RS 351 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72 RS 351 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-June-2022 at 6:14AM
This is all interesting, I didn't know the park issue was common at all. I'll have to pay close attention to the shift linkage and parking pawl, plus the floor shift assembly in my projects.
Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote californiajohnny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-June-2022 at 6:18PM
 iirc it seemed to be mostly c-4's that did that, usually wear and the linkage out of adjustment will keep it from fully locking into park but yes if it has wear internally that would add to the situation too!!!
 if you feel any extra amount of play i'd check each bushing on the whole linkage system and replace any that are worn! also disconnect the linkage and click the arm in each detent position in the tranny too
JOHN
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wayner315 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-June-2022 at 2:48AM
Mine had a hard time going into park, had to rock the shifter a couple times from R to P. Like Johnny said, if you make sure the shifter on the tranny clicks into park easily and there's no visible wear in the tranny internal linkage or pawl then issue can be in the shifter bushing/seal or linkage up to the column.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote handsofstone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-June-2022 at 3:14AM
Even on the bench, manually shifting to park you will feel the spring loading up as the rod is what actually activates the parking pawl. As soon as you slightly rotate the output shaft it audibly clicks into place. At that point there is still some spring pressure on the rod though very slight. 
  You feel it when you park and remove the key, lef off the brake and the car rolls an inch. That click is the pawl engaging and unloading the spring that allows the tapered "ball" to lock the pawl in place. The location of the pivot point for the pawl rod setup takes away a lot of the "feel" in your  shifter due to linkage geometry. Worn bushings were very common and easy to replace. 
  I have yet to find the boxes of bushings from my Aamco days but I found most of the o-rings. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Bird Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-July-2022 at 5:48AM
Part of the retardation that is Ford is the way Park engages.
It doesn't "stay" in Park, it's "held" in park by the linkages. It wants to be free to roll away and smash into things, constant linkage pressure holds the (spring-loaded) pawl engaged. Disconnect the linkage and it springs out of Park. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve M. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-July-2022 at 6:51AM
I still use the e-brake on mine. After it rolled into the tow truck, I'm not taking any chances.  I did spend most of the day Saturday adjusting and tightening the linkages. 
Steve M.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rockatansky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-July-2022 at 7:37AM
my bet is $2 on the linkage &/or detents in the steering column. the parking pawl mechanism in the trans is pretty robust but it can be told to disengage fairly easily. Ford had a big recall because unattended cars left in park were 'getting away'. my aunt was hit by my cousins GT

https://forum.grantorinosport.org/torino-recall-letters_topic14237.html
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve M. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-July-2022 at 7:46AM
Good bet.
The steering column is a Frankenstein from three different ones. I  was confident that the column was not the culprit.  The linkage was sloppy. Still, I'm going to always set the parking/e-brake. When I think about it, my dad said to always set the brake. He was a professional driver. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72 RS 351 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-July-2022 at 9:24AM
The park inside the transmission is very strong, but it takes greater force to pull it out of park as the incline of the vehicle increases. So parking on flat surfaces is not hard on the linkages etc, there's no big deal in not using the parking brake for that. But on inclines, the parking brake is very important, first to reduce rolling away, but also to greatly reduce the force required to pull the pawl out of park.

I'm familiar with that a lot with my 1998 mail vehicles. The 2nd gen Explorers have average parking brake linkages, but parking without the parking brake on hills is very bad. You'll get away with that many times, the amount you have to pull on the shift lever is a lot. But if you keep doing that, it will wear or break the linkage in the column, the aluminum shift shaft, cheap steel center shaft, two bushings, thin hold down straps, two medium sized bolts etc. Something will let go eventually, first it will become more loose, the gear indicator will be off a lot, and then the shifter will be hard to "find a gear" with. The fix is usually just about $60 in parts to replace those in the column, taking it apart to do that.

It's easier to simply use the parking brake on all inclines, and keep the parking brake adjusted well.
Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W
73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve M. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-July-2022 at 1:56PM
Spot on!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigcalhoun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-August-2022 at 10:58AM
I appreciate all of the thoughts on my original post.  The collar on the steering column is so sloppy that I think that’s where I’ll start. There are a few decent vids out there on that project.

Parts have been tough to find however.  Anyone know if a 302 automatic Torino has a steering column that is interchangeable with any other Fords from that era?  I don’t think there were too many variations out back then. Just need the collar and its innards, not an entire column.

Thanks y’all.
Ali
'68 Torino, 302
'70 F-100, 302
Mt. Pleasant, SC
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eliteman76 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-August-2022 at 9:06AM
Generally, most all the columns will interchange for the most part within a model series run. IE 72-79 Torino/Ranchero and all the other intermediates.
Some differences in tilt vs fixed, but bearings and some stuff did not change out of simplicity factors.
{feel free to correct me if I am wrong but going off my experiences on 72-76 stuff.}
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigcalhoun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-January-2023 at 2:27PM
Solved it!  The bottom hole where the roller pin holding in the shift lever to the collar goes in had gotten wallowed out and became oval shaped.  That made the lever sloppy and prone to slipping.  55 years of driving will do that.  I got a guy in a metal shop to bore a larger hold and put in a bigger pin.  Holds steady in P now.  That said, I don’t trust it enough to skip the E brake.

Hope this post helps someone else.


Edited by bigcalhoun - 19-January-2023 at 3:54PM
Ali
'68 Torino, 302
'70 F-100, 302
Mt. Pleasant, SC
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