How do I adjust the shift linkage on a 72 Cadillac?

[spastic_chicken]

Okay, this is going to be hard to explain, but I'll try my best.

From the shifter linkage, there's a rod that goes straight down to the frame. From there it is bolted to a crossbar followed by the bracket that bolts to the transmission. I need to adjust the shifter linkage, it looks like if I undo the bolt that secures the crossbar, that I could adjust it. But It won't move.

Any ideas?

[Morella]

Umm....well first of all, is the car on jack stands? Please don't tell me that you're trying to pull that linkage apart while it's on the parking pawl, because I would have to slap what's left of you after you're run over by a Cadillac.

I don't have my manual in front of me, but if I remember right, the adjustment is on the side that is near the transmission. The outside (left) side of the rod just goes into a bracket with a bushing in it, which may or may not still be there. Sometimes I make new ones by spiral-cutting a short piece of heater hose and clamping around both sides of it, because they're hard to find. If the rod is in there chewing up metal, you'll never get it adjusted right.

Wow...I can't believe how difficult it is to find a picture of this. Send me a PM if you're still having trouble with it and I'll try to photograph my manual, but please do not try to pop that linkage with the vehicle holding in park.

-denise

[spastic_chicken]

Heh. Thanks for looking out for my safety, The car's been ramped, blocked and jackstanded so It won't roll, I'm good on that.

I found a bolt where I can pick up some of the slack, but something isn't right. I can never get it set up where the transmission agrees with what is on the column when I shift, it feels funny, there are no positive stops for gear changes. I've had this problem for about a year and really wasn't motivated to fix it. I put a 73 turbo 400 in it to replace the OE 400 that shattered. The parking prowl would not fully engage when I put it in park. So I would just park with the parking brake, and avoid hills. Well I got it adjusted so the parking prowl will now work, but nothing lines up with the column, and like I said, it feels sloppy. Now if I disconnect the shifter linkage, I can firmly select each gear on the transmission by turning the peg with a wrench. As soon as I put the shift linkage on, it feels sloppy, no matter how i've adjusted the crossbar, it does that. I did find the adjuster, there's a nut to loosen, and it slides up and down the rod attached to the steering column. I've taken some pix with my camera phone that might better show what I'm talking about.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/spastic_chicken/Image019.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/spastic_chicken/Image018.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/spastic_chicken/Image016.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/spastic_chicken/Image013.jpg

[Morella]

The sloppiness is normally caused by that bushing that I was talking about.

Adjusting the pointer, there is usually either a string and spring or a direct connection to the column if you have a one-piece pointer, on the right side. You can loosen the screw, adjust it by sliding the pointer, and then tighten it back up. You may have to pull a panel underneath the column to get to it. This is the last adjustment that you make, after the linkage is all correct.

-d

[Morella]

What year is this car? You might be able to get some information on the CLC motherboard.

[spastic_chicken]

It's a 72.

[Morella]

Well crap, I forgot that all I had was the supplement for the Caddy. I need to get a full manual.

The transmission should have a solid click in its linkage in each gear, with the linkage disconnected. If it does, the slopiness has to be in the linkage. Have you looked at the bushing where the rod goes into the frame? I took a picture, and I'll put some arrows on it and post it.

[Morella]

OK, let's see if this file attachment works. The arrow points to where the bushing was gone, and the piece of hose that I used to fix it does't fit exactly, I still have a little slop in my shifter, but it's not metal on metal anymore, and it's a lot tighter than it used to be.

-denise