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1981 CJ8 automatic transmission floor shifter

Ifster

Member
City
White Rock
State
NM
Mine is stiff from park as well - i thought that was because it is RHD.
How are you proposing to connect that MRGasket shifter to the trans?
I wish I had done a Lokar shifter - but they are not cheap.

Check out this thread

Good luck
 
Mine is stiff from park as well - i thought that was because it is RHD.
How are you proposing to connect that MRGasket shifter to the trans?
I wish I had done a Lokar shifter - but they are not cheap.

Check out this thread

Good luck
I think I found that thread while researching. But I don't want to spend the $ on a Lokar. I'm unclear on your reply, are you saying the one is posted will work?
Thanks.
 
Sorry, didn't read the above reply completely before posting. But I assume it'll come with the hardware necessary to link it together.
Like this one.

 
Or this one, which should work, but I just realized, these do not have a "park" lock. Not great, but at least my parking brakes are working.....I think.

 
Well looks like no matter how I adjust my column shifter, I can not get it to not slip into reverse from park. Seems the slop is in the column itself. As I understand there is bushing in the column for the shifter, but currently not available?

So the next option is to do a floor shifter. This is the one I'm looking at. Any thoughts?

Thanks again.

You might check with Rudy’s cj’s. He may be able to point you in the right direction for rebuilding your automatic column. In my opinion, it would be worth it. I’ve never been a fan of floor shifters…. just my opinion. Good luck.
 
^. Will do that. I'd rather have the OE stuff fixed.

Thanks
Jeep columns(of our CJ8 era) are GM columns so I wouldn't think parts would be hard to come by. Maybe there are some AMC specific parts in them, I never had issues with one personally so I don't know for sure.
 
I have a Lokar shifter in mine. Works great. Last Scrambler had a B&M. Worked good also
 
I'm thinking the problem would be more with the linkage/bushings between the bracket on the shifter at the end of the column and the TF999. There's really not much to go wrong with the column as far as the shifter is concerned.
 
The bushings were all worn out. I made fit random bushings so all the connections where rods are held in place with a bushings all fit well. It seems the problem is between Park and Reverse in the shifter. When the shifter is locked in Park, with the key out, it still wants to drop down into reverse. I am unable to take out this slop with any type of adjustments.
 
If it is the lower column bearing, I suggest this:

 
The bushings were all worn out. I made fit random bushings so all the connections where rods are held in place with a bushings all fit well. It seems the problem is between Park and Reverse in the shifter. When the shifter is locked in Park, with the key out, it still wants to drop down into reverse. I am unable to take out this slop with any type of adjustments.
There are two funny looking plastic bushings that each end of the pivotrod sits in. These two plastic bushings are kind of a skeleton /shock absorbing carrier that lets this rod pivot back-and-forth as you shift in and out of gear. Mine were completely worn out, and I replaced them with the metal bushing that is in this picture below. Only one comes in this kit, I bought two kits and replaced both of the worn out plastic bushings with these metal/brass bushings and it really firmed everything up. It made a huge difference.
 

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Yes tilt.
I tightened up the cross pin with a sleeve on the rod and then use the old worn out bushings as well. It tightened up the fit, but made no difference in the shifting.

I'm wondering if there's something like a detent in the column for the shifter that's worn or loose.
 
I do have positive engagement of all gears at the transmission, seems the shifter is the problem.
I found this thread to be interesting. It's the first and 4th post that are relevant.

 
Yes tilt.
I tightened up the cross pin with a sleeve on the rod and then use the old worn out bushings as well. It tightened up the fit, but made no difference in the shifting.

I'm wondering if there's something like a detent in the column for the shifter that's worn or loose.
I believe that the detent is in the transmission itself
 

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