Alright here we go,
I have a Studebaker Champion with a s10 front clip, 327 sbc, TH 350, 12 bolt posi 411. I just ordered a B&M pro ratchet shifter, Received it in the mail yesterday and preceded to install. I am replacing a worn out star shifter also from b&m, I am now having a problem with the actual shifting of this new shifter. I read the install instructions throughly and cant figure out why I am having the problem I am having:
And now for the problem,
After I installed the shifter to my floor board and installed the cable to the pro ratchet shifter only it worked like a charm cycled with no problem, I could shift through all gears with ease. As I was installing the cable to the transmission (TH350) I checked to make sure I was in the correct gear position, as stated in the instructions, when i moved the gear selector bracket into 1st gear it seemed to go through the gears firmly so I adjusted the cable to the transmission as the instructions stated, and proceeded to get inside the car and shift to park to complete adjustments, the shifter would barely move. So i got back under the car and checked again all looked well and seemed to be adjusted correctly. Got back into the car and gave a slightly firmer shift and the cable end closest to the shifter sprung (broke) and ruined my cable. So I figured I had some binding going on. I then ordered another cable and did the install again trying to make sure there were no sharp bends in the cable, not that there were the first time, and checked and double checked my install steps. Everything seemed perfect got in the car and tried to shift the tranny again. And again hard shifting, it would shift but it did not fell right so I stopped right there, i did not want to push my luck so i took it back apart, not wanting to shell out more bucks for another cable. So here is my question
How much resistance should the actual shifter rod (attached to the transmission) and bracket need to shift when done by hand (shifter cable disconnected) should it be fairly easy or should it take a little force to shift gears? I dont have much prior info on the transmission, I know it came out of a truck, mid to late 70's, it has a long tail shaft, I put a shift kit in, and I have had no problems with it until now. I do run the car pretty hard when I do get a chance to drive it. As far as I know the transmission is stock besides the shift kit i installed
I have gone through everything else and think I have narrowed it down to the transmission shifter shaft (and supplied b&m bracket.
Does this make any since?

Hopefully this was not to hard to read but my problem is hard to explain.
I have done searches all over the internet and cant seem to get an answer so i thought i might give you guys a shot
any info would be appreciated
thanks
justin

 

Hi Brick top,

Welcome to the Chevy Forums.

Any chance you can get somebody to shift for you while you watch what happens underneath? I'd put my money on it being something fairly simple that's external to the tranny, but out of sight underneath the car.

 

Ya i need to get my wife out there. I have noticed there is a little side to side play in the shifter shaft, not much, i would even call it normal. When I adjust to the park position the shifter will shift down, it still is a little stiff but atleast it moves. But when I go to shift up from 1st gear it just locks up wont move at all, I dont want to put to much pressure on it, that is how the last new (3 days ago) cable broke
thanks for the reply