Hey guys,
I just picked up a 68 last week and it's got automatic tranny issues. The car has a 307 with a hearst floor shifter. All the way back is first, next is drive, neutral then reverse. Isn't there supposed to be a park? :oops: Based on the VIN it was originally a 6 cyl and it looks like the shifter was on the column - not sure if this helps.

Also, the only way to tell which gear your in is to bring it all the way back to first then go forward to feel the "clicks". I can't feel any clicks moving the shifter back. Shouldnt I be able to feel each gear? 8O

I didn't see any casting numbers or identification when I looked under the car. How do I tell what tranny it is?

Thanks for any help. You guys rock!

If you have only two forward gears then it can only be a Powerglide. But Powerglides have a Park position. You could have a TH350 (or TH400) with Hurst shifter or trans problems. Go to this web site and it will help to ID the trans by what the pan looks like tranmission identification (http://www.nastyz28.com/transid.html).
And oh, a hearst shifter is only found in a hearse, the last car you ever ride in.

Sounds to me like a previous owner didn't know what he was doing when he swapped the engine and trans. He may not have installed the correct shifter (something he had laying around or got cheap) or the shifter may not be installed (adjusted) correctly for the trans thats in your car. First determine which trans you have and lets go from there.

Thanks elcaminofactory!

I've identified my tranny as a TH350 from the link you provided. What now?

Thanks again for any help.................devin

If you put the trans lever in the highest forward gear and accelerate normally how many times does the trans shift? Now you have to determine where the problem is. Get a knowledgable buddy, secure the car safely on jack stands high enough to get under the trans, disconnect the Morse cable at the trans lever, have your friend operate the shifter thru its full range observing the movement of the cable end, with the cable end still disconected manually shift the trans into each position trying to locate 1-2-3-N-R-P by feeling the detents. If you can feel all of the detents in the trans and the cable end moves enough to engage each of the detents than reattach the cable and adjust properly and you should be good to go. If the cable doesn't have enough range check the cable for damage (heat damage from exhaust or a big kink); if the cable is OK the problem could be in the shifter; repair or replace. If you cannot feel all of the detents in the trans pull the valve body cover off and inspect the internal linkage. Hope this helps.

You may have a Hurst shifter intended for a Powerglide. This happened to me once, some enterprizing former owner mated a Powerglide shifter to the TH350 tranny and I had endless issues, it would miss Reverse most of the time and slipped like hell going forward, so don't be surprized, this has already happened once, in my home country of Iceland, of all places!

You guys nailed it!

I did as suggested and removed the linkage rod and I can definately feel 6 detent positions when I click the lever on the tranny. It's definately the shifter. When I looked underneath it's a real hodge podge with some kind of homemade bracket that's bent to fit. 8O The Hurst shifter may be from a powerglide as Iceman said. The shifter comes through the floor, hooks to this screwed up bracket, then to a solid rod that hooks to the tranny. I can't see how I would adjust it. :? Mrapii suggested that there might be cables but there isnt.

I think I need a new shifter that has a way to adjust the travel. Which one should I get?

And one more thing. Theres a cable that comes up to the carb that is disconnected. Isnt this supposed to kickdown the gear when I romp on it?

One step at a time :oops:

HURST (http://go.mrgasket.com/Brands.aspx?BrandID=2)
Go to the Hurst web site (click above) and look under instructions and you will have the instructions for adjusting the shifter. The cable needs to be connected for the trans to kick down. Looks like a mickey mouse expert owned the car previous to you.

Previous owners never fail to amaze me...