38-39 Swan Neck Shift Lever.

[Mark Slight]

I have a Swan Neck shift lever that looks bent or very worn at the end that fits into the shift tower. I would like some help from a transmission literate Barner to review the photos and tell us if it is serviceable.
The application dates I got from the Vanpeltsales.com site.

Thanks, Mark

 

[Charlie ny]

Mark,
It does not look like any swans in my stash. The V8 60 stick had a little
hoo haa at the end like yours, I'm pretty sure it's not a V8 60 however.
Charlie ny

 

[Mark Slight]

Thanks Charlie, I also didn't think it was from a V8-60. The double curve (swan neck) designation I read in the Vanepelt transmission section of their site. I do understand (hoo haa) wonder if Ford Engineering of that era does?

 

[NealinCA]

Isn't that style curve 35 or 36? And that would make it fit the earlier style top?

 

[PeteVS]

Isn't that style curve 35 or 36? And that would make it fit the earlier style top?

'32 thru '34 had the "lean back" shifter top. The "ball" was lower which resulted in a longer throw at the shift knob. I know Bruce Lancaster has the dimensions for the length of the shifter from the ball to the inner tip. So, I'd say a '35-'36 shift lever would not fit an earlier style top. IMHO

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Measure from the flat top of the pivot ball down to the lower end. Late, 1936 up, is about 4 7/8, early 1932-5 is 4 1/8...I put that in my pocket notebook because I was getting hold of too many of whichever one I did not need in the flea market...

 

[Mark Slight]

The one in the photos I just measured it is 4 1/8" from the top of the pivot ball down to the end. With Bruces infomation it's a 32 -35. I thought the early ones were straight? Several of you said possibly a 35-36.
Anyone have the Early V-8 Club Restoration information 32 to 35?

Thanks to all of you. Mark

 

[Mac VP]

You have a 1935 lever. These were a swan neck contour to but not exactly like the 38-39 lever. All the early levers (32-35) had that funny bend at the bottom....its made that way. Remember that the 32-35 levers can only go in 32-35 towers.

Note...it appears that the 2nd/high nub is worn somewhat. Difficult to see for sure from the photos. If it is, you will need to TIG weld it up and regrind or file back to its original shape.

 

[PeteVS]

OK, so '32 to '35 is the "lean back" shifter top and '36 and up is the tall straight top.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

And the year breaks for interchange are '32-5, slanted shift tower and straight cut fist-reverse, and 1936-onward with vertical tower and all spiral gears. Original 1936-9 had syncros without brass blocker rings and small forks, '39-'52 had the blockers and 3" fork which can be transplanted into 1936 up shifters. '39 production was mixed between the 2 synchro styles.
Remember that any year info is necessarily based on stock original, since a LOT of transmissions have picked up every possible mixture of components over the years!

 

[PeteVS]

What was the change to the "two spring" detents in the shifter?

 

[Mac VP]

1939 shifter housings (81A-7222) had the double detents.

 

[Mark Slight]

As I remember it was 1939, photo is from VanPelt Sales LLC. Thanks Van Pelt.

Mark