59 dodge cr gear selector push buttons appear to be going in too far and getting hung up on the outside finish plate. what causes this? It has the jute backing behind the finish plate and separating the buttons. any ideas ?
Posted 2020-04-14 1:13 PM (#596830 - in reply to #596819) Subject: RE: 59 dodge push button gear selector issue .
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9900
Location: Lower Mainland BC
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Any ideas? Why yes, I do.
I suspect that the two nuts that hold the shifter box into the dash housing are loose and the whole assembly is moving back when you push the buttons.
Remove the shifter face plate and pull the buttons straight out. That should allow you to see into the cavity and see the two nuts holding the shifter box to the dash. I think that they are likely 3/8" (I forget what mine are). Use a long extension with a 1/4" drive socket set and tighten them up.
Clean the buttons up (use an old tooth brush and soap and water to get the grunge out of the R, N, D, 2, and 1 grooves) and reinstall (firm push to engage the tangs). Reinstall the face plate. Test.
My 56 shifter showing the two nuts:
59 Shifter Plate (stolen from Ross Roy via Serge):
Posted 2020-04-15 11:24 PM (#596906 - in reply to #596819) Subject: Re: 59 dodge push button gear selector issue .
Member
Posts: 44
If that does not help the buttons may have wear inside of the 'fork' where the plastic button makes contact with the metal of the shift assembly. I took the offending button (Drive) and filled the inside of the fork with JB Weld. When dry file it to the proper depth. Works great.
Posted 2020-04-16 9:47 AM (#596924 - in reply to #596922) Subject: Re: 59 dodge push button gear selector issue .
Regular
Posts: 98
I thought my shifter mechanism was shot when I got my car that had sat for 45 years even suspected the transmission and the cable. Turned out all it needed was some lube on mechanics, now it works like it did when brand new!