Hello from Tennessee

Hey there,

My granddad and I just picked up a 1973 Maverick and will soon start the process of restoring it. This is the first Maverick we have ever had and are eager to fix it up! As of now the car is bone stock with a 200-6 engine and 3-speed manual column shift.

It is a blast just to drive around in. It runs like a sewing machine after many years of sitting. However, leaving out of a parking lot on Friday, the car would not shift into low gear or reverse. After finally getting it home in only 2nd and 3rd gear we decided the problem was in the linkage coming out of the firewall. I searched the forum for a while looking for a possible answer with no avail.

Is there anyway I can find a schematic of the linkage layout so we can take it apart and figure out what is broken or in need of repair? Or does anybody know where I can start looking for the problem?

Any help is appreciated and I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Thanks,

Matt Jellicorse

 

from Northeast Pennsylvania

I'm sure you will get a fast answer to your questions here

 

from the great NW.

It sounds like the linkage is probably worn. If there is too much play they can do strange things. If you don't find that something has come undone, as a shift arm coming off, the easyest solution is to install a floor shifter. Hurst makes a good one and there may be others also. If it is done right, they can look very nice. Good luck and happy motoring.

 

Get yourself a Chiltons manual It tells you how to adjust the linkage. If that doesn't work, I'd think a tranny shop is next in line. Might need to get it rebuilt.

 

I would look into adjusting the linkage as described above.

I would also look and investigate the steering column "collar" that the shifter is located in. These are know to break and get cracks in them. The breaks and crackes will be INSIDE the collar and effect how the column shifter works. You might be able to feel the "play" in the shifter, or you may have to pull the steering wheel and turn signal switch to have a look.

 

Thanks fellas. I played with the linkage today in the engine compartment and I can change the gears with my hand out there. However in the column is where the problem might be. It won't shift into low and reverse in the column.

Do you think the best idea is to pull the column out?

 

to the site!!!!!

 

I would say pull the column and covers to inspect for worn parts, like Craig suggested. I should not be that hard. Other fords should have the interchanged parts. Try Autokrafters.

Welcome.
Rick

 

from West Georgia

 

to the board....

 

Welcome from a little farther north and east of Ktown.

 

Welcome from a hour south of knoxvegas

 

If your collar is broke.....those can be real tough to find. Might want to look into a floor shift.

 

Wow thanks for all the help! Yall are fast. And thank you for all the welcomes too. It is much appreciated. I will start to work tomorrow on pulling the column out, but the more I think about it, the floor shifter sounds like the best route and the easiest as others have mentioned.

My granddad and I have never restored a Maverick. We saw one at a car show that was lowered, 302, and a nice set of wheels and we drooled over it. We finally found one down in Mobile, AL and picked it up. We're excited to start the much needed work on and I am sure I will find tons of info here trying to tackle this wild beast.

Thanks again for the help.

Matt

 

Wow yall are fast on the replies. Thanks for all the help and the welcomes! It is appreciated.

I will go to work on tearing the column out tomorrow. The more I think about it, the 3spd in floor sounds like the easiest thing to do if we can't find the problem tomorrow. I will keep yall posted on what we end up doing.

Thanks again,

Matt