T-10C problems in a '62

[Rob Edwards]

I recently became the caretaker/wrench for a beautifully restored '62 Red/Red 327/340 4 spd/4.11 posi which had been in North Dakota and Montana but is now in SoCal (Irvine) The car is cosmetically great but has some residual mechanical issues. Foremost is the tranny. It'll go into reverse fine, but upon shifting into neutral, letting up on the clutch causes it to move backwards, as if still in reverse. The shifter will move into any forward gear position but letting up on the clutch bogs the motor and the car will not move, as if the tranny was locked (2 gears at once?) I found that slapping the shifter (an OE, not a Hurst or other) out of reverse so the lockout T-handle drops quickly allows one to get into true neutral, at which point first gear may be selected. Once underway, she'll shift ok, but 2-3 up****s and 4-3 downshifts are tough, even with double clutching and rev-matching.
I'm wondering whether these symptoms yell shifter mal-adjustment, or bad synchro/tranny issues. Any ideas or links to BW T-10 info? Sorry for the verbosity, but I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about this beautiful car and its workings. Thanks!

[Wayne P.]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

Definitely two gears at once. Sounds like you have it right about a worn-out shifter or mis-adjusted.

[Mike M.]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

Pull the t-10 and disassemble. sounds like the reverse shifter fork was not seated on the reverse gear flange when it was reassembled. might as well install new s nchro's while you're at it. good luck, mike

[Jim T.]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

My experience with another type 4-speed sports car after I installed new syncro's and the problem still existing turned out to be the pressure plate. I bought the car with just a few miles on a rebuilt motor and all the receipts. The clutch disc was replaced but not the pressure plate. Later discovered that the pressure plate had worn just enough from where the throw out bearing made contact on the pressure place was the problem.
The length of the throwout bearing could be a problem if it is the incorrect one.

[William C.]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

Before you jump into the trans, ask yourself is the shifter sloppy? If so, start with a rebuild of the shifter and linkage, along with proper adjustment when reinstalling the shifter and you will have eliminated the easy fix first, as well as reducing the amount of rattle coming from the shifter when driving.

[Dennis C.]

White Walls are too wide... *NM*

[Rob Edwards]

Re: White Walls are too wide...

I know, I know, 8-) Should be 7/8", right? We'll see how fast we can wear 'em down so proper replacements may be fitted. Those tires are Cokers and the treadwear rating is 500 (!?!??!)

In any case, thanks for all the input,I will talk it over with the owner and see. I have been unable to find any info about shifter rebuild kits for a '62, other than replacing the whole assembly from CC, which is kind of pricey (I did see the Jet kit for '64-81's, but I'm guessing that's not appropriate here) Does anyone know of a refurb kit for the OE shifter that came with a T-10C? Thanks!

[William C.]

Re: White Walls are too wide...

It's really pretty straightforeword, the pivot pin is generally the wear point, and removal, drilling an oversize hole thru the lever and crosshaft accompanied by a new pin of appropriate size will generally do the trick. Ther is also a tech bulletin for the '63's (same design) that shows how to add some shims to keep the rattle down, but it does not do anything for the actual shifting process. also check for worn clevis on the linkage and lastly, do a proper adjust ment of the neutral gate, then give it a try.

[Mike E.]

Re: White Walls are too wide...

And wheels should be black, not red. (Picky, picky, I know--looks like a nice car--but Dennis started it!!!)

[Rob Edwards]

And that paint, it's not (gasp!) lacquer! (m)...

Perhaps I can just keep posting pictures and we can have a virtual judging event. (That'd be kind of cool, like "How many things in this picture are incorrect?") Part of the fun of learning about this car is discovering all the things wrong with it, especially since it's my wife's boss's, and anything it needs to make it correct again comes out of his pocket. I'm just the historian and maintenance guy. In the meantime, it is an awful lot of fun to cruise Newport Beach in! Thanks again for all the input!

[Steve Pettit]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

Rob, such a beautiful picture of a beautiful car that I had to use it as my desktop background picture, temporarily replacing my red on red 66. Hope that this is ok.

regards, Steve

[Rob Edwards]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

Steve-

No problem! Glad you like the picture, it's up at the top of our neighborhood here in Irvine. I grew up in upstate NY and keep having to pinch myself over the SoCal weather in February - goes a long way towards ameliorating all the other hassles of being in California.

[Steve Pettit]

Re: T-10C problems in a '62

Rob,

I grew up in Indiana. Now live in Northern California and I know what you mean about the weather making up for many of this state's shortcomings. especially in bleak old february.

Steve