'56 Powerglide shifter

[Garry Barnes]

Is it possible to find and replace the chrome shifter shaft on my '56 PG without having to replace the entier shifter mechanism? (You wouldn't believe what happened). If so, where can I find one? I have looked in Paragon, MaryJo, and CC and all they have listed is the entire shifter .

Also, I have checked AIM and service manual to find out how to remove the trunk lock on my '56 to no avail. I am sure there is a secret to these. Help please! Thanks.
Garry

[Mike M.]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

there is a horse-shoe shaped cylinder retainer on the inner surface of the trunk skin. it's difficult to see but it'll be there. get a pair of pliers , grasp the bent end of the retainer then slide it to the left if the 90 degree bent end is on the left. vice versa if the 90 degree bend points to the right side of the car. in regards to the shifter, why not disassemble the shifter handle from the shifter and send it away for replating. if you broke the shifter shaft at the base , get an experienced welder to put it back together, grind the weld down , then have it replated. most powerglide shifter shafts aren't broken off at the base . not so for std shift shifter. good luck, mike

[Garry Barnes]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

Mike, thanks I will look for the horse shoe shaped retainer. As far as the shifter goes, I am still in disbelief about what happend. The chrome ball was VERY tight coming off up and until the last few threads, then it would not budge. My son grabbed hold of it with a set of gripper pliers twisting flush with the threads. Before I knew it he had the shift ball off. Only trouble is the threaded portion literally twisted off leaving over half of the threads still in the shift ball and a few threads left on the shaft. Great metalergy huh? Based on this horror story, what would you advise now? BTW- there is clearly no way that those remaining threads are coming out of that shifter ball. Thanks.
Garry

[Mike M.]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

i'd run a die a little further down the shaft of the shifter. assuming Mr Vice-grip didn't tear off chrome from shaft , that ought to fix ya up after you buy a new shifter ball.mike

[Kevin Riel]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

After chasing the threads in the ball, maybe a little locktight or if needed JB Weld when you put the ball back on. That will hold it, but of course you may not ever get it off again!

[Dale S.]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

Why not drill out the most of the threaded portion in the ball,Then drive in an easy out and use the candle wax? I want to see if it works. dale

[steve westphal]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

I picked up an automatic shifter tower a couple of years ago from Vette Products of Michigan. I bought the tower and pin from them. You can contact them at www.vetteproducts.net It is a quality piece.

[Garry Barnes]

Re: '56 Powerglide shifter

Steve, thanks a bunch!
Garry