When we got our 78 camaro the console shifter was really bad. Hard to shift lots of play. I installed a B&M mega shifter, following all instructions and adjusting according to instructions. Testing it in the shop everthing worked fine, first drive everthing worked fine, had to move it a couple of times and everything was fine. I took it for a short drive the other day, and it just didn't seem right. If I brought the shifter all the way down to 1st and went through all the gears, it just didn't match up right.

I raised the car up and got under it and disconected the shift cable and found the the shifting ear (that attaches to the shift bolt coming out of tranny ) had about 3/4 of an inch free play in each gear, weather it be park reverse drive or any gear the ear could be moved back and forth. You could feel it go into gear but it would still have free play in either direction. Did something just come loose inside tranny. With all the freeplay I can't get shift linkage adjusted right and shift right.

How high do you need camaro off ground to be able to pull tranny with a trans jack?

 

Depends on the height of the trans jack. The total height of the tranny is around 16"-18" I think, but I have never been able to get my car high enough with the jackstands I have. I always had to build boxes or blocks under the jackstands to get it high enough to clear.
Have you looked closely to ensure the arm is not worn out itself? The arm has a rectangular hole that fits snug on the bolt, and if the hole is enlarged it could just be play in the arm, and not internally. If that's the case you can have it welded and file it to fit, or just order a new arm.

 

After doing more research it might be the rooster comb inside. The shaft has play forward and back but not up and down. I will pull the shifting ear off and look at eh bolt more closely and see if it could be the hole though.

 

Yes, if it's not the hole in the bracket, then look a play in the shaft/hole in the tranny. If that hole is worn too much it will allow slop in the shaft and might be binding from an alignment issue. If all else fails I'd pull the pan after that, and take a look where the shaft enters and see if there's something obviously binding internally from wear. Beyond that I don't know what to say; I'm not a automatic trans expert by any means.

 

Thats my problem, other than changing fluid, I've never worked on a auto trans. LOL

 

I've done shift kits, and fluid changes, some adjustments, seals, but never tore one completely apart. I really should try it some day, but I may be getting to old to start that now!

 

Hey Val, Were never to old!! I still want another 4 speed one of these days so I can grab some gears. LOL.

Found problem. Rooster comb is loose on shaft and may have runied the hole on the rooster comb, and the shaft. Now I need to figure out how to get this shaft out, not much room.

 

Well with some finess I was able to get the bolt tight on the roostercomb inside the tranny. As the nut tightened it seem to line itself up. everything seems to work ok. Hooked up shifter linkage, had to be readjusted, moved it through each gear, and crawled under car at each gear change to be sure it is all lineing up ok. Seems to be fine. Wont know untill I put pan back on and fill with trans fluid.

 

Good luck! Sounds like you may have figured it out.