Doing a 68 GT C6 to Toploader conversion, installed the mounting bracket to tail housing and then installed shifter housing. Started to assemble linkage and found that all 3 pieces are approximately 2" short with alignment pin installed? Was there different lengths to the 3 linkage pieces from small block to big block? Do I have the correct mounting plate to the tail housing? Thoughts…
That bracket is used to adapt a Mustang / Cougar shifter to a Comet / Fairlane tail shaft.
From what I can see you have a proper Mustang / Cougar shifter and tail shaft. Just get rid of the adapter plate and your shifter bolts directly to the tail shaft. That will make all the rods line up correctly.
I was under the impression that Cougar used that mounting plate, thanks for the clarification! I understand you might be the guy to ask an engine question to as well…Is there a way to determine if a 390 block is a “Ford Service replacement block”? I have a spare block that measures 4.080" bore and had .030" over pistons in it. The block has the standard foundry FE marking on it and a date code (2D28), but is missing the block ID code ie. C7ME-A
Thanks again!
The block ID codes are meaningless in terms of identifying what size the engine is. The date code of 2D28 means it was built in 1972 on April 28th. That was long after there were any 390 engines being installed in cars. There is no difference between an over the counter block or an assembly line block or a service block. All came from the same foundry with the same markings. The 1972 date means it could have been installed in a 1972 pickup or sold over the counter when new.
If you have a service manual and look up section 6-25 it shows a picture of how the shifter bolts right to the tail shaft more forward than how you have yours. The backing plate to the shifter in the service manual looks different than yours also so not sure. But it seems obvious it needs to come forward even to make it line up correctly with the tunnel hole in the car.
IDK if Ford shifters used a more special retainer clip. I know my 67 has a Hurst shifter and uses kinda a round-ish hair pin clip vrs what you have there. They seem to hold the whole pin into the bushings a lot nicer than a regular hair pin.