Need some car help

[bububassboner]

I am driving a 1979 Ford "Econoline" van. It is a stick in the column. When I got it it didn't shift really well but I just thought that it was me being new to a stick in the column. Since I got it it has gotten worse and worse to the point that it gets stuck in gear or won't go into gear. I have had the clutch adjusted but it really didnt help. When the van is off you can shift it A LOT easier. So can anyone tell me what might be causing this? Before I got it it was not being used very much so assume it has sat for at least a year. Any help would be great.

Thanks in advance

[Dan Schultz]

I would venture a guess that the mechanism at the base of the steering column is worn... OR... worst case is that you have worn syncronizers in the transmission itself.

[steve_decker]

I would venture a guess that the mechanism at the base of the steering column is worn...

Not if, as the OP stated, it is shifting fine with the engine off.

OR... worst case is that you have worn syncronizers in the transmission itself.

If this is the case, you'll most likely experience substantially more difficulty shifting 1-2 or 2-1.

So, a few more questions...

Does the problem happen shifting into all gears?
Upshift only or downshift too?
Into Reverse?

If it is pretty much present in all gears, I would lean much more towards a clutch issue. Even though you had it adjusted, there may be other issues keeping it partially engaged.

[bububassboner]

So, a few more questions...

Does the problem happen shifting into all gears?
Upshift only or downshift too?
Into Reverse?

Yes it has this problem shifting into all gears. Upshift or downshift. And yes it does this going in and out of reverse as well.

Thanks for the help and keep it coming

[steve_decker]

Go get a clutch and a throw-out bearing.

Clutches that need "adjusting" are, typically, wearing out.

Yup! On a '79, I'd swap out the pressure plate while I was there along with the clutch disc and throw-out bearing.

It's not too bad of a job on your van if you're mechanically inclined.

[tbn.al]

Taurus SHO, It was WARPED due to heat, etc.

used SHO + heat warped pressure plate = 6,000RPM - drop clutch - see tires smoke

It's a wonder you haven't had some valve train issues. Good old Ford built tough engine. I've got a history of almost 500,000 total miles on 5 of them and haven't turned an engine bolt yet.

[ZNC Dandy]

Taurus SHO, It was WARPED due to heat, etc.

used SHO + heat warped pressure plate = 6,000RPM - drop clutch - see tires smoke

It's a wonder you haven't had some valve train issues. Good old Ford built tough engine. I've got a history of almost 500,000 total miles on 5 of them and haven't turned an engine bolt yet.

[/quote]

Ford didn't build that engine that I am aware of. It was made by Yamaha for Ford, as a planned powerplant for a mid-engine sportscar, but that never materialized, so they stuck it in the Taurus SHO. Which was a pretty fun car to drive...

[tofu]

I think some confusion exists on the manufacturer of the Ford SHO engine because there were two SHO engines - the V6 which was in the 1989-1995 and the V8 in the 1996-1999 series. They were two different engines. In addition in the original V6 series there were two displacements offered in 93-95 one being 3L and the other 3.2L The 3.2 used a bigger bore - it had the same hp but produced it earlier at 6000 RPM. The V6 was developed, produced and supplied by Yamaha.

OTOH, the 1996-1999 SHO V8 engine was designed and built by Ford in conjunction with Yamaha for use in the 1996-1999 Taurus SHO. It was based on the Ford Duratec engine instead of the SHO V6 engine developed by Yamaha for the original 1989 SHO.