Needed - insulator for transmission gear shift lever

[Pat Marshall]

This is part #IM 7246-A. This part is located where the rod from the steering column connects to the transmission shift lever. It is rubber with a brass sleeve. It is called an insullator because it's rubber construction prevents the rod from rattling in the connection to the transmission gear shift lever. These photos show the insulator installed in a gear shift lever.

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Mine is reamed out with a lot of play in it. This cause a big gap in my shift indicator. Park is in the correct position, but, then I have to shift all the way to between N & Dr to get reverse, etc.

If anyone has been able to find this part, I'd sure appreciate the source information.

[Egenolf]

Hello Pat,

I was looking for this part too and couldn't find it. In the end I built it myself out of a rubber bushing, a metal bushing and a washer. I can post some pictures of it on Saturday.

[Barry Wolk]

I believe I might have some from a ?40s Lincoln. I think they are a bronze shoulder bushing inside a rubber bushing that goes into the arm and is captured by a washer that fits over the tubular end of the bronze bushing. The bronze bushing is peened outward by a ball bearing just a little bigger than the bore. That captures everything in the arm. Is that what you?re looking for?

[Barry Wolk]

This? Just needs a washer.


https://www.cjponyparts.com/media/catalog/product/cache/41573c7cc04735120df5cb9016ff5ad7/h/w/hw3690_1.2812.jpg

[Pat Marshall]

Barry, that looks promising. I believe the bushing in the Insulator has a 3/8" opening. The whole unit has to snap into a 3/4" "hole"in the shifter arm.

[Pat Marshall]

Holger, there have to be others who have the same issue. I think it would be a great service to the Membership if you post those pictures. Thank you!

[Pat Marshall]

I talked to Morgan Milstead, yesterday, and he was able to pry an Insulator out of one his spare transmissions (sustaining some damage to the part in the process). He is sending it to me to use as a comparative sample.

[Barry Wolk]

Yeah, you have to remove the washer to get it out without damage, and that ruins the brass bushing. I'll be at the shop later. I'll measure what I have.

[Barry Wolk]

I don't have any unassembled, but this is what I've used. It fits a bunch of '56 Ford products. you can match dimensions with them. These are nicer than most.

https://www.steelerubber.com/gearshift-grommet-20-2460-26

[Barry Wolk]

Both sides of the same device. If you don't have a press a ball bearing will do to capture the washer.

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[Pat Marshall]

Barry, I followed up on the Steele Shift Linkage Repair Set. The guy at Steele couldn't tell me anything about them, other than that they buy them from Dennis Carpenter Ford Reetoration Parts. So, I called Dennis Carpenter and the person I talked to couldn't give me any details about the specs (their item #: 01A-7354-RK). They're closed until Monday so I can't talk to a knowledgeable person until then. The quest continues.

[Milsteads Garage]

Pat, your bushing is on its way as it got mailed out Thursday.

[Pat Marshall]

Thank you, Morgan. I'm looking forward to receiving it Chris Dunn of Lincoln Land sent me a rubber piece w/brass bushing that appears similar to the one that Barry posted in this thread. I'm looking forward to comparing the original that you are sending and the one from Chris.