hey guys need some help here.

i just bought an 81 and i have to keep first gear pushed in when using it or else it will pop out, any other gear no problem.

any suggestions? something that i can probably fix in my drive way?

the tranny is the L50 according to the year.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Unless its an issue of the shifter not moving fully forward because of a clearance issue due to body lift or similar reason that the hole in the body tunnel restricts shifter motion
, it's not likely that anything short of tranny overhaul will cure your trouble.

You can get a Marlin Crawler shift bushing and shifter seat and that likely will tighten up your shifter throws some, but I doubt that it will fix ya.

It's usually an issue of worn syncros and excessive endplay in the trans shafts due to worn bearings.

 

I have the same problem with my 81 4spd. Been that way for 10 years. You just get use to it, or you have the tranny rebuilt. It's an internal problem, unless like millball said, something is interfering with the shifter movement, but that's probably not the case. Time for a tranny rebuild.

 

i've already ordered the shifter seat and the nylon tip, also ordered the knuckle rebuild kit at the same time.

just waiting for it to arrive, as soon as i get i'll change it and hopefully it'll fix it, if not, i'll leave it that way to expensive for a tranny rebuild...