How do I make the column linkage less sloppy?

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MrSony

Geezer
Nov 15, 2014
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Des Moines, Iowa
I have noticed a sort of ringing metallic sound emanating from my engine compartment. I can feel it in the foot well over by the kick panel in the driver's side. It only seems to happen when the car is at idle in gear in drive or 2nd. I think the column linkage is hitting the manifold. It's loud, it's almost as loud as the car is, and my car is loud. The linkage, specifically the part coming from the column down the firewall to the bit under the car. I can move it about 2 inches left to right. Is there a way to shim it up top or something? There looks to be two bushings on either side of it, but I couldn't get a clear look.

It's not rod knock sounding. It sounds like someone hitting a Triangle instrument to the lope of the engine, or if you can imagine hanging a metal pipe from a string and hitting it with a wrench. it's hard to describe.
 
are all the grommets in place and in good shape?
possibly. I do know the white plastic piece is long gone. I do have a washer taking up that space on the transmission end of things.
 
possibly. I do know the white plastic piece is long gone. I do have a washer taking up that space on the transmission end of things.

that could be the problem, if the linkage is sloppy with a stock exhaust you won't notice it but with headers there isn't much room
 
You don't have a phone with a camera?

Are you are talking about the column lock linkage from the transmission? If you don't care about someone stealing your car you can remove the rod/linkage and wire the column unlocked. Or is it column shifted?
 
that could be the problem, if the linkage is sloppy with a stock exhaust you won't notice it but with headers there isn't much room
No headers. Still got manifolds. The engine is wider than a 3.8, but it's basically a 3.8 + two cylinders. It's weird. It just started happening, or I just not noticed it. I didn't notice it with my other engine, which was also a Buick 350 and ran the same set of manifolds. I might try ziptieing it out of the way (but still allowing for movement) and see what happens. If that don't fix it, where can I buy the plastic bushing thing? I remember what it looks like, but not what it's specifically called. I imagine if I google "g body shift linkage bushing" that'd get me close.
 
You don't have a phone with a camera?

Are you are talking about the column lock linkage from the transmission? If you don't care about someone stealing your car you can remove the rod/linkage and wire the column unlocked.
Phone was dead. Plus, it's kind of hard to get a video of something under the hood that only happens when the car is in gear when you're by yourself. And its the rod going from the column down the firewall to the bracket on in the trans tunnel.
 
Phone was dead. Plus, it's kind of hard to get a video of something under the hood that only happens when the car is in gear when you're by yourself. And its the rod going from the column down the firewall to the bracket on in the trans tunnel.

is it floor shifted or column shifted?
 
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