I've got a 69 with a 396 and a Muncie 4 speed. I just recently started driving it, and I can't get it to downshift from 3rd to 2nd, at least not while it's moving. It shifts easily in every other way, but for some reason, I can't downshift from 3rd to 2nd. I can down shift 4th to 3rd, 3rd to 1st, even 4th to 1st, but not 3rd to 2nd???
I'm not sure if it's a M20, 21, or 22, but I'd guess from the whining its a M22.......
Thanks........

Make sure your shifter linkages are adjusted properly.

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68SS ZZ4, 4sp T-10, 12 bolt, getting painted

78Z28, 330hp vortec, TH350, 10 bolt (just finished)

The factory linkage was mounted to the floor in a misguided attempt to cut noise. If you have the factory linkage it is very difficult to get everything adjusted to where it works MOST of the time.
I knew a Chevrolet dealer mechanic who was pretty good with these things and he told me it was more of an art than a science. He would 'cheat' the alignment a little here and there to compensate for movement.
Even he couldn't make them work well under power though. http://www.camaros.net/forum/frown.gif
Art Rasmussen
Art Rasmussen Design and Fabrication, Inc. WWW.HOTRODDINGTODAY.COM (http://WWW.HOTRODDINGTODAY.COM)

make sure you have the metal bushing for your shifter not the plastic and you use the correct pin alignment tool for your shifter I've done mine a couple of times and I still have to do it 2,3 times when I put in a new clutch to get it right!

My bet is the blocker ring for second gear is worn and not allowing the gear to mesh with the slider. M22's had heavy duty blocker rings, possibly why you can still get it in other gears.

If it's a hurst type shifter there should be a 1/4" hole to put an alignment rod into. You put the shifter in neutral, disconnect the shift rods, put the 1/4" alignment rod in. Re connect the shift rods, making adjustments to the rods so they slip in easily.

There is an interlock inside the side cover of the trans that will not let the 1-2 lever shift until the 3-4 lever has returned to neutral. If the shifter is out of adjustment or worn, it might cause the third gear lever to be not quite into neutral when going for 2nd. Also, plain out of adjustment of the shifter could cause trouble with the neutral gate inside the shifter itself.

If you have the muncie shifter. It mounts to the trans crossmember and has a brace that goes to the trans top. It has a grommet at the trans end of it. If you shim the grommet with washers you can make the shifter a little more reliable.

FYI
I had trouble with my muncie shifter, twice. The spring for the reverse gate is a concentric band spring that pushes on a set of ball bearings that ride on a tapered plunger that's inside the whole assy. The plunger provides the "spring" for reverse. When dirt accumulates on the ball bearing assy, the pin can get loose and fall into the shifter. You then can't select reverse, first or second gear. Not a good shifter!

[This message has been edited by davidpozzi (edited 02-21-2000).]

The '67-'68 muncie shifter bolted to the crossmember, but in '69 the shifter was a Hurst and it no longer bolted this way, it was bolted directly to the transmission tailshaft housing. This was to eliminate the flex Art talks about due to the transmission moving independently of the crossmember. I read this somewhere, I think in one of my Camaro restoration books.

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69 SSRS Frame-off Resto
81 Z-28 377ci Drag Car